Why Do Rhino 3D Models Look “Dirty”?

Understand the real reason behind Rhino's complex-looking surfaces.

It's Not the Model — It's the Isocurves

When switching from CAD tools like SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Plasticity to Rhino 3D, many designers feel Rhino models look “dirty” or messy.

But here's the truth: Rhino just shows you more. Specifically, it shows isocurves by default — which are simply lines that help you visualize the surface structure of NURBS geometry.

Isocurves Visibility: ON by Default in Rhino

In Rhino, every surface displays its internal U and V directions as isocurves. This helps during modeling but can make models appear unnecessarily complex.

Rhino models aren't dirty — they’re just more transparent.

Isocurves Visibility: OFF by Default in Other CAD Tools

CAD tools like SolidWorks or Fusion usually hide isocurves, which gives a clean and smooth impression, even though the geometry might be equally complex.

Hiding isocurves doesn’t mean the model is cleaner — just less informative.

The Underlying Surface Is Still the Same

Whether isocurves are visible or not, the actual surface stays the same:

• Same degree
• Same spans
• Same control points

This remains true across all NURBS-based CAD platforms.

How to Hide Isocurves in Rhino

Option 1: Hide Isocurves for Specific Objects

1. Select the object
2. Open the Properties panel
3. Uncheck “Show surface isocurve”

This disables isocurves only for that object.

Option 2: Hide Isocurves Globally

1. Go to Document Properties > General
2. Uncheck “Show surface isocurves”

This disables isocurves for all new surfaces created in the file.

Final Thoughts

Rhino isn’t messy — it’s just more honest. It shows you the surface structure, which can be incredibly helpful in designing high quality surface models (Class A).

But when you're ready to present or need a cleaner viewport, now you know how to turn off the visual clutter.

Want to Learn Rhino the Right Way?

Check out our Rhinoceros 3D Masterclass — a hands-on course designed specifically for industrial designers.

✅ Master NURBS topology
✅ Learn surface strategies for clean modeling
✅ Perfect for beginners and intermediate users