I just got Rhino today and I was wondering if anyone who knows Rhino really well if they could advise me on the best way to learn the program...any books or tutorials out there that you've used or would recomend?!
Thanks a lot!
FOG Lite
Jun 23, 07 9:06 am
The best way is always to jump in with a project.
It should come with a couple tutorials that will answer your basic questions. McNeel also has an awsome support section on their website and they have a series of quick video podcasts on all the features in Rhino V4. There's also a links section on their website that will point you to good tutorials and resources.
Off Broadway also has plenty of tutorials. Also check Aversis for some quick tutorials.
Most of the stuff online is geared more toward product design than modeling buildings so there's still plenty you'll have to figure out for yourself.
bowling_ball
Jun 23, 07 9:25 am
Also, if you know autocad, you'll find that rhino is very similar in the way it works. I learned rhino first (albeit not amazingly well) and now that i'm learning autocad, I'm finding it really quite easy.
Apurimac
Jun 23, 07 11:12 am
This is the key as far as I understand it:
Loft: Make curve sections, hit loft, get cool blobby thing
Sweep: Make curve sections, connect with rail(s), hit sweep, make cool blobby thing.
harold
Jun 23, 07 12:24 pm
Is everyone here into blobs thus the reason why Rhino is extensively used or do you use it also for mainstream residential work?
RossM
Jun 23, 07 8:59 pm
Thanks guys...Im interested in scripting so will have much to learn...and please stop using the word blob!
superduct
Jun 23, 07 10:45 pm
blob bliblob blob blob...jk.
a basic premise of most modern 3d modelling, regardless of the pogram being used, is the cutting technique. you start with a surface and create another surface perpendicular to it and then apply a command that tells the program to cut [or split in rhino terms] and it does just that. this command can be used with custom shapes too. boolean commands have a similar effect, but they go a few steps further and create an actual reaction between two shapes/surfaces [i.e. booleandifference finds the connecting edges of two objects and removes a portion of the objects automatically].
other rhino basics are as follows:
right click, hold, and drag = viewport rotation
shift + right click, hold, and drag = viewport pan
control + right click, hold, and drag = zoom [more controlled than center scroll]
use osnaps, rhino has some of the best in the biz.
split will become a close friend of yours, try it out. the object that is doing the splitting [cutting] cannot have any open edges inside of the surface being split, meaning that u cant cut into a plane [or other surface] only half way like you can with a scissor. it must be all or none.
extrude works with surfaces or lines to, ehhhh, extrude.
double click on the title of any viewport [front, perspective, etc.] to maximize that particular viewport. double click it again to go back to viewing all 4 viewports.
learn the shortcuts and try to avoid using the icons from the get-go...once you rely on the icons, your workflow gets killed searching for another icon every 5 seconds. when trying to figure out a command, enter the first few letters of it and wait about 2 seconds. rhino gives u a comprehensive list of all the commands that start with those letters.
polyl = polyline
li = line
boo = boolean difference
extru = extrude
spl = split
rec = rectangle [hit 3 before drawing to use 3 point rectangle...another unique feature of rhino]
o = ortho on / off
s = grid snap on / off
j = join
m = move
extends = extend surface [extends an edge of a surface]
Rhinoceros Visual Tips would be the best newest multicultural material and available online as well.
it covers about everything in v4 and the rest is very situational to your unique project http://www.la.rhino3d.com/visual_tips/visual_tips.html
one thing i find very powerful is that i can use Rhinoceros as/in ways that i would otherwise have to use indesign, illustrator, max, autocad and or any other cad 3d animation or page layout program and with more ease. (not in all aspects but most but those are on the wish list and comming)
most important is the news://news.rhino3d.com/rhino newsgroups because most questions have been asked and can be searched and any new one asked and well answered by the workers who aslo own the company and other devoted altruistic users
then again i have been using this program since pre-beta 1 and maybe it is just second nature to me but i always learn new things almost each day.
difficultfix
Jun 24, 07 3:47 pm
When you purchase Rhino..it come with complete Leve1 and 2 Manuals..Which is the same manuals they use at the Mcneel training..Which comes with a full of tutorials...Its a good way to start...
