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I am trying to model a shape like this in Blender:

enter image description here

I have made several attempts, but having problems each time when applying a final subdivision surface modifier, so would appreciate some guidance.

My first attempt was to follow my instinct and create a 2D arrangement of vertices (a quarter circle which is then turned into the final shape), which is then extruded. The subdivision (right-most image) looks incorrect:

enter image description here

My next attempt was to try creating a cuboid and a cylinder, and then performing a Difference Boolean operation to obtain the mesh, but this results in the same final mesh as above (and therefore a messed-up subdivision modifier version):

enter image description here

I had some success when trying to add extra edge loops, to try to control the shape more, but there are strange "creases" appearing in the mesh:

enter image description here

Finally, after reading a little, it seems to be preferable when modelling to keep all your faces as "quads" (i.e. four vertices to each face). It's clear that with my attempts above that this is not the case, so I tried a version which was made of only quads, using the knife tool to draw the extra straight lines. This results in a messed-up final subdivided mesh again:

enter image description here

Is there an easy solution to this, or am I approaching the meshing process in the wrong way? I am a complete Blender beginner, so maybe I'm just misunderstanding how to do it?

Edit

After reading some of the answers, it seems like this shape can be modelled with the top face of the mesh being either an N-gon (as in my original image), a collection of quad faces, or a collection of triangular faces (as in the answers of Yousuf Chaudhry and moonboots). Any comments on the pros/cons of these 3 approaches would be useful for me.

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    $\begingroup$ Not the bevel tool, the bevel modifier $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 19:06
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    $\begingroup$ and yes you are right about taking so much time, to be honest I have never encountered this problem before myself. I'll try to find a quick solution $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 19:07
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    $\begingroup$ Oh and make sure your scale is applied. $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 19:07
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    $\begingroup$ I think Allen's answer is the best. It never occurred to me. But the con is you absolutely need the bevel modifier. My con is that triangles are formed, but that could be solved by Faces > Tris to Quads. Moonboots also has a great answer, though the con is you have to manually fix the geometry. $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 22:20
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    $\begingroup$ Just one thing, referring to your "it seems to be preferable when modelling to keep all your faces as quads": it's simply not true. There are times where you should use quads, but there are also models where ngons are okay or sometimes even better. As so often in life, it really depends on what your goals are, how you want to further edit the meshes or what modifiers you use on them. I cannot explain every aspect of it, but Josh Gambrell has a good video on why ngons are sometimes preferable: Why ngons are BETTER than quads for hard surface $\endgroup$
    – Gordon Brinkmann
    Commented Jul 6, 2022 at 10:37

3 Answers 3

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The Bevel Modifier with Shape set to 1 and two Segments will keep the original shape intact while adding quad faces around everything. This will make the following Subdivision Surface modifier behave better.

enter image description here

Example of topology leftover by Bevel modifier.

enter image description here

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You can use this topology, you can use tris if it doesn't create artefacts:

enter image description here

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ Well, suddenly, three answers pop out of nowhere ^_^ $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 19:29
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, can you show how you created this? (I.e, once the curved face is made, how do you add the extra edges and make them all meet at the single point). Do you then use the Knife tool to draw the extra edges across the rest of the shape? $\endgroup$
    – teeeeee
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 19:41
  • $\begingroup$ As Yousuf says, bevel a vertex (Ctrl B then V), in the Operator box choose a Shape value of 0.1, cut the edges with the knife tool, extrude up, select the edges you want to sharpen, bevel $\endgroup$
    – moonboots
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 19:48
  • $\begingroup$ What settings are you using for your final bevel (segments, and shape)? $\endgroup$
    – teeeeee
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 20:41
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    $\begingroup$ @teeeeee It's always whatever is fastest and works fine. $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 22:20
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Well, I just got the simplest answer ever.

Just take a plane, select one of the corner vertices, and bevel it, with it set to Vertices (Or you could just use a boolean):

enter image description here

Then, delete the face by pressing X > Faces Only. Then go to Faces > Grid fill and set the offset set to 3.

Then joust use a solidify modifier to extrude, add a bevel "modifier" to easily compensate for the edge loops, and add a subdivision surface and you have it!

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ After deleting the face as you said, when I try to choose Face->Grid Fill I get the error message "Select two edge loops or a single closed edge loop from which two edge loops can be calculated". Did I do something wrong? $\endgroup$
    – teeeeee
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 20:30
  • $\begingroup$ Okay I have it now - it seems like it matters which two edges you select before applying the Grid Fill. $\endgroup$
    – teeeeee
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 20:54
  • $\begingroup$ Your approach results in several triangular faces on the mesh after Grid Fill is applied. Do you have an opinion on why this is more preferable than Allen Simpson's answer above? (which treats the face as a single N-gon, like I did in my original post, but then simply adds a bevel modifier). Thanks $\endgroup$
    – teeeeee
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 21:27
  • $\begingroup$ @teeeeee not at all, just a different solution $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 21:28
  • $\begingroup$ The answer was supposed to be posted hours ago, but it got posted late $\endgroup$
    – Yousuf Chaudhry
    Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 21:29

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