Rhinoceros

[Art 111]

Hi all!
I've decided to buy 3d program. I'm going to buy rhinoceros and flamingo renderer. What do You think about it? Is this program worth to buy? May I preparing good models and precise at rhino?
Where can I find tutorials?
Thanks for help!
Maciej

[charglerode]

From what I've heard Rhino 3d is a good NURBS modeler. NURBS is a little wierd for beginners, but you can find some good tutorials on the Rhino 3d site.

http://www.rhino3d.com/tutorials.htm

[roshent]

Try a search on 'Rhino' in this forum and you should get a lot of threads dealing with the software.
Tutorial, maybe not the best one out there, but it's a start:
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Haven/2470/rhinotut.html

[Skyraider3D]

Rhino is a very good NURBS modeller. Flamingo though is ten years behind and isn't a very impressive renderer at all.
Wait for Rhino 4... it will feature a much better renderer so I've heard.

Like Roshent suggests, there are a good few threads about Rhino on this forum - just do a search for them. Also, PCC DTK and MRys will be able to give you a more in-depth review.

[giant551]

Hey there, Is a good program and if you look at some of myrs stuff very powerful. But DO NOT BUY FLAMINGO !!!!!!!!! trust me ive used flamingo for 2 years now. It is badly dated and is no good for rendering aircraft as it has no skylight or UV mapping capability. i have just recently moved from rhino due to lack of renderer capability for this kind of modelling. If you have set your heart on rhino spend a little more and get brazil or V-ray.

cheers

Paul

[giant551]

Ps if you want something twice as powerful and half the price go for XSI;) trust me

[kevjon]

I think you'll be dissapointed with Rhino when it comes time to do final renders. There is no easy way to convert the nurbs surfaces to a nice clean mesh that renders well from all angles and distances and is easy to uv map. However this may change when V4 comes out (maybe later this year ?)

Definitely the best value for money 3D package is XSI Foundation. Has all the tools you need to explore nurbs modelling, polymodelling, mental ray rendering and animation.

[Skyraider3D]

I agree with Kevin and Paul about XSI...

[gery]

Hi all,
I use rhino since v1.....it's for me the "really more adapted soft" to make objet of reality....with a low budget....you can export in many files of industrie.....you can make accurates objets.....make sections....make plans...but in export, i dont like ever triangulates surfaces...
for flamingo.....not really adapted for military mesh....not uv unwrap....difficult to make a good mapping and bumping...

;)

[Spinner]

XSI, because of its range of possability and price.

[Art 111]

Thanks for answers!
After these I've precise what do I need (of course I need program for not to big enough price :) ):
-------------------------------------
Main use will be for architectural works and aircrafts :)
-------------------------------------
- fist for static good renderings (aircrafts and architectural)
- preparing architectural models
- preparing high precision air. models - possibility to preparing flat wireframe views
- good import and export between programs (especially cad programs - like Autocad)
- program should be quite easy to use (ergonomic menus) and have high stability


After Yours answers I thinking about:
XSI - is foundation ver. good enough to do this?
Modo 202 - I have to say, that Modo seems to be good program for reasonable price
Shade 8 - ?
Rhinoceros 3.0 or later this year 4.0

Your opinion is very valuable for me. Thanks!
Maciek

-------------
My comp is PC/XP - at soon future with Intel Core 2 Duo and 2-4GB RAM - prob. Matrox card
-------------

[kevjon]

For precision drawing outside of a CAD package you would find Rhino hard to beat. If you're familiar with Autocad you will find many of the commands the same in Rhino.

Rhino does have a softimage iges export option which imports the nurbs surfaces into XSI foundation very well. You can then convert those nurbs surfaces to a mesh in XSI for UV mapping and rendering.
Alternatively you could use Rhino's own internal mesher and export that to *.obj format which could be imported into most 3D artists packages like Max, Lightwave, XSI etc for uv mapping and rendering.

XSI only has its own units system which can be anything you want it to be, 1mm, 1cm, 1m etc so not very precise compared to CAD packages.

[Art 111]

Thanks Kevjon!

[Art 111]

Attached to my prev. posts :0
I've found info, that stability of Modo 202 isn't good enough at PC/XP platform - someone could annswer?
Is precision of Modo is like e.g. Rhinoceros?
Thanks

[kiwi123]

You'll find bad info about any software if you look on forums. Modo is stable, no doubt about it. Precision in Modo is like any other "normal" modeller (maya, max, LW,XSI), ie, good enough for visual accuracy, not for fabrication accuracy (like pro-engineer, solidworks, autocad).

XSI is indeed a good choice. If it's just modelling and stills you could go for Modo, although you'd really be limited to still renders for now. XSI seems the sensible choice, especially in combination with Rhino.

[Art 111]

Thanks a lot Kiwi!

[mrys]

Hi Art 111

I'am using Rhino for modelling and must say, that it would be hard to find better soft for NURBS modelling. But If you start with Rhino you have to get external renderer - dont try flamingo, it is not good in my opinion. So you need to buy two programs. I was used free raytracer Pov Ray, which is best for cooperation with Rhino, but very timeconsuming if you want to get good results.
Now I'am using Max, but import meshes from Rhino into Max is not so easy. Best results are via PowerNurbs plugin - next costs.