Antisthenes
Jun 25, 07 2:57 am
the Help is most comprehensive as well.
garpike
Jun 25, 07 3:11 am
FOG Lite said it best. Jusmp nto a project.
Bolb blob blob.
garpike
Jun 25, 07 3:12 am
jump into
(about to throw this laptop out the window)
MADianito
Jun 25, 07 2:48 pm
jump into (a project), and if u already knew/know autocad then is freakin' easy
Jonas77
Jun 25, 07 3:56 pm
easier
PetePeterson
Jun 25, 07 6:37 pm
do the tutorials like they said... it will teach you what you need to know. They start out at a 7 yr old level but pick up real quick...
I also find high energy music to help me a lot while modeling in Rhino. Like getting into a nice rhythm while trimming something for example. Let me know if I'm alone on this one.
PetePeterson
Jun 25, 07 6:38 pm
i also have a friend who claims he's naming his first born Boolean
Fred Scharmen
Jun 26, 07 12:30 am
A friend of mine's Rhino joke (not mine, I wish I'd thought of this):
'Join the Boolean Union!'
And he made a poster with a photoshopped screengrab of the tooltips. Genius.
garpike
Jun 26, 07 12:39 am
I can't tell if I am with that. Without that. Or possibly sharing the same space as that.
scralk
Jun 26, 07 11:48 am
on the same topic, what's the best guidebook for 3ds max 9?
PetePeterson
Jun 26, 07 11:52 am
oh you don't need that for max... it's probably the easiest interface ever to work with... not confusing at all
difficultfix
Jun 26, 07 11:56 am
I was told that if your are a student in an acreddited school, your are welcome to go to the mcneel training for free........But only if they have serating space leftover......doesnt hurt to look into that
difficultfix
Jun 26, 07 11:57 am
serating......sorry have no idea what that means or what i was trying to wirte.....
Jonas77
Jun 26, 07 2:13 pm
boolean union LOL
i wonder if it is better than the IWW. International Workers of the World the anarchist union that we have to thank for suffrage of children, women and most all of the workers rights we enjoy today.
max and maya revit autocad studiotools flint flame inferno (the faltering autodesk monopoly)? i think it takes way more training, part of the business model, to use those tools and they don't have near the modeling or creation tools that Rhinoceros does where Rhino is almost self explanatory
Archcut the a rhinoceros architecure plugin was released a new version today
I just got Rhino today and I was wondering if anyone who knows Rhino really well if they could advise me on the best way to learn the program...any books or tutorials out there that you've used or would recomend?!
Thanks a lot!
The best way is always to jump in with a project.
It should come with a couple tutorials that will answer your basic questions. McNeel also has an awsome support section on their website and they have a series of quick video podcasts on all the features in Rhino V4. There's also a links section on their website that will point you to good tutorials and resources.
Off Broadway also has plenty of tutorials. Also check Aversis for some quick tutorials.
Most of the stuff online is geared more toward product design than modeling buildings so there's still plenty you'll have to figure out for yourself.
Also, if you know autocad, you'll find that rhino is very similar in the way it works. I learned rhino first (albeit not amazingly well) and now that i'm learning autocad, I'm finding it really quite easy.
This is the key as far as I understand it:
Loft: Make curve sections, hit loft, get cool blobby thing
Sweep: Make curve sections, connect with rail(s), hit sweep, make cool blobby thing.
Is everyone here into blobs thus the reason why Rhino is extensively used or do you use it also for mainstream residential work?
Thanks guys...Im interested in scripting so will have much to learn...and please stop using the word blob!
blob bliblob blob blob...jk.
a basic premise of most modern 3d modelling, regardless of the pogram being used, is the cutting technique. you start with a surface and create another surface perpendicular to it and then apply a command that tells the program to cut [or split in rhino terms] and it does just that. this command can be used with custom shapes too. boolean commands have a similar effect, but they go a few steps further and create an actual reaction between two shapes/surfaces [i.e. booleandifference finds the connecting edges of two objects and removes a portion of the objects automatically].
