Linetypes

Linetypes

Add rich linetypes to convey meaning and improve the legibility of your technical drawings.

Linetypes are curve styles with pattern, width, and taper properties. Enhanced linetypes are assigned to curves, surfaces, solids, and more. Linetypes communicate your design with an artistic flair.

Before After
Before
After

Standard Linetypes

Enhanced Linetypes

“Linetypes on Radio”
“3d Radio”

Enhanced Linetypes

More Than Just Curves

Enhanced linetypes work with curves, surfaces, polysurfaces, extrusions, SubDs, dimensions, and more. Customized control of linetypes for objects and sub-objects is available in the display mode configuration.

“Enhanced Linetypes in Rhino”

“Linetypes in Architecture”

End Caps and Join Styles

End caps define the shape drawn at the ends of open curves. Join styles define the shape to use when curves make a sharp corner or change in direction.
Cap and Join Style: Round

Cap and Join Style: Round

Cap and Join Style: Flat and Miter

Cap and Join Style: Flat and Miter

Cap and Join Style: Square and Bevel

Cap and Join Style: Square and Bevel

Linetypes with Taper

These settings work together to configure the artistic taper. Options include pattern, width at the taper, and the location of the taper at a percentage along the overall curve length.

“Linetype Taper”
“Linetype with Taper Example”

“Linetype with Taper Example”

Linetypes Panel

Use the Linetypes panel to streamline your creativity with standard patterns or define your custom linetype pattern.

“Linetypes Panel”

Perspective Rotate

Linetypes will always remain oriented to the view camera, even as you rotate your model.

“Perspective Rotate on Linetypes”

“Linetypes Panel 02”

Linetype Panel at Work

Shapes in Linetypes
New in 9

Custom linetypes are more than simple geometry, they embed meaning and convey a visual message. Include text or geometrical symbols that get distributed and spaced out along your linework.

Smarter Linetypes

Shapes and Text in Linetypes help architects and drafters turn complex drawing conventions into reusable line styles. Represent utilities, fences, wall types, and other repeated linework while keeping it connected to the curve.

Create or Modify Linetypes

Create new linetypes from selected text or curve shapes, or edit existing linetypes to include them. Text, symbols, and shapes become part of the line style, not objects placed along the curve.

Edit Without Rebuilding

Move, stretch, rotate, or edit the curve and the linetype updates with it. Change the linetype definition once to update every curve or layer using it.

Try It

  1. Download Rhino 9 WIP for Windows or Mac.
  2. Download and open the Shapes_Text-in-Linetypes.3dm model in Rhino.
  3. Run the Linetypes command to open the Linetypes panel.
  4. In the Linetypes panel, click the New button to create a new linetype.
  5. Name the new linetype Storm Drain. Press Enter.
  6. In the panel, scroll down to the Shapes section:
    1. Set Gap to BoundingBox.
    2. Set Spacing to 10.
    3. For Shapes:
      1. Select Select Shapes...
      2. Select the SD text found in the 1 Storm Drain legend to the left of the viewport .
      3. Press Enter.
  7. In the Layer panel:
    1. Find the Storm Drain layer.
    2. Open the Linetype property for this layer.
    3. In the Select Linetype dialog, select Storm Drain.
    4. Press OK.
  8. The green curve is in the Storm Drain layer. It will automatically update to the new Storm Drain linetype.
  9. Try it on your own! Unlock the rest of the geometry and repeat the same process for Gas Line, Fence1, and Fence2. Assign each newly created linetype to its corresponding layer.
  10. Share comments and feedback on the Rhino Forum.

Grasshopper: Create Model Linetypes

You can also use Grasshopper to create custom linetypes with the Model Linetype component:

Rhino Commands