Alexandria Phoenix — Felipe E. Harker

Start

InstallAlexandria Grasshopper Tools from Rhino's Package Manager (see Install).
RestartRhino.
OpenThe Alexandria Phoenix tab in Grasshopper.

Rhino 8 for Windows. The packages are in the office's shared Alexandria packages folder; full steps are in INSTALL.md. For a short introduction to show someone, there is the overview PDF.

How It Works

Each component does one job. Chain them left to right.

Region Grid Remap Transform Cull Preview

Cells also feed Pattern and Fabricate. Document moves data in and out of Rhino.

Shared Ports

Components that do the same job take and give the same things, so any one swaps for another.

Port	Carries
Region	A closed planar curve to fill
Cells	Closed curves from any grid
Geometry	Anything to measure, move or cull
Values	One number per item
Domain	The range values are remapped to

Components

Open a row for its ports.

Grid 7

Square Grid in RegionSqGrid ShowHide Square cells, centred on a closed planar region and trimmed to it

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the grid.
Size	Number	Edge length of each square cell, in model units.
Cells	Output	Closed cell curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Hex Grid in RegionHexGrid ShowHide Pointy-top hexagons, centred and trimmed the same way

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the grid.
Size	Number	Width of each hexagon across its flats, which is also the spacing between neighbouring cell centres, in model units.
Cells	Output	Closed cell curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Rectangle Grid in RegionRectGrid ShowHide Rectangular cells

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the grid.
SizeX	Number	Width of each cell along the grid X axis, in model units.
SizeY	Number	Height of each cell along the grid Y axis, in model units.
Cells	Output	Closed cell curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Triangle Grid in RegionTriGrid ShowHide Equilateral triangles in alternating rows

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the grid.
Size	Number	Edge length of each triangle, in model units. Rows are Size x sqrt(3) / 2 tall.
Cells	Output	Closed cell curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Diamond Grid in RegionDiaGrid ShowHide Interlocking diamonds

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the grid.
SizeX	Number	Width of each diamond corner to corner along the grid X axis, in model units.
SizeY	Number	Height of each diamond corner to corner along the grid Y axis, in model units.
Cells	Output	Closed cell curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Brick Grid in RegionBrickGrid ShowHide Running-bond courses with an adjustable shift

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the grid.
SizeX	Number	Length of each brick along the grid X axis, in model units.
SizeY	Number	Height of each brick and of each row, in model units.
Shift	Number, optional	Fraction of SizeX that every other row slides along the grid X axis. 0.5 gives the classic half bond, 0 a stack bond. Default: 0.5.
Cells	Output	Closed cell curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Panel Grid in RegionPanelGrid ShowHide Exact-size panels with closers at the edges and open joints

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the panels.
SizeX	Number	Module width of a full panel along the grid X axis, joint included, in model units.
SizeY	Number	Module height of a full panel along the grid Y axis, joint included, in model units.
Joint	Number, optional	Gap opened between neighbouring panels without moving them. The same gap is left as a margin where the run meets the region's bounding box, and panels too small to survive it are dropped. Default: 0.
Cells	Output	Closed panel curves inside the region, ordered row by row.

Voronoi 4

Attractor SeedsAttrSeeds ShowHide One seed per cell, pulled from its centroid toward attractor curves

Port	Type	Description
Cells	Curve list	Closed planar cells from any grid, one seed each.
Curves	Curve list	Attractor curves. Each seed is pulled toward the nearest one.
Domain	Domain, optional	Where each seed sits on the line from its nearest point on the curves (0) to its cell's centroid (1). The nearest cell takes the start of the domain and the furthest the end. Default: 0 To 1.
Seeds	Output	One seed per cell, in input order, for Voronoi in Region.

Jitter SeedsJitSeeds ShowHide One seed per cell, at a random point inside it

Port	Type	Description
Cells	Curve list	Closed planar cells from any grid, one seed each.
Jitter	Number, optional	How far (0-1) each seed may wander from its cell's centroid, as a share of the cell's half-width and half-height. Seeds always stay inside their cell. Default: 0.5.
Seed	Integer, optional	Random seed for the jitter. Each cell draws from its own generator, so a cell keeps its seed when others change. Default: 0.
Seeds	Output	One seed per cell, in input order, for Voronoi in Region.

Scatter SeedsScatSeeds ShowHide Evenly scattered random seeds in a region, optionally pulled toward curves

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve to scatter the seeds in.
Count	Integer	Number of seeds.
Curves	Curve list, optional	Optional attractor curves. Each seed is pulled toward the nearest one, as Attractor Seeds pulls cell centroids; without them the seeds stay where they were scattered.
Domain	Domain, optional	Where each seed sits on the line from its nearest point on the curves (0) to where it was scattered (1). The nearest seed takes the start of the domain and the furthest the end. Default: 0 To 1.
Seed	Integer, optional	Random seed for the scatter. Default: 0.
Seeds	Output	The seeds, in the order they were scattered, for Voronoi in Region.

