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Rhino Best Practices

This guide covers Rhino-specific prompting techniques and common workflows with Algomim.

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Key Concepts

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IronPython 2.7

Rhino’s Algomim plugin uses IronPython 2.7. This means:
  • No f-strings — use .format() or % formatting
  • No type hints
  • Python 2 syntax rules apply
You don’t need to worry about this in your prompts — the AI handles the code. But if you see syntax-related errors, this is likely the cause.

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RhinoCommon API

The AI uses the RhinoCommon .NET API to interact with Rhino. It has access to geometry creation, manipulation, layers, materials, and more.

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Common Workflows

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Creating Geometry

Create a box from (0,0,0) to (10,5,3)

Create a sphere at the origin with radius 2

Create a surface by lofting three curves:
- A circle at Z=0 with radius 5
- A circle at Z=3 with radius 3
- A circle at Z=6 with radius 4

Create a pipe along a curve from (0,0,0) to (10,0,5)
with radius 0.5

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Organic Shapes

Create a vase shape by revolving a profile curve
around the Z axis. The profile should be a smooth
curve through these points: (2,0,0), (1.5,0,3),
(2.5,0,5), (1.8,0,8), (2.2,0,10)

Create a facade panelization on the selected surface
with a 1.5m x 1.5m grid

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Materials and Textures

Create a PBR material named "Concrete" with:
- Base color: light gray
- Roughness: 0.8
- Apply it to all objects on layer "Structure"

Generate a wood material and apply it to the selected objects

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Layer Management

Create layers: "Structure", "Facade", "Interior", "Site"
with colors gray, blue, orange, green

Move all selected objects to layer "Facade"

Set layer "Structure" transparency to 50%

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Scene Management

Delete all objects on layer "Temp"

Clear the entire scene

Group the selected objects and name the group "Building A"

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Tips for Better Results

Instead of describing the final shape, describe how to build it:
  • “Loft between these three cross-section curves”
  • “Sweep this profile along this rail curve”
  • “Revolve this profile around the Z axis”
Provide exact coordinates when placement matters:
Create a cylinder at (5, 10, 0) with radius 1 and height 8
Name your layers and objects consistently so you can reference them:
Select all objects on layer "Columns" and change their color to red
Build complex geometry step by step:
  1. Create the base shape
  2. Verify it looks right (ask for a viewport capture)
  3. Add details and modifications
  4. Apply materials

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Example Prompts

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Beginner

Create a box 10x5x3 at the origin

List all layers and their object counts

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Intermediate

Create a building mass: a box 20x15x12,
then boolean-subtract a 4x4x12 box from
the front-right corner to create an L-shape

Apply a glass material (transparent, slight blue tint,
low roughness) to all objects on layer "Facade"

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Advanced

Create a parametric facade on the south face of the building:
- Grid of 1.2m x 1.2m panels
- Each panel slightly rotated (random 0-15 degrees)
  around its center
- Add 50mm mullions between panels

Create a site model:
- Ground plane at Z=0, 100x100m
- Gentle hill (Gaussian bump) at center, peak 5m
- Use a mesh with 1m resolution
- Apply a grass-colored green material