Third Edition V3.3
Grasshopper is a graphics algorithm editor that works closely with Rhino's 3-D modeling tools, allowing designers to create shape generators from the simplest to the most breathtaking.
WELCOME
This is the third edition of the Grasshopper manual. This tutorial was written by Andrew O. Payne of Lift Architects for Rhino4 and Grasshopper version 0.6.0007, at the time of publication it represented a giant update to the already powerful Grasshopper platform. We are currently facing the next major change in the development of Grasshopper and therefore a necessary update to the existing manual has been prepared. We're excited about the upcoming addition of this updated guide, and now internet aids, to the incredible contributions that members of the Grasshopper community have already made.
With an excellent base already in place, our team at Mode Lab set out to create and develop the third edition. This reworking of existing material has provided us with a complete guide to the most up-to-date version of Grasshopper 0.90076, highlighting what we believe are the most exciting feature updates. Updated text, graphics, and work examples are designed to teach visual programming to even the most novice beginner, as well as provide a quick introduction to Generative Design for the advanced user. The purpose of this guide is to serve as a field guide for new and long-time users to learn the basics of using Grasshopper in their creative endeavors.
This guide will teach you the fundamental ideas and important design skills for using Grasshopper effectively. The Basics is the first part of an upcoming collection of Grasshopper tutorials. Here's what we'll cover in this tutorial:
- Introduction- What is Grasshopper and how is it used?
- Say hello to Grasshopper- Create your first definition
- Grasshopper definition structure- What does the definition consist of?
- Construction of algorithm blocks- Start simple and create complex ones
- Designing with Lists- What is a list and how to deal with it?
- Design using data trees- What is a data structure and what does it mean for my project?
- Application- Links and working files to continue studying
We hope that in the end, this tutorial will inspire you to explore the many possibilities of programming with Grasshopper. We wish you good luck as you begin your journey.
PROJECT GRASSHOPPER GUIDE
The Grasshopper Playbook is an open source project founded by Bob McNeel, Scott Davidson, and the Grasshopper Development team at Robert McNeel & Associates.
GRATITUDE
We especially thank David Rutten for his endless inspiration and invaluable pioneering work at Grasshopper. We would also like to thank Andrew O. Payne for providing the resources that started this work. Finally, a huge thank you to Bob McNeel and everyone at Robert McNeel & Associates for their generous support over the years. We also thank Natalia Medvedeva and Vladimir Voronich for translating the manual into Russian.
REQUIRED SOFTWARE
Rhino 5.0 is the market leader in industrial design simulation software. Extremely complex shapes can be modeled or produced directly using 3D renderers. Featuring a powerful NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) engine, Rhino 5.0 is capable of creating, editing, analyzing and translating curves, surfaces and solids. There are simply no restrictions on complexity, degree or size.
Grasshopper
For designers exploring new forms using generative algorithms, Grasshopper is a graphics algorithm editor tightly coupled with Rhino's 3D modeling tools. Unlike RhinoScript or Python, Grasshopper does not require knowledge of abstract programming syntax, but still allows designers to create shape generators from the simplest to the breathtaking.
FORUM
The Grasshopper forum is very active and offers a great resource for posting questions/answers and finding help on just about anything. The forum is divided into the following categories: discussion of general issues, errors, examples, popular questions.
The General Grasshopper FAQ section contains answers to many questions you may have, as well as useful links:
For general questions regarding Rhino3D, first check the McNeil Forum, Discourse.
LICENSE INFORMATION
Grasshopper Tutorial - Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. The full text of this license is available at this address:
Architecture today is increasingly associated with programming. At the same time, an architect does not have to become a programmer, but it is critically important to understand programming capabilities and use them correctly. An architect who knows the basics of algorithmic thinking will be able, together with other specialists (engineers, programmers), to create modern projects that meet the requirements of the 21st century, significantly increasing the efficiency of their work and competitiveness.
The intensive course is intended for practicing architects, interior designers, and students who want to master algorithmic methods for constructing complex geometry and implement them in practice. It will also be useful for layout specialists, industrial designers, and designers of exhibition stands and display cases. The course will be useful for both novice Grasshopper users and those who are deeply familiar with the program.
