© 2001 Robert McNeel & Assoc
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Pentium, Celeron, or higher processor.
Windows 95/98/NT/ME/
2000/XP for Intel or AMD.*
40 MB disk space.
64 MB RAM. More is recommended.
IntelliMouse recommended.
3-D digitizer optional.
WHAT'S NEW
Hundreds of new modeling and editing commands
C++ developer kit for plug-in application developers
VBScript and JScript support
The Zoo, a workgroup license manager.
Plug-ins
VBScript and JScript Support
Flamingo, the first major plug-in
New Lights.
Improved unicode support
surface curvature analysis
Workgroup License Manager
The Zoo, the new workgroup license manager.
Object Selection
Object Snap Cursor Tag
Groups
Units
Reverse engineering tools
Curvature continuity control and analysis
Import and Export Formats
DETAILS

User interface: extremely fast 3-D graphics, unlimited viewports, shaded working views, perspective working views, coordinate read-out, named views, pop-up recently-used commands, customizable pop-up commands, synchronize views, camera-based view manipulation, perspective match image, configurable middle mouse button, customizable icons and user workspace, customizable pop-up toolbar, context sensitive right-click menu, Alt key copy, extensive Explorer-like online help, electronic updates, newsgroup support, and a 650-page color manual.

Construction aids: unlimited undo and redo, undo and redo multiple, exact numeric input, units including feet and inches and fractions, .x, .y, .z point filters, object snaps with identifying tag, grid snaps, ortho, planar, named construction planes, next and previous construction planes, orient construction plane on curve, layers, layer filtering, groups, background bitmaps, object hide/show, show selected objects, select by layer, color, object type, last object, and previous selection set, swap hidden objects, object lock/unlock, unlock selected objects, control and edit points on/off, and points off for selected objects.

Create curves: point, line, polyline, polyline on mesh, free-form curve, circle, arc, ellipse, rectangle, polygon, helix, spiral, conic, TrueType text, point interpolation, control points (vertices), sketch.

Create curves from other objects: extend, fillet, chamfer, offset, blend, from 2 views, cross section profiles, intersection, contour on NURBS surface or mesh, section on NURBS surface or mesh, border, silhouette, extract isoparm, projection, pullback, sketch, wireframe, detach trim, 2-D drawings with dimensions and text, flatten developable surfaces, extract points.

Edit curves: control points, edit points, handlebars, smooth, fair, change degree, add/remove knots, add kinks, rebuild, refit, match, simplify, change weight, make periodic, adjust end bulge, adjust seam, orient to edge.

Create surfaces: from 3 or 4 points, from 3 or 4 curves, from planar curves, from network of curves, rectangle, deformable plane, extrude, ribbon, rule, loft with tangency matching, developable, sweep along a path with edge matching, sweep along two rail curves with edge continuity, revolve, rail revolve, blend, patch, drape, point grid, heightfield, fillet, chamfer, offset, plane through points, TrueType and Unicode (double-byte) text.

Edit surfaces: control points, handlebars, change degree, add/remove knots, match, extend, merge, join, untrim, split surface by isoparms, rebuild, shrink, make periodic, Boolean (union, difference, intersection), unroll developable surfaces, array along curve on surface.

Create solids: box, sphere, cylinder, tube, pipe, cone, truncated cone, ellipsoid, torus, extrude planar curve, extrude surface, cap planar holes, join surfaces, TrueType text.

Edit solids: fillet edges, extract surface, Booleans (union, difference, intersection).

Create meshes: from NURBS surfaces, from closed polyline, mesh face, plane, box, cylinder, cone, and sphere.

Edit meshes: explode, join, weld, unify normals, apply to surface, reduce polygons.

Edit tools: cut, copy, paste, delete, delete duplicates, move, rotate, mirror, scale, stretch, align, array, join, trim, split, explode, extend, fillet, chamfer, offset, twist, bend, taper, shear, orient, orient planar object on curve, flow along curve, smooth, project, object properties.

Annotation: arrows, dots, dimensions (horizontal, vertical, aligned, rotated, radial, diameter, angle), text blocks, leaders, hidden line removal, Unicode (double-byte) support for text, dimensions, and notes.