other rhino basics are as follows:
right click, hold, and drag = viewport rotation
shift + right click, hold, and drag = viewport pan
control + right click, hold, and drag = zoom [more controlled than center scroll]
use osnaps, rhino has some of the best in the biz.
split will become a close friend of yours, try it out. the object that is doing the splitting [cutting] cannot have any open edges inside of the surface being split, meaning that u cant cut into a plane [or other surface] only half way like you can with a scissor. it must be all or none.
extrude works with surfaces or lines to, ehhhh, extrude.
double click on the title of any viewport [front, perspective, etc.] to maximize that particular viewport. double click it again to go back to viewing all 4 viewports.
learn the shortcuts and try to avoid using the icons from the get-go...once you rely on the icons, your workflow gets killed searching for another icon every 5 seconds. when trying to figure out a command, enter the first few letters of it and wait about 2 seconds. rhino gives u a comprehensive list of all the commands that start with those letters.
polyl = polyline
li = line
boo = boolean difference
extru = extrude
spl = split
rec = rectangle [hit 3 before drawing to use 3 point rectangle...another unique feature of rhino]
o = ortho on / off
s = grid snap on / off
j = join
m = move
extends = extend surface [extends an edge of a surface]
and that should get you started...
is great
Rhinoceros Visual Tips would be the best newest multicultural material and available online as well.
it covers about everything in v4 and the rest is very situational to your unique project
http://www.la.rhino3d.com/visual_tips/visual_tips.html
one thing i find very powerful is that i can use Rhinoceros as/in ways that i would otherwise have to use indesign, illustrator, max, autocad and or any other cad 3d animation or page layout program and with more ease. (not in all aspects but most but those are on the wish list and comming)
most important is the news://news.rhino3d.com/rhino newsgroups because most questions have been asked and can be searched and any new one asked and well answered by the workers who aslo own the company and other devoted altruistic users
then again i have been using this program since pre-beta 1 and maybe it is just second nature to me but i always learn new things almost each day.
When you purchase Rhino..it come with complete Leve1 and 2 Manuals..Which is the same manuals they use at the Mcneel training..Which comes with a full of tutorials...Its a good way to start...
the Help is most comprehensive as well.
FOG Lite said it best. Jusmp nto a project.
Bolb blob blob.
(about to throw this laptop out the window)
jump into (a project), and if u already knew/know autocad then is freakin' easy
easier
do the tutorials like they said... it will teach you what you need to know. They start out at a 7 yr old level but pick up real quick...
I also find high energy music to help me a lot while modeling in Rhino. Like getting into a nice rhythm while trimming something for example. Let me know if I'm alone on this one.
i also have a friend who claims he's naming his first born Boolean
A friend of mine's Rhino joke (not mine, I wish I'd thought of this):
'Join the Boolean Union!'
And he made a poster with a photoshopped screengrab of the tooltips. Genius.
I can't tell if I am with that. Without that. Or possibly sharing the same space as that.
on the same topic, what's the best guidebook for 3ds max 9?
oh you don't need that for max... it's probably the easiest interface ever to work with... not confusing at all
I was told that if your are a student in an acreddited school, your are welcome to go to the mcneel training for free........But only if they have serating space leftover......doesnt hurt to look into that
serating......sorry have no idea what that means or what i was trying to wirte.....
boolean union LOL
i wonder if it is better than the IWW. International Workers of the World the anarchist union that we have to thank for suffrage of children, women and most all of the workers rights we enjoy today.
max and maya revit autocad studiotools flint flame inferno (the faltering autodesk monopoly)? i think it takes way more training, part of the business model, to use those tools and they don't have near the modeling or creation tools that Rhinoceros does where Rhino is almost self explanatory
Archcut the a rhinoceros architecure plugin was released a new version today
A new release of the ArchCut plug-in for Rhino 4 SR0 is now available from:
http://download.mcneel.com/download_rel.asp?rel=268
Updated documentation is available from:
http://en.wiki.mcneel.com/default.aspx/McNeel/ArchCut.html
Check out these nyc-based workshops:
http://eistudio.net/WORKSHOPS.html
There are basic and advanced workshops coming up!
updated link to the workshops
http://www.eistudio.net/WORKSHOPS.html