# Show 3D Smoothing Algorithm

**URL:** https://discourse.slicer.org/t/show-3d-smoothing-algorithm/41593
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [February 9, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/show-3d-smoothing-algorithm/41593 "2025-02-09T22:46:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![aiacocca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8c91f0/32.png) [@aiacocca](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/aiacocca)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/show-3d-smoothing-algorithm/41593/1 "2025-02-09T22:46:03Z")

</div>

Hello! I was wondering what smoothing algorithm the “Show 3D” smoothing option uses in the segment editor.

Thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![cpinter](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/cpinter/32/7995_2.png) [@cpinter](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/cpinter)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/show-3d-smoothing-algorithm/41593/2 "2025-02-10T15:00:39Z")

</div>

The default smoothing algorithm is the flying edges, see

Pinter, C., Lasso, A., & Fichtinger, G. (2019). Polymorph segmentation representation for medical image computing. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 171, 19–26. [Redirecting](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2019.02.011)

The experimental algorithm is SurfaceNets, see

> [@New surface model generation method: SurfaceNets](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-surface-model-generation-method-surfacenets/32430):
>
> We have now integrated the [SurfaceNets isocontouring method](https://www.kitware.com/really-fast-isocontouring/) into “Show 3D” functionality of the Segment Editor! The new experimental algorithm provides a ~7x speedup to the generation of surface models from segmentations compared to the default method (Flying Edges). The option can be enabled from the Show 3D menu in the Segment Editor. Default FlyingEdges Method SurfaceNets with default smoothing (fast) SurfaceNets with built in Smoothing (faster)

I’m sure this topic has been answered several times on the forum but the search function on discourse is horrible, so here it is again 🙂