Analysis: point, length, distance, angle, radius, bounding box, normal direction, area, area centroid, area moments, volume, volume centroid, volume moments, curvature graph on curves and surfaces, surface curvature, geometric continuity, deviation, naked edges, nearest point, surface analysis (draft angle, zebra stripe, environment map with surface color blend, Gaussian curvature, mean curvature, and minimum or maximum radius of curvature), hydrostatics.

Rendering: shade, shade (OpenGL), shade selected objects, render (with textures, bumps, highlights, transparency, spotlights with hotspot, angle and direction control, point lights, directional lights, and shadows, and customizable resolution), render preview (OpenGL), render preview selected objects, turntable, BMRT (raytrace and radiosity) user interface, POV (raytrace) user interface, rendering plug-in support, settings saved in file.

File formats supported: DWG/DXF(AutoCAD 2000, 14, 13, and 12 ), SAT (ACIS), X_T (Parasolid), 3DS, LWO, STL, OBJ, AI, RIB, POV, UDO, VRML, BMP, TGA, JPG, CSV (export properties and hydrostatics), uncompressed TIFF, STEP, VDA, GHS, SLC, Deep Paint 3D.

IGES (Alias, Ashlar Vellum, AutoFORM, AutoShip, Breault, CADCEUS, CAMSoft, CATIA, Cosmos, Delcam, EdgeCAM, FastSurf, FastSHIP, Integrity Ware, IronCAD, LUSAS, Maya, MAX 3.0, MasterCAM, ME30, Mechanical Desktop, Microstation, NuGraf, OptiCAD, Pro/E, SDRC I-DEAS, Softimage, Solid Edge, SolidWorks, SUM3D, SURFCAM, TeKSoft, Unigraphics), NASA GridTool, Yamaha ESPRi, Tebis.

File management: Notes, templates, merge files, export selected objects, save small, incremental save, bitmap file preview, Rhino file preview, export with origin point, file compression for meshes and preview image.

3-D digitizing support: MicroScribe 3D and FaroArm.

Input devices: Support for SpaceTec SpaceBall and LogiCad SpaceMouse.










RHINOCEROS Version 2.0

Having spent a good few weeks in 2000/1 learning the ins and outs of Rhino version 1.0 it was will open arms I accepted the mission of reviewing Version 2.0.

The version history of Robert McNeels flagship NURBS based application includes a version 1.1 but we leap right over that one.

The review package included a comprehensive, 500 page user guide (for version 1.0 according to the cover), a Version 2.0 upgrade guide and last of all a CD. 20 minutes after the DHL guy left me on the doorstep I was running the program. Installation, it seems, is as uncomplicated and user friendly as version 1.1 had been.

The interface seems largely unchanged which is no bad thing, the tool bar down the left had side now has a bit of colour in its cheeks, it was rather dull and uninteresting. But as mentioned, the items in the tool bar are much the same.

Underneath the command line interface was a colorful (Mostly green) toolbar that turned out to be the icons need to make Flamingo fly, more later on that subject.

SO WHAT'S NEW?

The short answer is loads. As mentioned, with version 2.0 you get an upgrade manual that details every new feature and enhancement.

I have included a comprehensive list taken from the manual and from the Rhino3D website. I've also included a list of the new features that I feel have added the most benefit to me as an illustrator.
`The main focus of Version 2.0' the manual states `is the ability to add plug-in applications to Rhino'. They aren't kidding.

I have included a list in the column to the right that includes all the major plugins that I could find. (Mainly from the plug-in page at Robert McNeels site). Below I have detailed the plugins that I have found most useful or interesting.

FLAMINGO RENDERER

 Those people who have been Rhino users for years will remember having to render Rhino models with limited lighting and texturing features. The Flamingo plugin gives you a whole new tool bar with access to a powerful set of rendering properties including backgrounds, sunlight, sky, color, clouds, haze, depth of field, soft shadows, radiosity,accurate reflections and even Plants!

The results match anything you will see coming from applications at the higher end of the price range.

click for larger image
'Clamp Stand' created for this review in Rhino and Rendered in Flamingo

DEEPPAINT 3D PLUGIN

A much need plugin to get you going with UV's and texturing. Make your object in the normal way in Rhino, use the DeepPaint plugin to get your mesh out of Rhino and into DeepPaint, use Texture Weapons (Mercator UV) to give it some UV coordinates, use DeepPaint to paint the surface of the object with whatever you like and send the finished article back on its way to Rhino. Makes for a really useful plugin.

