Rhino WIP

Users are increasingly wondering when the new version of the popular Rhinoceros (Rhino) software will be available. Currently preparing for the release of Rhino 8, the release date of which has not yet been precisely determined. Let’s consider what innovations that qualitatively improve the work of specialists in the field of design and modeling will appear.

New Features in Rhino WIP

The changes will affect the functions for performing all basic actions.

Modeling

It will be possible to use sharp elements on the fold without complicating the SubD control network. Sharp edges have continuous tangent and surface curvature, and are a good tool for creating fillet-like features. The functionality of the commands, some of their parameters and options will also change:

Setting and changing the sharpness of edges, selection of sharp edges;
Surface rounding;
Ungroup all;
Cancel option;
Bend: “No loosening” option;
Mirror and Indent – object parameter;
Separation – DeleteRemainder option.

Editing

Here we can note the performance improvement for snapping and selecting objects in Rhinoceros 8. In addition, you can highlight the changes that will affect the teams:

OSnap – percentage snap can be enabled when capping the curve. Clipping plane cutting plane geometry can be snapped.
History – symmetry works with cell editing.
The SelRectangular command emulates a normal window selection.
The control polygon for the cell can be selected.
Double clicking on the cell control polygon selects a number of cage points.
Lasso is the new SelRectangular command.
The AlignVertices command supports point clouds.

Grid tools and user interface

New grid booleans and shrink wrap will appear. The SelMeshEdges and ExtractMeshEdges commands will have a ByNaked option. There will also be changes for:

Window layouts – cross-platform docking;
Toolbars – a system of tabs;
Layer Panels – improved model and layout visibility control.
SVG image editor.
Print dialog.

A Dark theme will be offered to the user’s choice.

Grasshopper

New native types will be added. Will change:

Creating and/or editing blocks;
Annotations and hatching;
GrasshopperPlayer: deleting input after solution.

Performance improvements are planned.

Rendering

Changes touch:

Support for procedures at the shader level;
Cycle updates;
UV map improvements;
Decals visibility switch;
Render content.

Drawing and illustration

Changes and improvements are expected for the following activities and facilities:

Separation;
Ceiling plan viewports in reflection;
Stylized curves;
Support for export to print, PDF and SVG, limits and connection settings in linetype annotations;
PrintDisplay – the thickness parameter will be replaced by the scale parameter;
Linetype scaling at the object level;
Object color support for clipping plane intersection geometry.

Annotation frames will be presented in the form of a capsule or a circle. A new text field will appear – BlockInstanceDescription. It will be possible to block access to attributes from text fields.

File I/O

Copy and paste support between Rhino and AutoCAD will be changed (Windows only). Sketchup will add “Use Group Layers” and “Add Objects to Groups” options.

There will be changes in the import:

Dynamic blocks DWG;
DNG – support for reference files;
PDF – the ability to import line weights;
FBX – “Match FBX Y to Rhino Z” option added;
E57 – module for Mac.

There are also export enhancements:

In SVG and PDF formats – support for linetype endings and connection styles;
STEP Export – will improve saving to cloud storage folders and paths with Asian characters;
OBJ – polyline export parameters;
added USD format.

Clipboard support between Rhino and Illustrator, Affinity, Inkscape 30 will be improved.

In the Administration section, you can expect improvements to the package manager. A co-delivery of Rhino for Windows and Mac OS is envisaged. That is, all toolbars and their functionality for both operating systems will be the same.

Development Tools

Changes are also expected in the following sections:

RhinoCode: CPython 3 and C# scripting;
.NET Update;
File import/export options in RhinoCommon;
Code editor control;
Rendering asset access in OpenNURBS

Rhinoceros is an all-in-one solution that can work effectively on both Apple Silicon devices, such as Macs with M1 processors, and Intel Macs.

How to get involved in the development of Rhinoceros WIP

All official users of Rhino 7 can download Rhino WIP (work in progress) version and provide feedback to developers. For this, McNeel created the Serengeti project. If you are considering purchasing the Rhinoceros software, then there is no reason to wait for Rhino 8 to be released. The current version of Rhino 7 is a powerful, modern modeling tool at a low price, which often pays for itself after just one month of use.