VR Sketch: high-performance Virtual Reality viewer

VR Sketch is a plugin that lets you render any model in Virtual Reality without creating discomfort and without changing the model. This sounds like it should not be that hard—but it is something that is, surprisingly at least for us, technically hard to achieve. Virtual Reality requires high performance to avoid inducing nausea; we have achieved this through extensive optimizations, making VR Sketch the fastest and most comfortable viewer out there.

This is achieved through sketchy art style, without photo-realism, light effects and high definition textures. However, models with millions of triangles can be shown in VR quickly and with a single button. The model remains synchronized with Rhino: changes done in Rhino are immediately propagated to VR. You can walk around or inside your prototype, then do tweaks in Rhino and quickly iterate. You can even do two-person collaboration, with one person in VR and the other one on the screen editing the Rhino model.

Try VR Sketch Beta on food4Rhino...

World Expanded / NFTS and Rendering - The new book by Tobias Eder (in German)

The German sculptor Tobias Eder has realized his virtual art in digital space since 2009 using McNeel's Rhino software. Since then, a large number of artworks have been created with Rhino. 

His book, published in November 2023, comprises 400 pages with numerous illustrations and provides a deep insight into Eder's digital world. It includes futuristic spaces, digitally created sculptures, which are often realized using 3D printing, and even the Old Synagogue in Freiburg, which was cast in bronze based on his digital model and is now installed in front of the University Library in Freiburg. Text contributions in the book reflect the new art in digital space, and the art historian Wolfgang Ullrich focuses on the NFTs created by Eder, which are also shown in the book.

Tobias Eder was born in 1966 in Rheinfelden/Baden. He studied sculpture at the art academies in Karlsruhe and Munich and now lives and works in Freiburg im Breisgau. With Rhino, he designs both profane and sacred spaces and in some cases their new contemporary furnishings. 


World Expanded
NFTS and Renderings, Tobias Eder
Softcover, 22.5 x 17.2 cm, 400 pages, numerous illustrations
With essays by Wolfgang Ullrich, Mareike Hartmann, AI/Marek Kralewski, Tobias Eder
Euro 35.- (plus shipping)
Published by Galerie Marek Kralewski
ISBN 978-3-945173-18-1

Order the book (in German) on the gallery's website...

Jevero 2024.0 unveils new features for shoe patterns and costing

New features for shoe patterns and costing

Jevero, the pattern-making plugin for Rhino, has recently introduced a series of exciting new features.

As part of the three updates/year schedule, this update encompasses various enhancements in both Jevero and JeveroCost, offering users a fresh set of tools to improve pattern-making and cost calculation.

One of the main topics is the compatibility with the new Rhino 8 release.

Discover the details of the latest features...

Student's contest by SABIT: Design for a better life

Our Polish reseller SABIT has organized the following contest for local students:

Design for a better life: Create a 3D model in Rhino for improving the lives of others

3D modeling can be used to create innovative solutions to improve life and address various social, medical, environmental, and technological challenges in society.

SABIT invites all students to participate in this competition, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in Rhino and creativity in developing 3D models to improve the lives of others. This is a challenge to develop innovative projects that can make the world a better and more comfortable place.

Submissions deadline 24 December.

Complete details...

Jewelry un-tutorials

 

Un-tutorials. What? It's an educational series based on TV episode logic, not the typical tutorial pattern. Showing a real-case scenario using Rhino, Giuseppe and Beatrice talk through their process of designing a ring, a real-life scenario.

They go through the briefing in Episode 1 to create the first sketches in pencil and paper. Then, they move on to Rhino to model the outer shell of the ring and the curves used as guides for the stone placement.

Episode 2 shows the same workflow (getting the curves and placing the stones) in the Grasshopper parametric environment.

In Episode 3, Giuseppe and Beatrice refine the Grasshopper definition, placing and orienting the actual stones to get to a finished product, ending the video with a few renderings.

Like that TV series you watch, there is more to come later.

See Rhino Jewelry Stories...

Rhino takes center stage: The urban design revolution

In the dynamic realm of urban design, Rhino is emerging as the go-to platform, redefining how cities are conceptualized and brought to life. Rhino has transcended its traditional role, now standing tall as the main design platform for projects on an urban scale.