I have to admit that I had trouble locating the plug-in for DeepPaint. I kept going to the Rhino plug-in page and following the links over to Right-hemesphere then I couldn't locate the Plug-in for download.

In the end I posted into the Rhino forum at renderosity to ask for help. A little more clarity on where to get it would be nice. Other than that little gripe, I think DeepPaint is a very necessary partner for Rhino and if you are needing to give your meshes UV coordinates and need detailed and accurate texture maps then it is essential.

RHINOMAN PLUGIN

I liked this because it was free!. Rhino man is a Plugin or standalone download that give the Rhino user a way to access the BMRT (Blue Moon Rendering Tools)
As it is free it is a must have rendering option for those on a budget. It was written by a guy called Brian Perry and he has done a good job of bringing the BMRT rendering capabilities to the Rhino toolbar.

The file is a 1.8 meg download from Brians site (Which also has some interesting links).

OBJECT SELECTION


Right-click and hold now displays a context sensitive menu. If you have an object selected when you right click you are given actions that relate to that objects or recent commands e.g.. Repeat, cut, paste, copy.

If no objects is selected the menu gives you options relevant to the viewport and again, the first item in the list will be repeat command which means a double right-click will give you a repeat of whatever you performed last (Same as ENTER really but useful to now)
A useful improvement that actually made its way into 1.1 is in the way that objects are selected. A context sensitive right mouse button popup give you access to a number of selection+cycle options.

If you hover your mouse over an area that contains a few different objects simply right click and you get the option to choose the object you want by name. Sounds simple but with large, multi-layered images it is a blessing.

Middle mouse button support came with 1.1 and is still relevant. You can set it to popup a toolbar,, pop up a menu of recent commands or you can even get it to run a macro.

 

IMPORT EXPORT BUSINESS
One area that has had additions is the import capability. The list to the right gives you an overview of the file type. While most of the major players are supported including Lightwave Objects (LWO) and DXF, there is still no native support for importing OBJ's (Alias Wavefront, obj) which is one of the commonly used formats by Poser, Lightwave and Maya.

I checked out the plugin pages www.Rhino3d.com and found a suitable third party plug-in available from www.fpsols.com (Floating point solutions).

The demo is free but it will only allow you to import OBJ's with limited faces. The upgrade to the full plug-in is $100 USD which to my mind is a bit steep for an import plug-in for one format only, albeit an important one.

Import and Export Formats

Rhino Version 2.0 has new and improved import and export types. Rhino 2.0 now also supports:

STEP import and export with stitching
New IGES types
VDA import and export with stitching
GHS export for marine analysis
SLC export for rapid prototyping
Viewpoint Experience Technology export
SpaceTec SpaceBall and LogiCad SpaceMouse support
Rhino now takes advantage of these 3-D mouse devices for view manipulation.
Multiple Workspace Support
The Toolbar command (Tools > Toolbar layout) allows multiple toolbar workspaces in one session of Rhino.
UNDERSTAND THE COMMAND LINE

One of the things that I was new to when I first started using Rhino was the command line interface. The thought of a command line always makes me nervous as I am by nature an artist not a programmer but Rhino changes all that.
Any command that you use from either the drop down menus or the tool bar are relayed to you in the command line. For example, you want to Boolean a couple of spheres. Select the little Boolean icon from the side tool bar and follow the command line prompts:







Now, I know I used a basic example but in effect, the command line is telling you what to do and when to do it, making it very easy to carry out some of the more difficult routines. You can also enter parameter changes into it instead of having a lot of pop up boxes.

For example, if you are carrying out a 'filletedge' command, after starting the command you can type in the size of the filter (.3 for a small one for example), hit enter, pick your edges one by one, enter, bingo! round edges.
MODELING


Rhino in its earlier versions was packed to the gills with modeling features and tools. Version 2.0 expand on this. You can blend surfaces, revolve objects from curves, fillet your corners, extrude along paths, use one and two rail curves, you can bend, mirror, rotate, shear, loft and patch. All the expected tools are there at your finger tips.

One improvement (I think) I have found that I couldn't see much documentation about was the Blend Surface.

