Final scene

Since it that time in the year again, some of you might find it useful to learn how to create few Christmas decorations for your tree visualisations

Introduction

Well, basically what we will do here is use solids for basic shapes and cut them how we like it.Simple, eh?

Step 1

In this step we will be creating the simplest decoration.

First Decoration

Go ahead, and create a sphere using Sphere command. Center it in the origin (0,0) and use 10 units as radius. To make this even simpler, you can set your Grid options like I have them. Just run Grid command, and where it says Extents click on it and input 10. That way you will have 10 units in your grid in every direction in the viewport which was active when you run the command. To apply this setting to all viewports, just use ApplyTo setting in Grid command. Click on it so it toggles from ActiveViewport to AllViewports. Now, simply using Snap option in your status bar we will start creating this Sphere.

Image 1

Once you got your Sphere, create another one, using 7 units as radius and position its center on 8,0. That is, 8 on the x axis, and 0 on the y axis.

Image 2

Now, using BooleanDifference make a hole in the bigger Sphere.

Image 3

We need to fillet the edges of this sphere. Using FilletEdge command fillet the edge with 0.2 as radius.

Image 4

Create a Circle from Top viewport with 5.5 as radius.

Image 5

We will Project this Circle onto the Sphere. We need to do this from Top viewport. So make sure it is active, and run the Project command to do the projection of the Circle on the Sphere. You will get 3 projected curves, and we only need the top one, so you can delete other two:

Image 6

Using Split or Trim command, we need to trim the upper part of the Sphere, with projected circle.

Image 7

Next thing we need is another Circle. This time create a Circle with 1.5 units as radius. Create it from top viewport in the origin (0,0). Then you will need to move it up (from either front or right viewport) with Move command by 17 units.

Image 8

Now, using ExtrudeCrv extrude this circle up by 1 unit. Make sure you don’t have Cap set to Yes, or BothSides set to Yes. Those two options need to be set to No.

Image 9

Ok, once you’ve done this, you need to make a surface with smooth transition from the sphere to the extruded circle. You will use BlendSrf command to do just that. As for the BlendSrf options, just leave it at default settings. Meaning AutoChain set to No, and for the Blend Bulge leave it as well at default settings, which are 1,1 and all other options unchecked.

Image 10

Next we will create a cap and a little wire to hang our decoration somewhere. So, using OffsetSrf offset the little cylinder surface outwards by 0.1 units.

Image 11

Now, using ExtendSrf command we will extend the upper edge of the offset surface up by 0.1

Image 12

Using Cap command we will close this surface into solid.

Image 13

Create another Circle, from Top viewport and use 0.5 units as radius. You should get your circle like on the image below:

Image 14

Now, using ExtrudeCrv command set the Cap setting to Yes, and extrude it up by 20 units, just so it goes through the cap:

Image 15

Using BooleanDifference command make a hole with this cylinder in the cap:

Image 16

Using FilletEdge fillet the edges of the tip with 0.1 as radius:

Image 17

Create another Circle with 2 units as radius, and position it like on the image below. Just make sure you create your circle from Front viewport. You can start Circle command, input in the command line when it asks you for the center 0,20 for the center, and then just 2 for the radius. You should get exactly the curve like on the image:

Image 18

We need a Curve starting from the circle. Using InterpCrv command we will create such curve from Front viewport: (you can start using OSnap if you haven’t already – Near would come in handy here)

Image 19

Using Mirror command we need to mirror this curve to the other side.

Image 20

Using Trim command we need to trim the Circle:

Image 21

I have almost perfectly hit the curve direction and smoothness and actually the curve is visually tangent to the circle. In reality that isn’t the case, so we need to fix it. We will match our curve onto the circle with Match command:

Image 22

Here you can see the black curve on the left, this is how the curve will be adjusted to match the tangency. So, now you see I didn’t actually hit the tangency manually. Do this same step for the right curve as well, and join all three into one:

Image 23

If necessary, using PointsOn you can change your curve a bit. But you will see if this is necessary after you make a surface. Using Pipe command we need to create a pipe surface. Use 0.2 as radius:

Image 24

Here you see this needs some adjustments. So, first, try moving it up a bit to see if this can fix it. If not, using PointsOn you will need to adjust the curve itself.

Image 25

For the purposes of this course, just moving this wire will do.

STEP 1

Ok, we will cut to the chase straight away. We’ll start this one off with making holes for windows and doors. So, using Rectangle command, just outline the windows and doors.

image 1

You can actually use the curves from the plans, it might even speed up this process, but I like it this way. After you’ve created all the rectangles needed, we will next create holes with MakeHole command.

image 2

Once you’ve done that (I’ll do the roof windows later) we need to create the windows and doors to fill those holes we just made. So, if you haven’t already, outline other lines on the windows plans. For each window or door we need 3 sets of rectangles. We already have one set. Then we will use outer 2 and using ExtrudeCrv command we will extrude by 1 unit with Cap set to Yes.

image 3

Then, repeat the ExtrudeCrv command with inner two rectangles.

image 4

Then, using PlanarSrf, just create surface out of inner Rectangle.And move the middle extruded part towards inside by 0.5.

image 5

To make it a bit more realistic, you can fillet the edges with FilletEdge command and 0.1 as radius.

image 6

Now, we’ll need to position this window. Move it towards the inside of wall by 0.5.

image 7

The process for the doors and other windows is pretty much the same. Copy the objects that are the same and you already modeled them, and model the other windows and doors.

image 8

Now, let me go back to the roof windows. The problem here is the windows are tilted under certain degree. This way it is pretty hard to model, because everything then is defined by that degree. But thankfully,  since Rhino is such great tool, it lets us adjust CPanel (construction panel) so that the cp is tilted, and when we model on such cpanel, then everything else is normal, modeling wise.

Lets first create some more Rectangles for the windows outlines. After that, just Project the rectangles onto the roof (do that from either front or back viewport because that is the projection direction we need).

image 9

We will set the CPlane orientation, so from Perspective view select one projected rectangle and right click on the “Perspective” name in the viewport, and select Set CPlane->To Object.

image 10

Now it is fairly easy to do anything with this rectangle. So, lets first create the set of 3 rectangles for each window we need. Offset each Rectangle to the inside first by 1 unit, then by 0.5. And using MakeHole we will create holes for the windows:

image 11

Using the same method we used for the other windows, we will create these roof windows.

image 12

For the balconies detailes, I believe you can figure that out on your own. If not, let me know, I’ll explain. Basically all you need is to create Box with 1×1 base, and height the same as on the plans.

Anyway, I hope this was helpful.