How to achieve smooth curved faces without affecting the Y-axis?

#1

Hi all!

Is there any way to smooth/ round out the edge here without affecting the height? (I want the Height to stay flat)

I tried using Quad draws Relax tool but it affected height

And

I tried adding subdivision but that also affected height

Essentially I want to maintain the sharp edge of the curved frontal face against the flat top face

Thanks!

Here is the crooked faces that i want smoothed into a fine “U”

o_8g7ulSIVCmTS8wMe5xuOyCQA0E17uq.png1914x938

And here is the flat top I want to maintain

o_rXD6B48MYgCeUVEzy3UqDDWhGi2GkV.png1918x935

Here is what Quad Draw’s Relax tool does
It becomes a cleaner “U”

o_trB6TXPtu3NhpJazX0njUEKtA3R8vv.png1917x934

but the height is no longer flat

o_bbn5T0P8Q7Iaj8hYsW0X2eOVcCKwJs.png1898x897

#2

You can use the crease tool to add a crease on the top and bottom loop, then smooth the mesh with Mesh > Smooth (or smooth mesh preview).

#3

Im sorry could you explain a little bit more? I cant quite see what you mean

#4

Search for the Maya crease tool, it’s pretty straightforward.

#5

You could also insert some edges around the top bottom and mid to help retain it’s shape a bit better. You can also extrude the top and bottom faces inwards a bit to help keep that edge sharp.