While trying out this version I made a welders helmet. Using 2 rail curves I constructed one half of the helmet than mirrored it leaving a gap in the middle that I needed to fill using the Blend Surface command.

I was very surprised with the result which was seamless and smooth and gave me a number of options including a slider to adjust the influence of the surface on the curve shape. Click the image opposite to see the results. Top marks for this one.		 click for larger image


IN SUMMARY
In summary (as they say), I firmly believe that Rhino is a value for money product and V.2.0 has added a little more value. If Rhino is your first venture into NURBS modeling then you are in for a treat and will probably tell everyone how easy NURBS modeling is.

Just look at the variety of companies that use the program from boat builders to marine specialists. Having spent the time learning how to model in Rhino it would be nice to be able to add bones and a bit of IK but a package like this isn't trying to be all singing and dancing. It is highly specialized in design and is noted for being precision point accurate which most NURBS package are not.

Standing today at a little under $900 US dollars I should imagine most small businesses that purchase Rhino don't moan about that price point. The fact that plugins are being developed by a multitude of companies suggests that Rhino is here to stay and is likely to be well supported in the future.

Flamingo brings a powerful rendering engine into the package and for me seems a match for most of the others out there. The fact that it is all in-house (model, light, render) makes it a more rounded application, maybe a little slow on rendering the bigger images with a lot of reflections but then again they are all slow when you get those reflecto rays bouncing aren't they!

Rhino is, for me, a straight up, what you see is what you get NURBS modeler. It grown a little more mature with version 2.0 and given it's users a little of what they asked for in its numerous updates and tweaks.
PRICES

  The Flamingo and Rhino duo are priced:  
  • Commercial users US$1,190  
  • Students and teachers $295.  
  • School lab license $1,650.  
  and the big Rhino itself.......  
  • Commercial users US$895  
  • Students and teachers $195.  
  • School lab license $975.  
  The spec again..  
  • Pentium, Celeron, or higher processor.
• Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP for Intel or AMD.*
• 40 MB disk space.
• 64 MB RAM. More is recommended.
• IntelliMouse recommended.
• 3-D digitizer optional. 		 

RHINO INFORMATION AND GALLERIES


Renderosity Rhino Galleries
A large collection of online images.

Rhino book links
A comprehensive list of book about Rhino and NURBS in general

Renderosity hosted tutorials
l learned a great deal from these tutorials, one of the main things being modeling organic shapes.

3dRender.com
now offers the tutorials and files from the Secrets of Rhinoceros CD-ROM as a free on-line resource. Please note that these tutorials were developed while Rhinoceros was in version 1 (or earlier) and has not been updated for the latest releases of Rhino. Because this content was designed for CD-ROM delivery, some of these pages may be slower to download than the other tutorial pages on 3dRender.com, and a few of the shortcut links do not work.

back to reviews
NURBS?
*NURBS, Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines, are mathematical representations of 3-D geometry that can accurately describe any shape from a simple 2-D line, circle, arc, or curve to the most complex 3-D organic free-form surface or solid. Because of their flexibility and accuracy, NURBS models can be used in any process from illustration and animation to manufacturing.

  PLUGINS

Deep Paint 3D Artistic Rendering and 3D Texturing Tool (Companion with Rhino support)

Moldex-Mesh A powerful FEM mesh geneator (Plug-In)
 

New! CADRCS Makes Radar Cross Section calculations (Plug-In)
 

LucidShape Computer Aided Lighting (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

WinTherm Advanced thermal analysis for CAE (Companion with 3DM Support)

Extended Animation Workspace (Toolbar Layout)

RhinoMate Workspace for animation (Toolbar Layout)

Form vs. Shape 2 Advanced high-quality surfacing (Tutorial CD)

New! Rhino Visual TIPS A tutorial CD with 350 video clips. (Tutorial CD)

Secrets of Rhinoceros A Rhino tutorial (Tutorial CD)
 

New! Form vs. Shape 1 Modeling for different purposes (Tutorial CD)
 

Digitizing Tutorial Digitizing with MicroScribe 3D in Rhino (Book)
 

Horizon Line Closest points between two surfaces (Plug-In)
 

NC Import for Rhino Imports commands from NC files (Plug-In)

CraftMill Cutting RP (Companion with 3DM Support)

RAMS Software 2D & 3D CAM Software (Companion with 3DM Support)

