How to keep flat faces flat when using smooth shading Is there a way to make a smooth shaded mesh look like the third column in this example? The six sides of the cube should have their vertex normals aligned with the face normal.

Here is what I've tried so far:


Beveled, smooth shaded (faces are not flat)
beveled, smooth shaded, edge split (faces aren't joined)
Modified in external application (faces are flat, bevels are smooth)
If I got your question right, I think you should use a "subdivision surface" modifier, and smooth shading, to get what you want. Just add some edge on the cylinder top face and side surface, quite near the loop that divides them...

See below images:




or, for the cube version: