Hello,
I’m trying to add gem studio environment to my rendering but it only shows as black?
I’ve attached a screen shot of what I see.
Does anyone know why this, and only this environment is showing as black?
My guess would be that there is an anti-virus app or network firewall preventing Rhino 7 from downloading that file. Try some other ones that you haven’t used before from the environment library to check if they’re black too. You’ll probably want to use this environment in the reflection channel as well. I’ll attach it here for you too.
GemStudio.renv (10.0 MB)
Hi Brian - thank you for replying. I have tried the file you attached and it brings the same result - black. So strange. Do you think it might have something to with my graphics card?
Hello all,
I am trying to use Gem Studio as an environment but it just shows as black.
I have attached an image for this in case any one has come across the same problem…
I have pasted the system info below too if that helps:
Rhino 7 SR31 2023-6-15 (Rhino 7, 7.31.23166.15001, Git hash:master @ 850d276b2d59d7e51843939e4cf674b356bcd354)
License type: Commercial, build 2023-06-15
License details: Stand-Alone
Windows 10 (10.0.19045 SR0.0) or greater (Physical RAM: 3.8Gb)
Computer platform: LAPTOP - Unplugged [63% battery remaining] ~118 minutes left
Standard graphics configuration.
Primary display and OpenGL: Intel(R) HD Graphics (Intel) Memory: 1GB, Driver date: 3-27-2018 (M-D-Y). OpenGL Ver: 4.5.0 - Build 23.20.16.5017
> Integrated graphics device with 3 adapter port(s)
- Windows Main Display is laptop’s integrated screen or built-in port
OpenGL Settings
Safe mode: Off
Use accelerated hardware modes: On
Redraw scene when viewports are exposed: On
Graphics level being used: OpenGL 4.5 (primary GPU’s maximum)
Anti-alias mode: 8x
Mip Map Filtering: Linear
Anisotropic Filtering Mode: High
Vendor Name: Intel
Render version: 4.5
Shading Language: 4.50 - Build 23.20.16.5017
Driver Date: 3-27-2018
Driver Version: 23.20.16.5017
Maximum Texture size: 16384 x 16384
Z-Buffer depth: 24 bits
Maximum Viewport size: 16384 x 16384
Total Video Memory: 1 GB
Rhino plugins that do not ship with Rhino
Rhino plugins that ship with Rhino
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Commands.rhp “Commands” 7.31.23166.15001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\WebBrowser.rhp “WebBrowser”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\rdk.rhp “Renderer Development Kit”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoScript.rhp “RhinoScript”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\IdleProcessor.rhp “IdleProcessor”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoRenderCycles.rhp “Rhino Render” 7.31.23166.15001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\rdk_etoui.rhp “RDK_EtoUI” 7.31.23166.15001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\rdk_ui.rhp “Renderer Development Kit UI”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\NamedSnapshots.rhp “Snapshots”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Alerter.rhp “Alerter”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoCycles.rhp “RhinoCycles” 7.31.23166.15001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Toolbars\Toolbars.rhp “Toolbars” 7.31.23166.15001
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\3dxrhino.rhp “3Dconnexion 3D Mouse”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Displacement.rhp “Displacement”
If any one could shed any light on this, I would really appreciate it.
I have tried everything in my limited knowledge to get this sorted but I’m struggling.
Thank you in advance!
Ashley
Hi Ashley -
Your system doesn’t meet the recommended minimum requirements. In Rhino Options -> View -> OpenGL, you could try to decrease the OpenGL “Level” a notch and restart Rhino. If that doesn’t improve things, slide it over to the left another notch one by one. Also see if unchecking GPU Tessellation helps.
-wim
Hi @user1381
You should also check for an updated driver - it’s almost 5½ years old 
-Jakob
Hi Wim,
Thank you - really appreciate you getting back to me and for your suggestions. These suggestions didn’t work because, as you said, I don’t have the recommended minimum requirements. Do you have any idea how to create a makeshift version of the Gem Studio environment that requires less memory? Or, any suggestions on a laptop that is better for using Rhino?
Any help would be really appreciated.
Ashley
Hi Jakob,
Thank you - really appreciate you getting back to me and for your suggestion. This suggestion didn’t work because I don’t have the recommended minimum requirements. Do you have any idea how to create a makeshift version of the Gem Studio environment that requires less memory? Or, any suggestions on a laptop that is better for using Rhino?
Any help would be really appreciated.
Ashley
Hi Ashley -
As long as it meets or exceeds the recommended minimum requirements, you should be fine.
-wim
Hi @user1381
The unofficial answer (from a non-McNeel-user) is that even though your graphics card isn’t up to the job on paper, it MIGHT still be able to display the background. It won’t be fast (at ALL!), but some of the Intel cards can handle it. As mentioned, your best bet is to try and update your driver (and also Windows) to the newest available and test it out. Combined with Wim’s suggestion of taking the OpenGL slider down a notch or two, it could work. It’s not the gem studio environment itself that’s the problem, it’s the overall graphics performance of your computer.
On the subject of a new laptop, there’s 3 major things to consider: CPU, GPU and RAM. Most modern CPU have more than enough power for the average modeling job, although complex mesh handling and large Grasshopper files can suck the life out of some of the smaller/cheaper CPU’s. On the subject of GPU’s my personal advice is to get the best Nvidia GPU you can afford; preferably from the RTX3000 or RTX4000 series. The faster, the better; the more VRAM, the better; the more CUDA cores, the better. I have a “I-rarely-work-from-home”-laptop with a RTX3070, and it’s more than fine for most of what I do. Most of the laptops with a dedicated graphics card are meant for gaming, so depending on personal taste, it can be a bit difficult to find a laptop that doesn’t have RGB LED’s all over and a logo with a dragon/new tribal tattoo/glowing red eyes, but I guess it’s a small price to pay compared to buying an overpriced workstation laptop. As for the amoumt of system RAM, get as much as you can afford. 32 GB is OK, 16GB is a bare minimum, 64GB and above is super.
Hope this helps a bit 
-Jakob
Wim/Jacob - thank you! so much. I really appreciate the support on this. I can’t update this laptop to Windows 11 so a new laptop seems to be the way to move forward.
Thank you again both and have a lovely day.
Ashley