COMPUTER AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Course Handouts & Learning Resources

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  I. Workshop Notes for 2024
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Surfaces & Construction 
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Navigation and Solid
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surface
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R  BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Moving Object, Camera and Light
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R OpenShot Abbreviated Notes for Video Editing
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Roof Geometry Grasshopper Examples
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R V-Ray Animation of Sunlight and TIme Lapse Without Using Grasshopper
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Sine Wave Shape and Diagrid
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R V-Ray Proxy Trees and Objects
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R  ChatGPT Solutions in Defining Materials and Creating Geometry
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight and Time Lapse Study Using "In Project Render" Method
  19. Notes from Workshop 19 R V-Ray Cosmos Materials Library Download and Assignment to Surfaces
  20. Notes from Workshop 20 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight and Time Lapse Study Using "In Project Render" Method Simplified (Less Cumbersome Than Notes for Workshop 18)
 

S = SIA Recommended Techniques (drafts in progress)

 
  1. Techiniques 1S Chat GPT Environment Examples (PDF File Compiled by Sean Thiel)
  2. Techiniques 2S Chat GPT Geometry Examples (PDF File Compiled by Brandon Meinders)
  II. Workshop Notes for 2023
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Surfaces & Construction 
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Navigation and Solids
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R  BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Moving Object, Camera and Light
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R OpenShot Abbreviated Notes for Video Editing
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Roof Geometry Grasshopper Examples
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight With "In Project Render" Method
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Sine Wave Shape and Diagrid
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R V-Ray Proxy Trees and Objects
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R  ChatGPT Solutions in Defining Materials and Creating Geometry
  19. Notes from Workshop 19 R  V-Ray Animation of Sunlight and TIme Lapse Without Using Grasshopper
  S = SIA Recommended Techniques
 
  1. Techiniques 1S Rhino and Grasshopper Effiiciency Tutorial (PDF File Compiled by Renee Erickson)
  2. Techiniques 2S Chat GPT Examples (PDF File Compiled by Sarah Mottley)
  III. Workshop Notes for 2022
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Surfaces & Construction 
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Navigation and Solids
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R  BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Moving Object, Camera and Light
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R OpenShot Abbreviated Notes for Video Editing
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Roof Geometry Grasshopper Examples
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight With "In Project Render" Method
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Sine Wave Shape and Diagrid
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R V-Ray Proxy Trees and Objects
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R Simpler Rendering Animation Scripts and More Advanced Animation Scripts Indexed
  IV. Workshop Notes for 2021
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Surfaces & Construction 
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Navigation and Solids
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Moving Object, Camera and Light
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R OpenShot Abbreviated Notes for Video Editing
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Turntable Animation through Grasshopper and V-Ray
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight With "In Project Render" Method
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R V-Ray Proxy Trees and Objects
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Polygon Interpretation Methods Split Average Algorithm After Pixar Presentation
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R Simpler Rendering Animation Scripts and More Advanced Animation Scripts Indexed
  V. Workshop Notes for 2020
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Surfaces & Construction Revisted
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Moving Object, Camera and Light
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight and Time Lapse Study
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R OpenShot Abbreviated Notes for Video Editing
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R Turntable Animation through Grasshopper and V-Ray
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Polygon Interpretation Methods Split Average Algorithm After Pixar Presentation
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Surfaces Based Upon Polynomial Expressions
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R V-Ray Proxy Trees and Objects
  19. Notes from Workshop 19 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  20. Notes from Workshop 20 R V-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight "In Project Render" Method (from optional session on 11.24.20)
  VI Workshop Notes for 2019
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces & Construction Revisted
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R BRDF Materials
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R  Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R Surfaces Based Upon Polynomial Expressions
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 RV-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Moving Object, Camera and Light
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 RV-Ray Grasshopper Animation of Sunlight and Louver Study
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Polygon Interpretation Methods Split Average Algorithm After Pixar Presentation
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R V-Ray Proxy Trees and Objects (raw PDF file notes)
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R Importing Movie Files, Editing Video and Audio Clips in iMovie
  19. Notes from Workshop 19 R GPU Enhanced Performance with V-Ray (extracurricular notes)
  VII Workshop Notes for 2018
  R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces Construction Planes Revisited
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, and Digital Terrain Modeling
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R BRDF Materials
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R  Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R Surfaces Based Upon Polynomial Expressions
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Polygon Interpretation Methods Split Average Algorithm After Pixar Presentation (notes)
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R Basic Animation in Rhino with Rhino Render or V-Ray
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Sun Study with V-Ray and Ladybug Plugins to Grasshopper
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  17. Exracurricular Notes Object Path Animation in V-Ray or Rhino Render
  VIII. Workshop Notes for 2017
 