The objective of the course is to provide the skill of algorithmic thinking, teach the creation of algorithms for constructing complex geometry, regardless of whether a computer is used or not. We want each participant, whether he will engage in programming in the future or not, to be able to speak the same language as architect-programmers and, if necessary, correctly compose a task for them.
Independent study of functionality and working with data is the basis for achieving successful results in Grasshopper. That is why one of the important emphasis of the course: learning the approach to creating algorithms, understanding the capabilities of the tool and knowing how to learn it most effectively.
The intensive program is divided into two parts. The first will include training on Grasshopper and its add-ons. In the second part, participants will be divided into groups depending on their level of proficiency in the program. Each group will develop an algorithm using the library of tools learned in the course. More prepared participants will receive in-depth knowledge of working with data; in some cases, teachers will create individual exercises to practice the necessary topics.
As part of the intensive course, students will learn:
features of Grasshopper and its add-ons. Practical exercises on using add-ons such as Mesh tools (Mesh edit, Mesh+, Weaver bird), Lunchbox, Kangaroo, Ladybug, Human UI, Ivy, Flux, Gh bundles - Revit - Dynamo - Archicad, Elefront, Human, Sandbox, Generation, Treesloth, Tree frog, Fab tools, Galapagos;
approaches to creating algorithms that generate complex geometry;
basic techniques in grasshopper and all the functionality of the program are for beginners;
techniques for working with data - for advanced users;
Teachers
Daniel Zakharyan is an architect, teacher at the Higher School of Art and Design, and a graduate of Studio Zaha Hadid Vienna.
Vladimir Voronich is an engineer, a specialist in computational design, and the head of a research laboratory at Tyumen State University of Civil Engineering, whose main focus is parametric design.
Albert Sumin is a MARCH teacher, BIM manager of the BIM Academy, one of the creators of complex 3D models for the Lakhta Center project in St. Petersburg.
Maxim Vorotnikov is an architect and urbanist, a specialist in computational design, co-founder of Prismo, a service for three-dimensional aerial scanning of architecture and landscapes.
Alexandra Boldyreva is an architect, MARCH teacher, head of computational design at Labar, founding partner of the Spotcamp project, founding partner of the Simplex noise studio, founding partner of the educational and research project “Branching Point”.
For detailed information about the course, visit the MARCH website: http://new.march.ru/courses/intensiv-grasshopper/
Schedule
Classes take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
By enrolling in the course, you become a full member of the League - an organization of creative people from various fields of science and art: architects, designers, filmmakers, engineers, artists, developers, analysts and other creatives.
Club membership
The League is an informal association consisting of professionals. With us you will not find entrepreneurs and employees, but a friendly team of like-minded people, always ready to help and discuss something new. We organize many master classes, conferences, workshops, parties, film screenings, competitions and other interesting events that you can always attend and, if you wish, take part in them.
Dedication and certificate
After completing the course, we organize special parties for our participants, where we sum up the results and issue certificates indicating completion of the course.
Connections and Resources
In addition, we are happy to share and exchange experiences, discuss new ideas, participate in joint projects or help find a team and partners. You will have access to all of our connections and resources.
Work and internship
We gladly help young people with internships, and we invite successful people to work in fashion bureaus, design companies and studios. If you lack funds, you can always find part-time work with us ().
The Level 2 Training Manual covers many of the most common challenging model shapes. Use this manual to learn the techniques to solve these challenging shapes. (PDF and Models)
Eighteen chapters on how to set up the interface, how to use the drawing, editing, modeling and transform tools including the new Gumball tools(270 videos)
Learn about Rhino for Mac in a 9 part tutorial by Kyle Houchens. This tutorial covers interface, sketches and surfaces in true to life workflow.
This example shows how to use Rhino to model a simple mechanical part. Then create the 2-D line drawing and modify dimension text. (Online Help)
Download the Getting Started & Online User's Guide. Includes tutorials and samples covering interface, basic commands, surfaces, solids, drafting, and image tracing.
