Creating objects of revolution

Design vases, bowls, and other rotationally symmetric objects using the Revolve tool.

Creating objects of revolution

This guide walks you through creating 3D objects by revolving a 2D profile around an axis. By the end, you will have a revolved shape ready for 3D printing.

What you'll accomplish

Create a vase, bowl, or similar rotationally symmetric object by drawing a profile and revolving it around an axis.

Prerequisites

  • Familiarity with basic drawing tools (Freehand or shape tools)
  • Understanding of the 3D panel

Steps

Draw the profile shape

The profile represents one side of your final object's cross-section. Think of it as the silhouette you would see if you sliced your object in half vertically.

  1. Select the Freehand tool or another drawing tool
  2. Draw the outline of one side of your object
  3. For a vase, draw a curved vertical line representing the outer wall
  4. For a bowl, draw a shallow curved line representing the inner surface

Keep your profile to one side of the canvas. The revolve will spin this shape around an axis to create the full 3D form.

Position the profile

The profile's position relative to the rotation axis determines the result:

  1. Select the Transform tool
  2. Click your profile shape to select it
  3. Move the shape so it sits to the right of where you want the center of your object

The distance between your profile and the axis creates the hollow interior. A profile far from the axis creates a wider opening; a profile closer to the axis creates a narrower one.

Apply the revolve

  1. With the shape selected, select the Revolve tool from the 3D toolbar (under Creation tools)
  2. The shape converts to a 3D revolved object
  3. A green axis line appears in the 3D panel showing the rotation axis

Your profile has been spun 360 degrees around the vertical axis, creating a complete object of revolution.

Adjust the revolve settings

Fine-tune your object in the Details panel:

  1. Select the revolved object in the 3D panel
  2. Open the Details panel from the context menu
  3. Adjust the settings:
    • Rotation axis: Y (vertical) or X (horizontal)
    • Rotation angle: 360 degrees for a complete object, less for a partial section
    • Segments: Higher values create smoother curves (32 is a good default)

For a vase or bowl, keep the Y axis and 360-degree rotation. Increase segments to 48 or 64 if you see visible facets on curves.

Result

You now have a 3D object of revolution that can be exported for 3D printing. The object is rotationally symmetric around the chosen axis, with smooth curved surfaces determined by the segment count.

Examples

Vase

Draw a tall, curved vertical profile. Position it away from the center to create a hollow interior. The curves in your profile become the contours of the vase walls.

Bowl

Draw a shallow, curved profile that slopes upward from one end. Keep the bottom edge horizontal where you want the base to sit flat. Position away from the axis to create the bowl cavity.

Dome or hemisphere

Draw a quarter-circle profile that touches the axis at one end. This creates a solid dome. For a hollow dome, position the quarter-circle away from the axis.

Turned spindle

Draw the silhouette of one side of the spindle, including any decorative grooves or beads. The revolve recreates these details all around the object.

Tips

  • Draw only half the cross-section. The revolve creates symmetry automatically.
  • Use smooth, flowing curves in your profile. Sharp corners create sharp edges on the final object.
  • Start with 32 segments. Increase only if curves look faceted in the preview.
  • For objects that need a flat base, end your profile with a horizontal line at the bottom.

Next steps