Multiple Hi Res Screen Shots

Update: Script now takes layer states into consideration when taking screen shots. For example, if the model has 2 named views and 5 options saved as layer states, this script will pull a total of 10 screenies.

Rhino has a command called ViewCapturetoFile that allows for screen captures. Better yet, the dashed version of the command ("-ViewCapturetoFile") allows for custom resolution captures. I was able to extract 16000 x 16000 pixel image files (haven't tested higher)!

Still, it is annoying to individually captures your saved views, so I've created a script back in 2011 (recently updated):

HiResScreenies (rvb)

This is a simple script that runs through ALL of your named views at your chosen dimensions, and saves them to a folder of your choosing. 

Spatial Deform: Grasshopper Introduction

Rhino's CageEdit command's closest equivalent in grasshopper is Spatial Deform. The combination of an already powerful command with grasshopper's interactive nature makes this a very complicated and memory intensive tool to figure out and use. Other than this Q&A and this demo, I really can't find a good example of using Spatial Deform, so here goes a basic introduction:

To use Spatial Deform, you'll need to attach the following:

'G' - the rhino geometry to deform

'S' - a series of points that will define the cage

'F' - the forces applied to each of the points in 'S'

'f' - a falloff equation

Now this script takes advantage of Kangaroo's removeDuplicatePts. If you don't already have it, get it at their website.

Spatial Deformation.gh
Spatial Deformation.3dm example
(links updated 9.18.2013)

Match Cage Edit + FlowAlongSrf

Part 2 of the MatchCageEdit series shows how I can combine the script with rhino's FlowAlongSrf as a rough and quick paneling design tool. In many regards it is similar to a grasshopper CageEdit, but allows for easier manipulation.

Match Cage Edit

MatchCageEdit.rvb

This is Part 1 of a three part exploration into Rhino's CageEdit and Cage commands.

In Rhino, I frequently use cage editing for sloppy massing control. However, it has the ability to become a powerful and accurate design tool if there was a bit more workflow control. Imagine if you were working on developing a two-piece composition with cage editing, and then you've decided that it really needed three pieces. How would you add another object to cage? What you would need to do is to start over with a new cage and slowly deforming the control points until it looks like the previous control/cage. Ugh!

The actual steps to rebuild a deformed cage is simple but tedious. That's why here is a script in the same vein as MatchProperties or MatchLayer:

MatchCageEdit.rvb (change .txt to .rvb)

Making Slabs with Grasshopper

Slab is a limited command in rhino, but it has its uses in quickly putting up simple extrusions. It's always annoying to change your workflow because a basic tool is missing in grasshopper, so:

slab.gh

The definition is really simple. A series of closed, planar curves, the offset (inwards or outwards), and the extrusion value. With those in place, the script does a few offsets and booleans, and then spits out the slabs.

Label by Layer

Sometimes, while diagramming in rhino, it helps to easily see to which layer each object belongs. This script simply adds a text dot of 'layer name' at the center of each object, and then groups it with the object.

LabelByLayer.rvb - (change .txt to .rvb)

Rhino Hidden Line

A few of us at work had been complaining that Rhino did not have an easy to use hidden line feature. But there is, if you know how to set it up. It involves creating a "new display option" (AdvancedDisplay). 

I've written this .rvb script (for rhino4 or rhino5wip) that will allow you to easily toggle in and out of a hiddenline mode. 

 

SetHiddenLineMode.rvb - (change .txt to .rvb)

Hidden Line.ini - setup file with colors

Hidden Line White.ini - setup files with just white lines

Extracting 3d models from Google Earth

*updated October 2013.

The following tutorial does not seem to work for everyone, so
Try requesting a 3d capture here.

Lasso Objects for rhino

Rhino has many selection options. For the adventurous/ graphically minded, there is the lasso tool that emulates the photoshop lasso selection. Alas, it only works on points in rhino. Thus, I have expanded on it to provide selection for all types of objects.

link to script

1. hide as much as you can

2. run script, it will create points for you to lasso

3. lasso them as you would in photoshop

Columns from Srf and Grid

To create a field of columns of different shapes in rhino, you will need the following ingredients:
- a couple of intersecting lines
- a ceiling surface
- a simple grasshopper script
- and a bit a patience and curiosity

Directions:

1. draw your curves

2. draw your surface

3. select the curves and srf in the grasshopper script

4. adjust curve/srf as you see fit

grasshopper script requests 4 variables: the intersecting curves (column starting points), surface (height), width, and length.

Converting Meshes to Surfs in Rhino

I ran into a problem this afternoon of importing a Revit model into Rhino via dwg format. What used to be flat surfaces have now become messy meshes, making the import impossible to work with. Having ran into this problem before with Sketchup, Ive decided to figure out a way.

The solution is rather straightforward:
1. use "MeshToNurb" on a Mesh to get a polysurface.
2. use "Silhouette" on the pSurf to get a bunch of outlines.
3. use "PlanarSrf" on the outlines to get the final Surface.
4. delete the intermediary steps
repeat.

Since I had over 400 surfaces, I decided to just do some rhinoscripting. The script does just the above, without altering the original meshes. After processing the selected meshes, the script ends with all the new objects highlighted, in case you wanted to drop them into a new layer/take out isocurves. Just change .txt to .rvb and load it to rhino.