Linetypes

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

Standard Linetypes

Enhanced Linetypes

“Linetypes on Radio”
“3d Radio”

Enhanced Linetypes
New in 8

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. As you rotate your model, the linetypes display planar.

“Perspective Rotate on Linetypes”

“Linetypes Panel 02”

Linetype Panel at Work

Grasshopper: Create Model Linetypes

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

Try It

In this quick tutorial, you will assign the custom linetypes to layers that contain curves.

  1. Download Rhino 8 Evaluation for Windows or Mac.
  2. Download and open the linetypes-demo.3dm model.
  3. Type the Layer command.
    • Navigate to layer Continuous. Set the linetype to Custom Continuous.
    • Navigate to layer Taper Thin layer. Set the linetype to Custom Taper Thin.
    • Navigate to layer Taper Thick. Set the linetype to Custom Taper Thick.
  4. Type the Print command. In Rhino for Windows, select Rhino PDF printer. (In Rhino for Mac, pick PDF Preview in the final step.)
    • Set Output type to Raster and Output color to Display Color.
    • Under View and Output Scale, select Layout 1-Radio Curves.
    • Under Linetypes and Line Widths, set Line Width to Use linetype widths.
  5. In Rhino for Windows, pick Print and select Rhino PDF as your printer. (In Rhino for Mac, pick PDF Preview.) When prompted, give the PDF a name and location.
  6. Done! Experiment with different linetypes in your designs and be sure to ask questions and give feedback on the Discourse Forum.
    Having Trouble?

    To test Enhanced Linetypes, you will need to verify these Rhino settings:

    • Print Display needs to be turned off. (Use the PrintDisplay command to disable it.)
    • Linetypes do not display if the Display Mode has Curve Width set to Pixels. Reset your Display Mode to Default settings:
      1. Type the Options command.
      2. Navigate to View and Display modes.
      3. Click Wireframe and select: Restore Defaults
      4. Click OK to exit Options.
      5. Quit and Restart Rhino before trying again.

Rhino Commands