R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)

 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces Construction Planes Revisited
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, plus Delaunay Mesh and Height Field Digital Terrain Modeling
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R BRDF Materials
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R Environmental Settings, Sun, Sky, HDRI Images
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R Functions inside of Grasshopper Python Continued
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R Iterative and Conditional Patterns (notes in progress)
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Polygon Interpretation Methods Split Average Algorithm After Pixar Presentation (notes in progress)
  14. VRay Rhino Render Server 14 VR Interactive Render Server Using Swarm (link requires netbadge to open or see documentation in folder examples/swarm on classes server)
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R  Vector Linear Arrays and Mapped Objects to 3D Surfaces
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Surfaces Based Upon Polynomial Expressions
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Geodesic Octahedron and Icosahedron  Polygon Surfaces through Spherical Projection
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R Basic Animation in Rhino with Rhino Render or VRay
  IX. Workshop Notes for 2016
 

R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)

 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces Construction Planes Revisited
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection techniques with Surface And Solid Editing, plus Delaunay Mesh and Height Field Digital Terrain Modeling
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R BRDF Materials
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R Environmental Settings, Sun and Sky
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 R Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper Continued
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 R Grasshopper Python Scripts for Serlio's Occulus and Oval
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 R Surfaces Based Upon Polynomial Expressions
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 R Basic Animation With Grasshopper and Rhino Render
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 R Two Dimensional Arrays with Conditional Statements
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Array Object on Surface
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Rendering and File Optimization and Crash Recovery Techniques
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 R Extracurricular: Mesh Surfaces, Pseudocode, Pyramids and Recursion 
  X. Workshop Notes for 2015
 

R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)

 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating Drawing in Rhino and Gaphic Primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces Construction Planes Revisited
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection with Surface And Solid Editing, plus Delaunay Mesh and Height Field Digital Terrain Modeling
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Workflow Tools/Methods R Techniques for Better Workflow
  8. Notes from Workshop 7 R BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 8 R Environmental Settings, Sun and Sky
  10. Notes from Workshop 9 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  11. UnderstandingVRayOptions VRay options cheat sheet
  12. Notes from Workshop 10 R Rhino Render Animation and Quicktime Editing
  13. Notes from Workshop 11 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  14. Notes from Workshop 12 R Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper Continued
  15. Notes from Workshop 13 R Two Dimensional Arrays with Conditional Statements
  16. Notes from Workshop 14 R Rendering and File Optimization and Crash Recovery Techniques
  17. Notes from Workshop 15 R Surfaces Based Upon Polynomial Expressions
  18. Notes from Workshop 16 R Mesh Surfaces, Pseudocode, Pyramids and Recursion 
  19. Notes from Workshop 17 R Copy and Translate Objects to 1D, 2D and 3D Arrays
  20. Notes from Workshop 18 R Array on Surface, Solar Shading Example with Vectors (Draft in Progress)  
  XI. Workshop Notes for 2014
 