This year, the Municipality of Haidari in Athens, Greece, embarked on a visionary urban design project to elevate the quality of urban life. This transformative endeavor focused on the bioclimatic regeneration of green areas, carefully tuned to the local climate and ecosystem.

Led by Legkikas Sokratis & Associates from CAD Academy, Greece, this project reached far beyond conventional urban renewal. Public spaces were reborn, from bustling squares to tranquil school yards and charming pocket parks. 

What set this urban design initiative apart was the strategic use of cutting-edge software applications, underscoring the role of technology in shaping the urban landscape. Rhino and VisualARQ took center stage, orchestrating intricate 2D and 3D designs that formed the blueprint for Haidari's urban metamorphosis.  With its BIM features, Lands Design seamlessly integrated landscape requirements, ensuring a harmonious blend of nature and architecture. Finally, Twinmotion stepped in for renderings and captivating video presentations, bringing the entire vision to life.

The Haidari project in Greece is a testament to the power of Rhino's tools in reshaping urban environments and embracing the future of urban design. As cities worldwide grapple with the challenges of the 21st century, Haidari stands at the forefront, a shining example of how Rhino's capabilities extend beyond software, influencing positive change in the very fabric of our cities.

Watch the video...

How To Generate Complex Technical Drawings with Grasshopper | Part 3

In Parts 1 and 2 of this tutorial series, Edwin Hernández explained how to create complex technical drawings with Grasshopper using the Squid Plugin (ShapeDiver Edition) and how to create an editable template, including page orientation, margins, and text boxes, where you can input various types of data for any project type.

In this third and final part of the tutorial, he explains how to merge the 2D drawings with the template, add measurements and BOMs, and export the final document as a PDF.

More ShapeDiver video tutorials...

Rhinozine November 2023 - Issue

Please take a moment to look through our latest release.

Read more »

The Hillside Sample Project: Bringing a 50-year masterpiece to digital life

 

In the early 1960s, a 23-year-old audacious McGill University architectural student submitted his master's thesis, a novel, mixed-use community, to the Montreal Expo 67. The result was Habitat 67, and the architect gained international renown. The architect was Moshe Safdie.

Moshe Safdie designed the 1000-unit high-quality housing for a dense Montreal urban environment. One of the first mixed-use concepts for the time, Habitat 67 incorporated residential units, office spaces, hotels, schools, museums, and more into its self-contained community. This practice is now commonplace, but at the time, it represented a radical departure from prevailing architectural practices. Another novel idea was the prefabricated apartments, which were assembled on-site. And each apartment included a roof garden and natural lighting. 

Despite being a landmark in architectural history and inspiring countless architects, Habitat 67 is primarily considered an unfinished dream. The built Habitat was scaled back to 158 residences, less than half the original size. 

What if Habitat 67 had completed the original design? Now you can find out. The creative agency Neoscape, in collaboration with Safdie Architects, has illustrated the original project digitally.

Using Unreal Engine 5, The Hillside Sample Project is a virtual recreation of Moshe Safdie's original vision for Habitat 67, made with Unreal Engine and RealityCapture.

The model was built in Rhino and 3ds Max using basic materials and then imported into Unreal Engine 5 using Datasmith. 

The model is available for anyone to explore via the Hillside Sample Project. 

Learn more details and explore the walkthrough...

Getting to know... WASP: Italian 3D Printing Innovation!

World’s Advanced Saving Project (WASP) in Massa Lombarda (Ravenna- Italy) designs, produces and sells 3D printers made in Italy. 

Inspired by the Potter Wasp, which builds its own nest using material recovered from the surrounding environment, WASP was born to develop large-scale 3D printers that build houses using natural materials available in the territory. The wide range of WASP 3D printers has been developed to address human needs, including food, housing, health, energy, work, art, and culture. 

In this interview, ShapeDiver covers the fundamental aspects of WASP's journey, including the company's origins and its team, as well as the practical applications of their technology across various industries. It also explores the functionalities of their online configurators, including their capabilities for users to export G-code compatible with DeltaWASP printers. The decision to use Grasshopper and ShapeDiver sheds light on how these tools enhance the user experience and open up new design possibilities. 

Read the full interview...