Rhino is the common name for the program, while its official name is Rhinoceros 3D.
Rhino is considered one of the powerful 3D design programs, and it differs from other programs in that it does not rely on traditional geometric shapes (such as polygons), but rather on NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) technology, which allows the creation of very precise surfaces, making it suitable for designing complex and streamlined models.
| Feature | Polygons | NURBS |
| Geometry type | Mesh of flat faces | Smooth curves/surfaces (math-based) |
| Ideal for | Animation, games, VFX | Engineering, product design |
| Surface precision | Approximate | Exact |
| File size | Can be large | Generally more compact |
| Performance | Real-time friendly | Needs conversion |
| Ease of modeling | Intuitive and flexible | More technical |
NURBS
Polygons
Other features of Rhino include:
• The ability to export files to more than 30 different formats.
• High compatibility with digital manufacturing programs such as CNC and 3D printing.
• A flexible interface that can be customized according to the user’s needs.
The power of Rhino is more evident with Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a plugin integrated into Rhino that allows users to create 3D designs through visual programming, meaning that instead of drawing elements manually, they are designed through algorithms that interact intelligently with inputs.
In other words:
If you design a table in Grasshopper, you can simply change its dimensions (length and width) via numerical inputs, and the program will automatically update the model without the need to redraw it.
Grasshopper relies on connecting “components” that represent:
• Mathematical equations
• Points
• Geometric commands
All of which interact with each other to produce a dynamic model that changes according to variables.
Rhino Licensing
Rhino offers two types of licenses: student and commercial.
It uses a perpetual license model, meaning there are no monthly or yearly payments. If a new version is released, users can choose whether to upgrade or not, with upgrades offered at a discounted price.
Licenses can be shared between multiple computers (but not used simultaneously), which is ideal for users with multiple devices.