Kyle Houchens shows you how to model ear buds working from a hand-sketched design brief. Kyle keeps it lively as he models "free style" in Rhino. (40 minutes)
James Carruthers will show his basic modeling work flow, as well as a few advanced tricks for modeling complex freeform shapes in Rhino.(1:07 hour)
The Level 2 guide covers many of the most common challenging model shapes. Use this guide to learn the techniques to solve these challenging shapes. (PDF and Models)
The Rhino V5 installer will display a log file when the installation process fails. This log file is very helpful to our technical team support in solving any problems you may have. (Article)
In this Rhinoceros video tutorial you"ll learn to model a simple scroll form like those you might see in fine woodwork or on jewelery (10 minutes)
SmartTrack is a modeling aid that displays temporary reference lines and points in the Rhino viewport. We will use it to locate dimensions and draw curves. (4 minutes)
Learn the Cage Edit command. This is a rough screen recording of GoToMeeting with a customer. Kind of fun. No Audio: Silent Movie style. (2 minutes)
Model Tolerance and Units in Rhino effects nearly every command. Learn how to configure tolerance to help you model as efficiently as possible.(8 minutes)
Rhino 5 now has many more advanced display options that can be configured to create more advanced, real-time display modes. (article and samples)
Wondering how to get started with Grasshopper? Look no further. Spend an some time with the creator of Grasshopper, David Rutten, to learn the fundamental of Grasshopper. (13 part series)
Spend an some time with the creator of Grasshopper, David Rutten, to learn one of the key concepts of Grasshopper, data trees. (6 part series)
Our Generative Jewelry and Fashion Design community is for designers who are exploring new shapes using generative algorithms. (Web site and community)
Whether you are printing your own design, or trying to prepare someone else's model, Kyle's techniques will help you get the model printed as soon as possible. (9 part series)
Learn how to create displaced mesh objects using procedural textures in Rhino 5. Displacements can be used for rendering purposes or extracted and edited for fabrication. (18 minutes)
With major changes to Rendering, Materials, or just plain capturing the viewport, it"s now easier and faster to present, discuss, make decisions, and iterate.
Rhino's new display pipeline is faster, more stable, and uses features found on modern graphics hardware, like GPU sensitive shaders and memory optimizations.
We"ve refined many parts of the documentation workflow, from a completely reworked annotation-style interface, to better DWG support, and RichText throughout.
Rhino 6 brings major improvements to our free SDKs, with API refinements, better documentation, and more access to Rhino commands from Grasshopper.
Rhino 6 contains many enhancements. Thanks to more than 40,000 beta testers, we were able to field test and refine Rhino 6, making it the most stable version ever.
RhinoScript is a scripting tool based on Microsoft's VBScript language. With RhinoScript, you can quickly add functionality to Rhino, or automate repetitive tasks.
Python is a modern “programming language”, it is typically easier to learn and use than other non-scripting style languages. Yet it is quite powerful.
Mobile application for learning the basics of programming. The program teaches future coders basic JavaScript through a series of short lessons with practical tasks. The project was named Grasshopper, as it is similar to the name of Grace Hopper, an American scientist and one of the first programmers for the Harvard Mark I computer.
A series of courses are available in the application, starting with The Fundamentals. It explains the basic terms and components of coding: functions, variables, strings, loops, arrays, conditionals, operators and objects. Next, users are invited to take two more courses dedicated to drawing figures of varying complexity using the D3 library.
Practice assignments and test questions become more difficult as you master the material. Grasshopper has its own coding environment. While solving problems, as soon as users run the written program, they automatically receive a message with a hint.
The app offers all sorts of motivators, such as achievements and progress tracking indicators. Soon, the developers plan to expand the knowledge base and add more theory and practice to the basic section, as well as include several new courses in the program. For now, there are no plans to add new languages to learn, since, according to developers from Area 120, JS is the most popular tool in the world, used by more than 70% of professional programmers.
Grasshopper is available on iOS and Android worldwide, but only in English.
Google pays great attention to the development of educational projects. Let us remind you that at the beginning of March the company will offer a free course on the basics of machine learning.