So If you want to model with NURBS and are able to get supplement programs - buy Rhino. In other case look for XSI or Modo.

[pccdtk]

I work with rhino as modeler since version 1 . I olso try polymodeling in max and modo and i inteend to try blender . Because your primary goals are :
"- preparing architectural models
- preparing high precision air. models - possibility to preparing flat wireframe views
- good import and export between programs (especially cad programs - like Autocad)
- program should be quite easy to use (ergonomic menus) and have high stability" I recomand rhino for modeling. ( I don't have chance to try XSI but from what I read and see I olso recomand )

[pccdtk]

...and I can help with lot of tutorials - for Rhinoceros !!!

[Spinner]

Well as I said before I suggest XSI as your best option ,...but..
If you're considering Rhino, you may want to know what one of its cheif devs is up to now a days.
Moment Of Inspiration - MoI (http://moi3d.com/) is what you get if you think what mating Sketch-up with Rhino3D and a graphic tablet. It's free beta, so what have you got to lose checking it out?

[Spinner]

XSI only has its own units system which can be anything you want it to be, 1mm, 1cm, 1m etc so not very precise compared to CAD packages.

Whilst its true to say that for the modelling one xsi unit can equal whatever you want, its really set up as 10cm. When you apply dynamics, for instance, you'll find gravity defaults to 98.1 xsi units/sec.

[Art 111]

Hi all - THANKS ALL AGAIN FOR ANSWERS!!!
This week I'll get Rhino - so only one thing will be renderer. But I've got info from seller, that with 4.0 ver. there should be raytrace plugin. It's not for 100% news, but most probably. So I'll wait. First- I'll learn this program, after that I'll find good renderer.

[kevjon]

Came across a pretty good 3D car tutorial at this site http://www.rhino3d.tv/english/info/.
You need to register.

It teaches you how to maintain surface continuity between the multiple surfaces that will inevitably be required to make a aircraft with nurbs. Well worth a read. Doing the tutorial would give you a big start with Rhino on how to make complex objects.

[Skyraider3D]

Whilst its true to say that for the modelling one xsi unit can equal whatever you want, its really set up as 10cm. When you apply dynamics, for instance, you'll find gravity defaults to 98.1 xsi units/sec.That's interesting. After many years of modelling I've come to the conclusion that decimeters should be the ideal "average" modelling unit. Centimeters often is too small while meters are often too big. Interesting to see the makers of XSI came to the same conclusion :)
Personally I work in cm for modelling and in m for animating.

[Spinner]

I'm inclined to agree with you, all.

[Art 111]

I've got Rhino!!! :)
Thanks for help!
I'm starting learning :)

[roshent]

Have fun !

[giant551]

Hey there, I did a set of video tutorials a while ago which may help you with the basics. Its a bit of product visualisation modelling of a USB data stick and a basic flamingo lighting set up. Nothing really complicated but it may be of some help. There hosted over at 3d-palace.com you will have to register but its free !!!

[The_onion]

i wouldnt touch rhino again if i was paid! i was the first time and it wasnt worth the pain! Im a max and poly lover so i guess im biased, max is a pile of crap and it gives you loads of problems but its by far the quickest and nicest to model with and i prefare texturing in max way more than any other package ive tried

thats my 2 cents :)

[Art 111]

Hey there, I did a set of video tutorials a while ago which may help you with the basics. Its a bit of product visualisation modelling of a USB data stick and a basic flamingo lighting set up. Nothing really complicated but it may be of some help. There hosted over at 3d-palace.com you will have to register but its free !!!

Thanks Giant!!!
My first opinion about program. Rather will be easy to learn - I'm advanced CAD prog. user, so there are not too much main differences (of course there are a lot of to learn with modeling :lol: !)
I'm sure it will be very friendly program :).
There are really a lot of tutorials - who could be great help.

My first opinion after installing; It's worth to buy it!

[Art 111]

Marek!
You won't be alone with Rhino :)
But at that time I'm only rookie :\ :lol:

[Art 111]

http://www.3dcommune.com/3d/_files/rhino/RhinoTut_Mar_05.html
http://www.3drender.com/rhino/
http://www.creationengine.com/html/action.lasso?-database=products.fm&-layout=w&-response=prt.html&product%20ID=10265&-search
TUTORIALS FOR RHINO!

[mrys]

Marek!
You won't be alone with Rhino :)
But at that time I'm only rookie :\ :lol:


Super!!!

If you had Cad experiences learning Rhino should be painless for you. And don't listen to The_onion - Rhino is very powerful modeler. I started with max now, but only for texturing and rendering. Modelling in Rhino for me is still fastest and give me level of precision I need. Good work and wait for first results.

[Art 111]

Yes!
I'm not agree with Onion. Program is very friendly and what is for me very important - precise. Program has a lot of options - so this is problem - how to learn them, to use it at practice. And this is one difficulty :)!

Thanks a lot pccdtk for Your help!!!

[pccdtk]

With pleasure !!! HAPPY MODELING !!! Look forward for your progress...( I think many of us do ...)