Smooth Shading on specifically-oriented edges I have a spherically tapered cylinder that I'm trying to apply smooth shading to, partially.  (Sorry for the terrible description, picture below)



I'm trying to apply smooth shading to vertical rings in the picture - I like the defined edges that run along the x-axis.  I tried selecting only those rings in edit mode and applying smooth vertex, but that didn't appear to do anything.  Will, I have to put in loop cuts for each x-axis line, then add an edge split with smooth shading to get my desired effect?
As of this commit (will be in blender 2.71), blender has support for split normals. You can download 2.71 release candidate 2 here.


Set your object to smooth shading.
Enable auto smooth in Properties > object data:


Select every edge loop and mark it as sharp:


Press CtrlAltRMB on one of edge loops you want to make sharp to select that edge ring.
Press Edge Loop in 3D view > Header > Select to select the rest of the loops.
Press Sharp in 3D view > Tool shelf > Shading / UV > Shading > Edges, or press CtrlE> Mark Sharp:





Result: