What are the most efficient techniques for getting smooth curved surfaces on modern GPUs?

So I know we can generate complex meshes and smooth their normal's in 3D packages but to look good and work well it tends to take more triangles.

Are there more efficient shaders, graphics API calls that can generate smooth surfaces?

I know there has been some work in this area e.g.

• Pixar has "Bezier" curved technology.
• One of the GPU makers tried bezeir surfaces quite a long time ago.
• OpenGL had/has "bezier" curved surfaces.
• Tessellation on GPUs.

So there may be quit a few new technologies pushing in this direction but which ones work best in Unity and have good modelling solutions e.g. free tools?

 

I think your current process is the best for 3D Unity projects right now. For performance you could break up the surface and cull/LOD them