Rhino 3D Tip: Project vs Pull: Best Practices for Aligning Curves and Points to Surfaces

Align curves and points to surfaces with confidence using Project and Pull. These two commands look similar but serve distinct purposes that can make or break downstream operations like Split, Trim, OffsetCrvOnSrf, and engraving. If you’re outfitting your workflow or team, explore Rhino and add‑ons at NOVEDGE.

When to use Project vs Pull

• Project: Casts geometry onto targets along a direction (CPlane normal by default, or a custom/View direction). Best for “from-above” transfers such as panel lines, laser/print projection, or decal-like layouts.
• Pull: Drops geometry to the closest points on a surface/mesh along surface normals (shortest distance). Best for wrapping details around curved objects (bottles, hulls) with minimal distortion.

Fast workflows

• Directional layout (Project)
  • Set the CPlane to define projection direction (Top/Front/Right or custom).
  • Create or import 2D curves on/near the CPlane.
  • Run Project → pick target surfaces/polysurfaces/meshes → choose CPlane or a custom Direction/View.
  • Use the results to Trim/Split, then OffsetCrvOnSrf or assign materials for paneling.
• Curved wrapping (Pull)
  • Place curves close to the target surface to reduce ambiguity.
  • Run Pull → select targets (NURBS or mesh) → confirm pulled curves/points.
  • Proceed with Split/Trim, apply OffsetCrvOnSrf for inlays/engraves, or drive toolpaths.

Quality and reliability tips

• Tolerances matter: Set Absolute tolerance before projecting/pulling; coarse settings produce gaps or micro-loops that break trims.
• Control direction with intent (Project): Avoid shallow angles; align the CPlane or use the Direction option to minimize overlaps.
• Prefer Pull on tight curvature: It follows the surface better than directional projection, reducing edge artifacts.
• Polysurface awareness: Both commands can return multi-segment results across faces. Use MergeCrv/SimplifyCrv if needed.
• Closed surfaces (seams): If results kink at seams, reposition with SrfSeam or slightly rotate the CPlane/direction.
• Meshes: Pull to meshes yields polylines; refine mesh density for smoother outcomes.
• Pre-clean curves: Use Rebuild or FitCrv to reduce control point noise before Project/Pull for cleaner, lighter results.
• History: Enable RecordHistory before Project/Pull to keep results linked to source curves during iterations.

Common follow-ups

• OffsetCrvOnSrf for consistent insets/emboss lines after Pull/Project.
• CrvOnSrf to sketch directly on a surface when projection isn’t ideal.
• Make2D from aligned geometry for documentation and layout sheets.

Pro tip: For product marks on bottles, Pull the logo curves to the glass, then Split and apply a slight OffsetSrf for a clean deboss—reliable for both renders and CNC/3D print pipelines.

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