VisualMill Solid/Surface/STL CAM system for Rhino (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

AUTON CAM 3D CAM for Mold-makers (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

New! SprutCAM Powerful abilities under grace control (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

SUM 3D 3D CAM FOR MOLD MAKERS (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

Millit Rapid Prototyping by Milling (Companion with Rhino support)
 

StlWork Low Cost 3D CAM software (Companion with Rhino support)
 

DeskProto 3D CAM software for Rapid Prototyping (Companion without 3DM Support)
 

New! EZ-CAM CAD/CAM for 2,3 & 4 axis Milling (Companion without 3DM Support)

Layer Manager Save and restore layer states (Plug-In)

ObjectViewer Displays file grouping structure (Plug-In)

BPSelect Select objects with similar properties (Plug-In)

Quick Layer displays an "always on top" dialog box that allows one to quickly set layer states (Plug-In)

Scripts Rhino 2.0 Scripts and Macros. (Plug-In)
 

HtmlView associate HTML files or web addresses with a 3DM file (Plug-In)
 

Hyperlink attach web URLs to objects (Plug-In)
 

IGES Y2K bug repair (Companion with 3DM Support)

New! GeoFrac2000 Realistic Landscape &Terrain Generator (Companion with Rhino support)

David's workspace A Rhino 2.0 and Flamingo workspace (Toolbar Layout)

ObjectColor Workspace Quickly change the color of objects (Toolbar Layout)

Walkabout Toolbox Navigate perspective by walking around (Toolbar Layout)
 

SpaceMouse/SpaceBall 3D Motion Controller (Hardware)

HPGL Import for Rhino import graphical data from HPGL Plot (PLT) files (Plug-In)

OBJ Import for Rhino import graphical data from ASCII Alias|Wavefront OBJ files (Plug-In)

Points import points from or export points to a delimited text file (Plug-In)
 

ASC Import for Rhino import graphical data from ASC files (Plug-In)

New! SolidWorks/3DM import SolidWorks add-in to import 3DM file (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

openNURBS read and write Rhino's native 3DM files (Companion with 3DM Support)

Matrix Digital Goldsmith Matrix (Plug-In)
 

Eureka Jewelry Design Tools (Toolbar Layout)
 

New! 3D JEWELRY MODELS 3D DESIGNS (Service)

Proteus Hydrostatics Hydrostatics & Stability Calculations (Plug-In)
 

RhinOffsets Automate Tables of Offsets in Rhino (Plug-In)
 

RhinoLR (beta) Linear Regression Analysis in Rhino 2.0+ (Plug-In)
 

RhinoStatics (beta) Hydrostatics in Rhinoceros 2.0+ (Plug-In)
 

FastShip NURBS-based Hullform Design & Fairing (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

New! ShipConstructor Complete ship production software suite (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

GHSView View GHS files and save to DXF format (Companion with Rhino support)
 

New! Autoship naval architecture hull design program (Companion without 3DM Support)
 

GHS General Hydrostatics (Companion without 3DM Support)
 

Maxsurf Naval architecture software (Companion without 3DM Support)
 

Synergy 3D Giant CAD-CAM parts (Service)
 

Gear Involute Gear for Rhino (Plug-In)
 

New! Solid Concept Parametric Solid modeler w. CAM support (Companion without 3DM Support)
 

New! Protoshape Small parts prototyping service (Service)
 

New! MDX-650 Tabletop Milling Machine (Hardware)
 

Z Corp. 3D Printer Creates 3D Physical models from CAD data (Hardware)

RhinoMan RenderMan compatible rendering interface (Plug-In)
 

Flamingo Raytrace and radiosity rendering (Plug-In)
 

RhinoNTV Beta 0.08 Interface for Rhinoceros to VirtuaLight (Plug-In)
 

Opus Realizer RE A digital showroom (Companion with 3DM Support)
 

New! AIR Fast high quality rendering (Companion without 3DM Support)

Smurf MeshToSrf plug-in (Plug-In)
 

DupMeshBorder Duplicates the border of meshes (Plug-In)
 

New! LPX 250 Laser Scanner (Hardware)
 

New! MDX-15/20 Desktop Scanning & Milling Machine (Hardware)
 

MicroScribe 3D Desktop Digitizing Systems (Hardware)