Layout details appear to be blank

Rhino
, ,
1

Hello everyone!

It’s been a couple of days that I’ve been using Rhino, because I needed to use Grasshopper (and some Python, turns out) to create a parametric model of an object. Everything went really well in terms of modelling. I have created a 3D model, from which I then produce 2D views using Make2D. But I came across an unexpected halt; for whatever reason, I can’t seem to be work with layouts to export my drawings.
By the way, I was using Rhino a lot a few years back, during university in fact. So I have already used it for drafting before.

So, I create a new layout which appears to come with a pre-made detail (I think that’s what Rhino calls the views from the layout space into the model space). The detail has a visible frame, is selectable, is not locked and I can activate it apparently (the border frame turns “bold”). The detail appears “blank”; more specifically “grey”, as in the default grey of the layout itself. Using Zoom → Extents in the activated detail doesn’t make my drawings visible.

I have no reason to believe that the layer of the drawings (the default layer created using Make2D) has a setting that prevents it from plotting or be invisible in layout space to begin with.

Searching the web for a bit, I wasn’t able to find anyone else facing the same issue. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!
KP

P.S.: On a side note, why is Grasshopper Make2D so slow and bad, I might add, compared to Rhino Make2D? I was hoping I could use that to automate the process of plotting, but, oh well..! I might have to check if I can make up for it with some Python and rs.Make2D or something.

2

Hi Konstantinos -

Please post both the output from the Rhino SystemInfo command and the 3dm file that you are having issues with.
-wim

3

Hello! Thanks for the quick response.
Here’s the SystemInfo.

Rhino 8 SR20 2025-6-6 (Rhino 8, 8.20.25157.13001, Git hash:master @ 73b00899cf43922900a763212f167c03dc6f27cc)
License type: Evaluation, build 2025-06-06
License details: Cloud Zoo
Expires on: 2025-09-30

Windows 10 (10.0.19045 SR0.0) or greater (Physical RAM: 16GB)
.NET 8.0.14

Computer platform: DESKTOP 

Standard graphics configuration.
  Primary display and OpenGL: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600 (Intel) Memory: 1GB, Driver date: 3-8-2017 (M-D-Y). OpenGL Ver: 4.3.0 - Build 20.19.15.4624
    > Integrated graphics device with 3 adapter port(s)
        - Windows Main Display attached to adapter port #0

OpenGL Settings
  Safe mode: Off
  Use accelerated hardware modes: On
  GPU Tessellation is: On
  Redraw scene when viewports are exposed: On
  Graphics level being used: OpenGL 4.3 (primary GPU's maximum)
  
  Anti-alias mode: 4x
  Mip Map Filtering: Linear
  Anisotropic Filtering Mode: High
  
  Vendor Name: Intel
  Render version: 4.3
  Shading Language: 4.30 - Build 20.19.15.4624
  Driver Date: 3-8-2017
  Driver Version: 20.19.15.4624
  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 8\Plug-ins\Commands.rhp	"Commands"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\rdk.rhp	"Renderer Development Kit"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\RhinoRenderCycles.rhp	"Rhino Render"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\rdk_etoui.rhp	"RDK_EtoUI"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\NamedSnapshots.rhp	"Snapshots"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\MeshCommands.rhp	"MeshCommands"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\IronPython\RhinoDLR_Python.rhp	"IronPython"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\RhinoCycles.rhp	"RhinoCycles"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\Grasshopper\GrasshopperPlugin.rhp	"Grasshopper"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\Toolbars\Toolbars.rhp	"Toolbars"	8.20.25157.13001
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\3dxrhino.rhp	"3Dconnexion 3D Mouse"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\Displacement.rhp	"Displacement"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\SectionTools.rhp	"SectionTools"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\RhinoLabsTools.rhp	"Rhino Labs Tools"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\export_ACAD.rhp	"AutoCAD file export : export_ACAD"	
  C:\Program Files\Rhino 8\Plug-ins\export_AI.rhp	"Adobe Illustrator Export"

edit: Here’s the .3dm file as well.
file.3dm (66.6 KB)

4

Hi Konstantinos -

Thanks for the information. Your file has 2 layouts with one detail on each. Both show both the curve on the layer from Make2D and the objects on the locked layer.

We recommend a dedicated GPU with at least 4 GM of VRAM for working with Rhino 8. Your integrated Intel GPU does not meet those specs. You can try to find updated drivers for that GPU by following the links from the Rhino Notifications panel. If that does not help, you could try lowering the OpenGL level that is being used one step at a time with the slider on the View -> OpenGL page.
-wim

5

Thank you for the suggestions!
I tried the second option: I went to Options -> View -> OpelGL and lowered the slider all the way down to OpenGL 1.1 Software Driver… which sounds to me like the least optimal approach, but I guess the hardware I’m using is old and really struggles with today’s standards.

I might try updating the drivers at some point, as you suggested, although honestly if I don’t see any performance issues I believe I’ll stick with the current solution.

Again, thanks a lot! Much appreciated.