To edit or adjust the appearance of shadows in Rhino, you primarily focus on controlling the light source, typically the sun, and configuring the display mode settings in your viewport. Adjusting these settings allows you to change aspects like the direction, intensity, and definition of the shadows.
Adjusting Shadows Through Sun Settings
The most common way to affect how shadows appear in Rhino is by configuring the Sun settings. The sun acts as a primary light source, and its position and intensity directly influence the shadows cast by objects in your scene.
- Access Sun Settings:
- You can open the Sun panel by typing
Sunin the command line and pressing Enter. - Alternatively, go to the Panels menu and select Sun.
- You can open the Sun panel by typing
- Configure Sun Properties:
- Within the Sun panel, you can enable the sun and choose its method of control (e.g., manual control, location and date).
- Adjusting the sun's direction (altitude and azimuth) changes where shadows fall.
- While the reference specifically mentions "good settings for shadows" and that clicking OK results in shadows that are "a little bit better, a little more defined" (as seen in the video excerpt from 2:11 to 3:37), these settings are typically related to the sun's properties. Making shadows more defined often involves ensuring the light source is configured appropriately for the desired look.
By adjusting the sun's position and potentially its intensity or other related lighting parameters in the rendering settings, you can fine-tune how pronounced and sharp the shadows are in your viewport or renders.
Adjusting Shadow Appearance via Display Modes
Shadow visibility and certain aspects of their appearance (like darkness and quality) are also controlled by the active display mode in your Rhino viewport.
- Access Display Mode Settings:
- Type
Displayin the command line and press Enter, then select the display mode you are currently using. - Go to Tools > Options > View > Display Modes. Select your desired display mode from the list.
- Type
- Configure Shadow Settings:
- Within the display mode settings, look for sections related to "Shadows" or "Lighting".
- Ensure that shadows are enabled for the display mode you are using.
- Some display modes offer options to adjust shadow intensity, color, or quality, allowing you to make them darker, lighter, or softer.
Checking and adjusting the shadow settings within your specific display mode ensures that shadows are visible and appear as you intend in your viewport.
In summary, achieving the desired shadow effect in Rhino involves coordinating both the light source (Sun settings) and how the viewport displays those shadows (Display Mode settings). As highlighted in the reference, exploring the available "settings for shadows" and confirming the changes often leads to shadows that are "better" and "more defined".
