Hi there rhino users. first of all, pardon for my bad english, maybe this is not a welcoming topic, I have addressed this issue on other forum associated with rhino (such as Grasshopper3D) and would like to get some opinion from you guys in here…
I hope this does not bring any hatred or any bad feeling as I just want to share, what I think is missing in Rhino.
the reason why I am opening this topic is probably because,as rhino users I want to get the best out of rhino. I want Rhino to be the peak of “visualization” in the next few years, as I have seen rhino community is very very supportive and the development team is open for critics and they do care to make rhino much better in every release. so I will just cover some few points that I think is Vital to every visualization platform =
1. Rendering (high quality Image)
to be honest, in terms of rendering, rhino is always falling behind other 3d platform (name it 3dsMax ,Maya or C4D).
Ive been using Rhino, 3dsMax and Zbrush for 7 years. the first 3d platform I knew was 3dsmax and one day I was introduced to rhino by my friend and was amazed by the flexibility to work with any types of geometry inside rhino (Rhino+Tspline+Grasshopper)
ever since then most of the modelling I do is always inside rhino, and then for rendering purpose I export it to 3dsmax and use Vray inside 3dsmax to do the rest of the job. depending on what kind of geometry I am dealing with, I had to use Zbrush since both Rhino and 3dsMax does not support Pixol.
after doing hundreds of rendering I realized that working in 2 - 3 different platform really disturb my efficiency, especially when we have to deal with the client who demands changes every weeks, exporting can become a big mess when the deadline is very tight, it is so hard to keep the model “tidy” when u have to keep transfering data between rhino and 3dsmax.
I did try to use Vray for Rhino, I have to say, Chaosgroup(vray) does not pay too much attention to rhino users, there are so many features in Vray 3.0 for 3dsmax that u will never find in Vray 2.0 for rhino.
and then Maxwell is my only choice to get highquality image inside rhino. have been quite satisfied with the result however, since maxwell works as standalone renderer, there are so many bugs and error during rendering process. (not to mention the lack of IES preview in rhino)
currently, 3dsmax and Maya always attract so many giant rendering company and Rhino however, I think is more focus on modelling only.
I am not saying there isn’t any good rendering image produced in Rhino, there are some of course, but if you compare it to rendering produced in 3ds or Maya, there is a huge difference between them.
I really hope that I am wrong. but, working alongside various 3d artist, and visualization company, they themself never like the idea of “rendering inside rhino”
other friend recommends me other renderer, however, I am more interested in big rendering platform only, since they can give more support and their online libraries are more reliable compared to the small one. (just look at how easy to get Vray material, Vray proxy, and other bunches of Vray tutorials released by chaosgroup.)
so currently I will stick with Maxwell if I need to render inside rhino, (actually I was hoping that pixar renderman will have interest to join Mcneel, although it is very unlikely,do you guys know if there is any workflow to connect rhino to renderman.? )
2. Subdivision Modelling
okay, this is actually not an issue if you have purchased T-Spline or Clayoo or installing Weaverbird. but the thing is, having to use plug-in to do subdivision modelling is a little bit awkward. not to mention the price for T-Spline oh my god, is almost the same as buying entire rhino package. would there be an implementation of advanced subdivision modelling (T-spline, catmull, etc) directly in rhino system?
having all of those inside rhino system would decrease the amount of bugs as well as keeping rhino installation simple. (currently there are so many bugs in T-spline) hopefully rhino 6 will have advanced subdiv as part of its main tools
(I am super happy to know that GH will be inside Rhino 6, and not as plug in anymore, therefor, mcneel should also pinch T-spline and merge it with rhino )
3. Pixol in rhino
I have addressed this issue several times, might as well bring it here again. Sculpting highly-detailed mesh is the best in Pixol since it can save memory and the ability to use Wacom as a replacement for standard computer mouse.
it is good to have this feature in any 3d modelling, because it can really bring modelling closer to your “hand”. use wacom stroke to cut, brush, bevel, and modify object is really a thing nowadays… my Wacom currently cannot do much in rhino and it is a pity that a complex 3d software like rhino doesn’t have pixol tools.
maybe some would say that we shouldn’t add too much to rhino, currently it stands out as the best NURBS modelling for window. but u know, not all modelling can be convenient in NURBS. sometimes you might want to start with NURBS, sometimes mesh, sometimes you have to work with subdiv, or pixol sculpting. I don’t mind if rhino installation file will have to be 3 GB as long as it can have all the stuff needed to create different styles of geometry. after all the main point for 3d platform is to produce geometry with various method and visualize it to the highest possible quality.
I think those 3 points are the only thing I have trouble with. I am having a big holiday for a week that is why I have time to write this topic. hehehe. any suggestion or thoughts please share.