The Complete Beginner Guide to Rhino

Rhino works with NURBS, meshes, and SubD geometry—each suited to different modelling tasks. The software connects to Grasshopper for parametric design and imports/exports a wide range of file formats including DWG, 3DM, OBJ, and STEP. Radu explains where Rhino fits in the architectural workflow and what makes it different from mesh-based modellers.

The four-viewport layout shows perspective, top, front, and right views simultaneously. Navigation uses right-click drag to rotate, scroll wheel to zoom, and Shift+right-click to pan. You'll set up toolbars, learn the command line, and configure display modes for different presentation needs.

Points and curves are the foundation of everything in Rhino—surfaces, solids, and meshes all start here. You'll place points, draw lines, arcs, circles, and freeform curves, then edit them by adjusting control points. The difference between control point curves and interpolated curves affects how shapes behave when modified.

Surfaces form from curves using commands like Loft, Sweep, and Revolve. The construction plane determines where new geometry appears—you'll learn to set and manipulate it for accurate placement. Solids are closed polysurfaces created through extrusion, boolean operations, or capping open surfaces.

Accurate modelling requires precise input methods. Coordinates can be typed as absolute, relative, or polar values. Object snaps lock to endpoints, midpoints, centres, and intersections. Grid snap, ortho mode, and distance constraints ensure geometry lands exactly where intended.

Move, copy, rotate, scale, and mirror transform objects without changing their shape. Array creates multiple copies in linear, polar, or grid patterns. Booleans combine solids through union, difference, and intersection. Trim, split, and fillet refine edges and intersections between surfaces.

Layers organise geometry by category—walls, floors, furniture—with independent visibility, colour, and material assignments. Object properties control individual items. Display modes switch between wireframe, shaded, rendered, and custom views. Named views save camera positions for quick recall.

Import reference drawings as locked background images scaled to real-world dimensions. CAD files (DWG, DXF) bring in existing linework as curves. Photos placed on planes become tracing references for organic shapes. Export options include mesh formats for rendering software and vector formats for documentation.

Richard Meier's Douglas House becomes the project for the rest of the course. Import the floor plans and elevations as background references, then trace over them with Rhino curves. Guide geometry—construction lines and reference planes—helps maintain accuracy without cluttering the final model. Layer organisation keeps references separate from modelled elements.

Transform your traced curves into walls, floors, and roofs using extrusion and surface commands. The Douglas House's crisp white volumes and extensive glazing require clean boolean operations and careful edge management. Keep 2D references on locked layers while building the 3D model above them.

The Douglas House sits dramatically on a wooded slope above Lake Michigan. Model the terrain using contour lines or a mesh surface, then integrate the building into the landscape. Grading around the foundation and pathways connects architecture to ground plane. Site context—trees, neighbouring land—completes the setting.

Furniture and fixtures add human scale and bring the model to life. Source 3D models from manufacturer libraries or general repositories, checking file formats and polygon counts before import. Clean up imported geometry, assign appropriate layers, and position items using reference photos of the actual house interior.

Materials in Rhino can be assigned by layer or by object. Create basic materials with colour and reflectivity, or use texture maps for wood, stone, and fabric. Lighting setups range from simple sun studies to multi-light scenes. The rendered viewport gives real-time feedback as you adjust settings.

Named views save camera positions for consistent output across revisions. Set focal length to control perspective distortion—wider angles for interiors, longer lenses for exteriors. Two-point perspective keeps verticals straight. Target and position cameras precisely using coordinates or visual placement in plan view.

Clipping planes cut through the model to generate floor plans and sections. Make2D converts 3D geometry into 2D linework organised by layer—visible edges, hidden lines, and section cuts. Elevation views project the building orthographically. These become the basis for dimensioned construction drawings.

Layout space assembles multiple views onto a single sheet with titleblock, scale bar, and north point. Detail views link to model space and update automatically when the 3D model changes. Set print scale per viewport—1:100 for plans, 1:50 for details. Export to PDF for drawing issue or DWG for CAD-based annotation.

Annotations turn geometry into communication. Add dimensions with leader lines, text notes for specifications, and hatches to indicate materials in section. Line weights distinguish cut elements from projection lines. Print display mode previews how drawings will appear on paper before export.

Export layouts to PDF for print-ready drawing packs. Rendered views export as PNG or JPEG for presentations. The 3D model exports to DWG for CAD teams, FBX for rendering software, or OBJ for 3D printing. Match export settings to destination software requirements for clean file transfers.