Rhino NURBS 3D Modeling is an excellent book not only on building models with this popular modeling tool but on computer modeling in general. Many of the techniques described here, such as Boolean operations and trimming surfaces, can be applied to building models in other programs.

Many chapters adeptly demonstrate Rhino’s power as a NURBS modeler (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines). NURBS is a computer modeling paradigm that makes it easy to build curved surfaces and organic shapes. Certain chapters go into detail on building shapes such as a dragonfly (based on a photographic template), a coffeepot with a lid, and a cartoon-style boy character.

The most interesting chapter covers the process of modeling a human face based on a plaster casting, and it offers numerous photos documenting the process of creating the plaster mold from someone’s face, filling it to get the cast, and digitizing it into Rhino using a digitizing scribe.

The accompanying CD-ROM contains all the models discussed in the book, plus a quasi-demo version of Rhino that has all features enabled. ("Quasi" because saving things from the program becomes disabled after the 15th time.) Rhino NURBS 3D Modeling works well for new Rhino users and for artists new to computer modeling interested in learning how a dedicated NURBS modeler works. --Mike Caputo

Rhino NURBS 3D Modeling is an excellent book not only on building models with this popular modeling tool but on computer modeling in general. Many of the techniques described here, such as Boolean operations and trimming surfaces, can be applied to building models in other programs.

Many chapters adeptly demonstrate Rhino’s power as a NURBS modeler (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines). NURBS is a computer modeling paradigm that makes it easy to build curved surfaces and organic shapes. Certain chapters go into detail on building shapes such as a dragonfly (based on a photographic template), a coffeepot with a lid, and a cartoon-style boy character.

The most interesting chapter covers the process of modeling a human face based on a plaster casting, and it offers numerous photos documenting the process of creating the plaster mold from someone’s face, filling it to get the cast, and digitizing it into Rhino using a digitizing scribe.

The accompanying CD-ROM contains all the models discussed in the book, plus a quasi-demo version of Rhino that has all features enabled. ("Quasi" because saving things from the program becomes disabled after the 15th time.) Rhino NURBS 3D Modeling works well for new Rhino users and for artists new to computer modeling interested in learning how a dedicated NURBS modeler works. --Mike Caputo

Rhino 3D: the best manual

I think that this book was great help for any beginner. I started with previous of Autocad and 3D Studio Max, so this book was easy to learn from. Easy to follow tutorials helped as well as an understanding of basic design. This book functions twofold as manual and tutorial. To those that wrote reviews saying it was difficult, like anything else in life understanding and knowledge doesn’t fall in you laps. Trust me, only a fool with no patience couldn’t understand this book. EASY. I look forward to a second edition that deals with more advanced modelling techniques and features of this great program.

dont buy this

This book is a joke, it shows hundreds of pages of worthless technical information with no reference to any practical modeling. Margaret should read 3d studio workshop by Duane Loose to see how a tutorial should be written. Save your cash.

Unable to use Rhino because of this book.

The title to this review says it all. I basically have had to "teach" myself in order to learn ANYTHING in Rhino. This book (which I recieved as a gift, THANK GOODNESS because if I had paid for it I would have felt the hole in my wallet) starts out ok in the first few chapters but then falls short dramatically of the intended goal. Later on it crudely shows you how to create a poorly designed figure of a boy and a skateboard that’s laughably nothing more than just basic shapes slapped together. As for the section on creating a detailed human face/head from a plaster caste, let’s be real here - HOW many people actually a)own a Microscribe digitizing tool at home, and b)have the time to smother a friend in Plaster to create a caste for digitizing a face? If this book had been set up properly it would have taught people how to create the face straight in Rhino with Nurbs or whatever else (again I’m lacking the proper terminology since this book has failed to even teach me THAT, so forgive me if I use the wrong terms) like other books teach people in HALF the time it would take to go through the digitizing process which seems more awkward than anything else.

Now I’m giving this book 2 stars but again it’s merely because it DID help me get a knowledge of what the tools where for in the tool bars - but rest assured that’s NOTHING you couldn’t get from the Manuals. In short: The manuals which are vague to begin with (to this DAY I’ve yet to find someone who can admit to knowing how to apply the UV coordinates and texture map an object in Rhino entirely - and I’ve even asked this of the PRO’s in the forums with no answer) are BETTER than this book and that’s not saying much in it’s defense.

Sorry to the author but this should have been written better instead of rushed to market. Now if we can get a RHINO BIBLE from the people that brought us the 3DS Max 4 bible...now ya talking!! :)

Glad it’s out of print

This book is nothing more than a rip off.

I am a moderate to advanced user of Rhino and I’ve found that the users manual acompanying Rhino is more than sufficient for a beginner, but lacks real substance on advanced techinque.

Thats where this book should come in, however it does not. This is a bad copy of what already came with Rhino.

Save your time and money for the better guides on their way.

Inside Rhino3D

Aside from the manual, I believe this to be the first book on Rhino and therefore, by necessity, addressing the casual user of Rhino. Therefore it has given the impression of being little more than the manual but this is ok.... P>The Rhino Literature is on its way. Quality of the Product warrants it.

I am personally tempted to sit down and produce a handbook for Rhino Programmers. If a little bit encouraged,... being of lazy disposition.