Inside Rhinoceros 4 [Paperback]

Ron K.C. Cheng (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1418021016 | ISBN-13: 978-1418021016 | Publication Date: September 18, 2007 | Edition: 3

This well-designed introduction to using the latest version of Rhino bridges the gap between theoretical and software-oriented approaches to computer modeling by providing a balanced presentation of theory, concepts, and hands-on tutorials. Beginning with an overview of the Rhinoceros 4 interface, the book progresses to explore wireframe models and the construction of curves. Coverage continues with an in-depth examination of surface modeling, taking readers step-by-step through surfaces construction using Rhino. Detailed discussions are then provided on solid modeling methods, rendering, engineering drawing, and outputting to various file formats. Coverage concludes with a set of projects aimed at the application of Rhino in real world design situations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 736 pages
• Publisher: Thomson/Delmar Learning; 3 edition (September 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418021016
• ISBN-13: 978-1418021016
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #75 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Methodology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful book, but NOT FOR BEGINNERS, December 8, 2007

By 

H3-D Technology (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Rhinoceros 4 (Paperback)

McNeil, the company that produces Rhino, produce a level 1 and level 2 course for beginners and intermediate students, respectively. This book essentially covers everything that both of those original courses cover, in addition to most of the content from the instruction manual that comes with Rhino, all with (for the most part) significantly better designed examples. The author even goes into great depth as to how to use every last sub-command.

The problem is, right from the very first exercise, the author has written this book under the assumption readers have been using Rhino (or another kind of product design CAD) for at least 6 months. If I tried to use the book's first two exercises on my beginner Rhino students, they would be traumatized!

As far as the organization goes, this book feels as if the author is trying to teach you the Level 2 Rhino course first, with elements of Level 1 thrown in along the way. While he does use some fantastic abstract examples of every single process, the practical applications don't appear nearly as often as they should.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has already taken BOTH of the Level 1 and 2 standard McNeil courses. For those who know the interface enough to fearlessly experiment, it will help provide some valuable additional insight into all the existing commands they know. For anyone else, you're better off learning the basics elsewhere.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reference manual only, April 11, 2008

By 

Jeremy Pense - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Rhinoceros 4 (Paperback)

This is a ref manual, there are no (or very few) tutorials.

The instructions are very concise, but offer no explanations. Every instruction refers to the companion cd with as few printed graphic examples as they could get away with. (rating: minus 1 star) However, that does keep the book to a manageable size, instead of being one of those 5" thick "bible" guides.

Obviously this is a copy and paste of the version 3 book, as there are obselete functions outlined and files missing from the CD. (rating: minus 1.25 star)

The book physcially is a good usable size. It stays open by its self when placed on a table and opened to the middle 80% of the pages. (rating: plus 0.25 star)

The files on the CD are zipped, so you can not browse to them directly.

I would buy this again as a second Rhino book, but this is not for the Rhino uninitiated.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars design for youth, September 11, 2010

By 

design for youth "design for youth" (seattle wa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside Rhinoceros 4 (Paperback)

This is absolutely useless if this is your introduction to 3d modelling. There are very few illustrations,that explain whatever it is the author is trying to explain. There are many instances where the author writes, choose this icon or that icon, but never bothers to show us what these icons look like. The author claims that the book is non linear, which it is, none of the concepts are touched on, none of the terminology is explained, etc... I was going to use it as a textbook for a Rhino class I teach at a high school, but I wouldn't reccommend this for anyone except those with a firm foundation in autocad or Rhino. Unfortunately, this book is the only game in town.