How to create an architectural diagram that shows your concept’s form development. This is the easiest way to create an architecture operational form diagram using Rhinoceros 3D (Rhino 3D), Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
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The Quickest Way to Create an Architecture Form Diagram using Rhino 3D and Photoshop/Illustrator.
How do I quickly create a diagram to showcase my concepts form development?
Firstly, open up Rhinoceros 3D. You want to create an initial form that is simple and easy to manipulate.
In this case, I start by creating a cube geometry. You can use the Cube tool or type “Cube” into the command prompt.
Next, make a copy of the cube using the “Copy” command and paste it on a parallel line to the original cube.
This duplicate can be morphed and distorted multiple times in progressions.
Each time you make a change to the previous form, copy it and paste it the same distance away as the previous form.
Once you are happy with how your form development looks, the next step is to set your perspective view port to Isometric.
You can do this by either pressing the viewport drop down and pressing “Set View”, “Isometric“
Or by typing “Isometric” in the command prompt.
Next, you can select your forms in the Parallel view port and use the command “Make2D” to flatten them in the Top view port.
From here, select the 2D forms in the top view and use the command “Export” to export it to an Adobe Illustator (.ai) file.
Open the Adobe Illustrator file you just exported and manipulate the stroke thickness of the lines.
We can now start adding shadows to the linework.
Back in Rhino, in the viewport settings, change the display background to white.
Go to the Perspective viewport settings, “Display Options” and change the background colour to white.
Render your perspective view in high resolution and high quality.
Back to Illustrator.
Create a new layer. Add this render to your Adobe Illustrator file and scale it appropriately so that it sits nicely behind the existing line work.
Copy this image of the shadow renders using Ctrl + C or Cmd + C.
“Paste in Place” (Shift + Ctrl + V) 5 times. (or as many times to how many forms you created”.
This will create 6 images of the shadow work.
Next, use the Rectangle Tool (M) to create a box around the first form.
Using the selection tool, hold shift and left click on the background render (shadow image) to select both the line work and shadow.
Use Ctrl + 7 to Clip the mask you created.
Do this for each form you have.
This will allow you to line your forms up in a row.
I will leave the rest up to you! How you want to colour it, annotate it or showcase it is completely up to your own creativity from here.
You can use text, arrows, colour and different graphics to showcase your form development.
I hope you found this guide useful 🙂
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