Properties | Rhino 3-D modeling

Properties panel

Object

Type

The object type: curve, surface, polysurface, block name, etc. displays.

Name

Object names are stored in the Rhino 3DM file and exported to file formats that accept object names.

Layer

To change the object's layers, select a layer from the list. Layers can be created, and their properties can be changed in the Layer dialog box.

Display Color

The color of the object can either inherit the color of its layer or be set as an object property.

By Layer

Uses the display color of the object's layer.

By Parent

This option is only useful when creating blocks.

Before you make a block, assign objects color to By parent, then make the block and include the object.

The layer that is current when the block is inserted will control the color and visibility of the objects that were set to By parent.

If color is set By layer or By object, that color is maintained regardless of which layer was current when the block was inserted or the block reference layer.

Assign the object color to "by parent" in Properties has to happen before the block is made or after in the BlockEdit command.

If an object's properties are By Parent, the object will continue to draw as if set to By Layer. However, when the object is part of a block, it takes on the properties of the block instance (layer or property).

Linetypes are not supported in the By parent setting.

Example using Parent material

Set the material for Layer 1.

Draw a Sphere on Layer 1.

Select the sphere, and set its material property to Parent.

Use the Block command to turn the sphere into a block.

Set the material for Layer 2 to a different material.

Insert the block from step 4 on Layer 2.

The sphere will display the material assigned to Layer 2 because the block instance is on Layer 2, and the objects in the block are assigned their material by Parent.

Select the block instance, and set its material property to object.

The sphere will change to the object material.

Note for nested blocks: Blocks made of nested blocks that include objects set to the Parent material are not affected by further nesting.

Specified color

Uses a specified color.

Linetype

By Layer

Uses the linetype of the object's layer.

By Parent

This option is only useful when creating blocks.

Specified linetype

Uses a specified linetype:

Continuous

Border

Center

DashDot

Dashed

Dots

Hidden

Print Color

By Display

Prints using the display color.

By Layer

Prints using the layer color.

By Parent

Prints using the By Parent color.

Specified color

Prints using the specified color.

Print Width

By Layer

Prints using the layer print width.

By Parent

Prints using the By Parent print width.

Default

Prints using the default print width.

No Print

Does not print.

Specified width

Prints using a specified print width.

Hyperlink

Specifies a web page associated with the object.

Render Mesh Settings

Custom Mesh

Turns custom mesh settings on and off.

Settings

Adjust

Adjusts mesh settings to control the object mesh density.

Rendering

Casts shadows

Casts shadows on other objects and a ground plane.

Receives shadows

Receives shadows from other objects.

Isocurve Density

Density

Defines the number of isoparametric curves Rhino draws on the surface.

Value	Display
0	One isocurve at each knot; no isocurves on knot-free spans.
1	One isocurve at each knot, or one isocurve on knot-free spans.
2	One isocurve at each knot, plus one isocurve between knot locations.
3	One isocurve at each knot, plus two isocurves between knot locations.

Show surface isocurve

Visible

Turns display of surface isoparametric curves.

To change the default isoparametric curve density for new objects, go to General Options.

Match

Set the properties of the selected object to match properties of another object in the model.

Select an object with the properties to match.

Check the boxes for the properties to match.

Details

Displays technical information about the object displays.

See: What.

Object Description

The object type: curve, surface, polysurface, block name, etc. displays.

Object ID

The object's internal identification number.

Layer name

The name of the layer assigned to the object.

Render Material

The name of the render material assigned to the object.

Source

Object, layer, or parent.

Index

The layer material index number.

Geometry

Details about the geometry mathematics, edges, vertices, and meshes.