R = McNeel Rhinoceros (Rhino)
Y = Maya
M = Bentley Microstation, Geopak, and GC

 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating a drawing in Rhino and graphic primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces Construction Planes Revisited
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection with Surface And Solid Editing, plus Delaunay Mesh and Height Field Digital Terrain Modeling
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R BRDF Materials
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R&Y Introduction to Animation, File Transfer From Rhino, Dynamics, Keyframing
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Environmental Settings, Sun and Sky
  11. Notes from Workshop 11 Y Selection Masks, Groups, Parented Objects
  12. Notes from Workshop 12 Y Lighting and Materials
  13. Notes from Workshop 13 Y Camera Control and Attributes
  14. Notes from Workshop 14 Y Dynamics, Particles and Collisions
  15. Notes from Workshop 15 Y Character Setup and IK Handles
  16. Notes from Workshop 16 R Grasshopper and Associative Geometrical Modeling
  17. Notes from Workshop 17 R Introduction to Python Script Components and Functions Within Grasshopper
  18. Notes from Workshop 18 M Digital Terrain Modeling, Quicktime Pro Editing
  XII. Workshop Notes for 2013
 
  1. Notes from Workshop 1 R Initiating a drawing in Rhino and graphic primitives
    Notes from Workshop 1 M Initiating a drawing in Microstation and graphic primitives
  2. Notes from Workshop 2 R Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
    Notes from Workshop 2 M
    Graphics Primitives Continued, Symmetry Operations, Modify and Select Tools
  3. Notes from Workshop 3 R Navigation and Solids
    Notes from Workshop 3 M Accdraw and Solids
  4. Notes from Workshop 4 R Surfaces Construction Planes Revisited
    Notes from Workshop 4 M Surfaces, Feature Solids, and Construction Planes Revisited
  5. Notes from Workshop 5 R Projection with Surface And Solid Editing, plus Delaunay Mesh and Height Field Digital Terrain Modeling
    Notes from Workshop 5 M Projection with Surface And Solid Editing
  6. Notes from Workshop 6 R Introduction to LIghting and Rendering
  7. Notes from Workshop 7 R Texture Mapping, Real Scale and Additional Material Properties
  8. Notes from Workshop 8 R Grasshopper and Associative Geometrical Modeling
  9. Notes from Workshop 9 R Introduction to Python Script Components Within Grasshopper
  10. Notes from Workshop 10 R Animation of Objects, Views and Light
  11. Notes from Workshop11 M Digital Terrain Modeling
    TO BE CONTINUED ...
  XIII. Workshop Notes 2008 - 2012
 
  1. Notes from 2012 Workshops
  2. Notes from 2011 Workshops
  3. Notes from 2010 Workshops
  4. Notes from 2009 Workshops
  5. Notes from 2008 Workshops
  XIV. Time-line of computer graphics history and significant discoveries
 
  1. History of Computer Graphics Rendering (compiled by Wayne Carlson, Ohio State University)
  XV. Surfacing and Solid Modeling Concepts
 
  1. Solid Modeling Concepts and Examples
  2. Surface Modeling Concepts
  XVI. Interesting work
 
  1. Scripted by purpose
  2. Smart Geometry
  3. Anaglyph Image Theory and Construction
  XVII Rhino OnLine Tutorials 
 
  1. Rhine 3D TV (McNeel Associates)
  XVIII. General view controls, tool boxes and common commands (Microstation)
 
  1. Getting started in MicroStation - Some Basic Commands
  2. Location, View Control and Instantiation
  3. A Summary of menus, tool boxes, and other commands in MicroStation
  4. Microstation Shortcuts
  XIX. Working units and Accudraw system (Microstation)
 
  1. Working Units and Scale Systems in MicroStation
  2. Accudraw and the Floating Construction Plane
  XX Materials, rendering, lighting and light energy modeling (Microstation)
 
  1. Define Material Settings
  2. Pattern Map Settings
  3. Material Sample Web Sites
  4. Raytrace Settings
  5. General Rendering Settings
  6. View Specific Rendering Settings
  7. Particle Tracing Rendering and Settings
  8. Sample IES Lighting Fixture Renderings and Files
  9. Radiosity Modeling and Rendering
  XXI. Software Resources
 
  1. Rhino/McNeel Educational Pricing (see Cavalier Computers for UVA educational pricing)
  2. MakeHuman (free)
  3. V-Ray (educational pricing)