Questions about basic modeling functions

[Celine_Son]

Hello everyone,

I’m new to Rhino and have a few basic questions. I’ve done some research and video tutorials, but I’m still unsure about the below. Thanks so much for your time. Loving the program already.

1. For the curve tool, could someone clarify the difference and usefulness of these four options - Control Point Curve, Curve through Point, Interpolate Curve, Handle Curve?
2. How can I draw a curve by controlling points that run through the curve? In the video tutorial I’m watching, the instructor’s Interpolate Curve tool works this way.
3. What is the easiest way to make a curve touch a specific point of another shape if I were trying to join the curve and the shape together?
4. What is the best way to ensure I’m drawing on a specific plane?
5. Is there an easy way to place objects on a specific plane? I often think I’ve drawn an object that sits on the X plane only to realize it’s floating way off the matrix and then it takes a bit of time to get it to move it to the X plane.
6. For the Gumball, could someone clarify the difference and usefulness of these four options - C Plane, Object, World View?

[theoutside (Kyle Houchens)]

@Celine_Son

• For the curve tool, could someone clarify the difference and usefulness of these four options - Control Point Curve, Curve through Point, Interpolate Curve, Handle Curve?

  - Most of the time you will use control point curves. The other styles are for fairly niche uses.

• How can I draw a curve by controlling points that run through the curve? In the video tutorial I’m watching, the instructor’s Interpolate Curve tool works this way.

  - Interpolate curve is the curve that work this way, but it’s hard to control the shape than cv curves.

• What is the easiest way to make a curve touch a specific point of another shape if I were trying to join the curve and the shape together?

  -Osnaps

• What is the best way to ensure I’m drawing on a specific plane?

  -use an orth view (top,right, front) or a custom cplane. All curves in Rhino are made on or in relation to a plane. There is a great explanation of this in the level 1 manual help>learn Rhino? Tutorials and samples>level 1 training manual

• Is there an easy way to place objects on a specific plane? I often think I’ve drawn an object that sits on the X plane only to realize it’s floating way off the matrix and then it takes a bit of time to get it to move it to the X plane.

  -draw curves in ortho views or make a custom cplane.

• For the Gumball, could someone clarify the difference and usefulness of these four options - C Plane, Object, World View?

  -cplane is useful for custom cplanes, object is useful if your object is non cplane oriented, and world is likely the mode you will use most.

  Do you self a huge favor and go thru the level 1 and level 2 manuals they will give you a flying head start with all this type of stuff-

see answers in bold above-

[Rhino_Bulgaria (Bobi)]

I also recommend you to read the official Rhino online help topics, where you can click on any command that you like to examine and learn about its specific features. Most of the modeling tools there are shown in action through short videos.

[theoutside (Kyle Houchens)]

to add to the above- you can pick any tool in Rhino, hit f1 and the help topic for that tool or menu pick will come up-

there is also a live help tab here-

[Rhino_Bulgaria (Bobi)]

One of my favorite commands in Rhino years ago was Help > Command help.

[Lagom]

How to go about things also depends to a degree on in which industry you work, as different things are important, and there are different workflows. Whether for Rhino, Alias, or other surface modelling software, you want to understand that everything starts with simple curves with controlled curvature and simple primary surfaces built from them. Here are some Rhino specific hints.

[davidcockey]

@Celine_Son

Is there an easy way to place objects on a specific plane? I often think I’ve drawn an object that sits on the X plane only to realize it’s floating way off the matrix and then it takes a bit of time to get it to move it to the X plane.

Planar mode can be used to create objects on a plane parallel to the cplane (constant height above the cplane).

The Planar command limits successive picked locations to the same construction plane elevation as the previous location.

Planar | Rhino 3-D modeling

Modeling aids | Rhino 3-D modeling

• Planar mode aids in creating planar objects with commands that allow free picking. Successive points have the same construction plane elevation.
• Each point picked in a viewport will have the same elevation from that viewport’s construction plane as the previous point, regardless of where the previous point was picked.
• Planar mode can be overridden with elevator mode or object snaps.

[JimCarruthers]

Most of these questions are thoroughly answered by the level 1 training accessible through the Help menu.

[Tom_P]

@JimCarruthers

evel 1 training

or use
_tutorials (command, type into the commandline)
it will open up a panel full of resources to learn. (including the level 1 training and the files)