Voronoi in RegionVoroRegion ShowHide Voronoi cells from any seeds, trimmed to a region

Port	Type	Description
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve that bounds the Voronoi.
Seeds	Point list	Points the cells grow from.
Cells	Output	Closed Voronoi cells inside the region, in seed order. A cell the boundary cuts in two gives two.

Remap 7

Point RemapPtRemap ShowHide Distance to the nearest attractor point, remapped to a domain

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to measure. Points are used as they are; closed curves, surfaces and meshes are measured from their area centroid.
Points	Point list	Attractor points. Each item measures to the nearest one.
Domain	Domain, optional	Target domain for the remapped values. Default: 0 To 1.
Source	Domain, optional	Domain the measured distances are remapped from. Pin it to make several remaps share one scale; distances outside it then land outside the target domain rather than being clamped. Default: their own spread.
Values	Output	One remapped value per item, in input order.

Curve RemapCrvRemap ShowHide Distance to the nearest attractor curve, remapped to a domain

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to measure. Points are used as they are; closed curves, surfaces and meshes are measured from their area centroid.
Curves	Curve list	Attractor curves. Each item measures to the nearest one.
Domain	Domain, optional	Target domain for the remapped values. Default: 0 To 1.
Source	Domain, optional	Domain the measured distances are remapped from. Pin it to make several remaps share one scale; distances outside it then land outside the target domain rather than being clamped. Default: their own spread.
Values	Output	One remapped value per item, in input order.

Image RemapImgRemap ShowHide Image brightness under each item, remapped to a domain

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to sample. Points are used as they are; closed curves, surfaces and meshes are read at their area centroid.
Image	Text	Path to the image file. A relative path is read from the folder of the Grasshopper file.
Region	Curve, optional	Planar curve, usually a rectangle, that the image is stretched over. Default: the items' bounding box.
Domain	Domain, optional	Target domain for the remapped values. Default: 0 To 1.
Values	Output	Remapped brightness under each item, in input order.
Colors	Output	Pixel colour under each item, in input order.

Random ValuesRandVal ShowHide One seeded random value per item

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to give values to. Any data works; empty items get no value.
Domain	Domain, optional	Domain the values are drawn from. Default: 0 To 1.
Seed	Integer, optional	Random seed; change it for a different set of values. Default: 0.
Values	Output	One random value per item, in input order.

Value RemapValRemap ShowHide Any number list remapped to a domain

Port	Type	Description
Values	Number list	Numbers to remap.
Domain	Domain, optional	Target domain for the remapped values. Default: 0 To 1.
Source	Domain, optional	Domain the values are remapped from. Pin it to make several remaps share one scale; values outside it then land outside the target domain rather than being clamped. Default: their own spread.
Remapped	Output	One remapped value per input value, in input order.

Blend ValuesBlendVal ShowHide Two value fields combined by average, min, max or multiply

Port	Type	Description
ValuesA	Number list	First list of values.
ValuesB	Number list	Second list of values.
Mode	Integer, optional	0 weighted average, 1 minimum, 2 maximum, 3 multiply. Default: 0.
Weight	Number, optional	Share (0-1) of ValuesB in the weighted average: 0 gives ValuesA, 1 gives ValuesB. Default: 0.5.
Values	Output	One blended value per pair, in input order.

Step ValuesStepVal ShowHide Values snapped to a step, with a type index per distinct size

Port	Type	Description
Values	Number list	Numbers to round. Empty items stay empty.
Step	Number	Increment to round to. Must be greater than zero.
Mode	Integer, optional	0 rounds to the nearest multiple, 1 rounds down, 2 rounds up. Default: 0.
Stepped	Output	The rounded values, in input order.
Types	Output	Index of each value's stepped size among the distinct sizes, smallest first.

Transform 3

Scale by ValuesScaleVal ShowHide Scales each item about its own centroid by its matching value

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to scale. Closed curves, surfaces and meshes scale about their area centroid; other geometry about its bounding-box centre.
Factors	Number list	Scale factor per item; 1 leaves the item unchanged. Factors at or below zero give an empty item.
Scaled	Output	Scaled copies of the items, in input order.

Rotate by ValuesRotateVal ShowHide Rotates each item about its own centroid by its matching angle

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to rotate. Closed curves, surfaces and meshes turn about their area centroid; other geometry about its bounding-box centre.
Angles	Number list	Rotation per item, in degrees. Positive angles turn counter-clockwise as seen from the tip of the Axis, as in the Top view for world Z.
Axis	Vector, optional	Direction of the rotation axis through each item's centre. Default: world Z.
Rotated	Output	Rotated copies of the items, in input order.

Offset by ValuesOffsetVal ShowHide Insets or grows each closed curve by its matching distance

Port	Type	Description
Curves	Curve list	Closed planar curves to offset.
Distances	Number list	Offset per curve, in model units. Positive insets, negative grows, zero keeps the curve as it is.
Offset	Output	One offset curve per input curve, in input order.

Cull 1

Percent CullPctCull ShowHide Randomly removes a share of the items on one side of a value threshold

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to cull. Any data works; must match Values in length.
Values	Number list	One value per item, usually a distance or area. Remapped to 0-1 before the threshold is applied.
Threshold	Number, optional	Remapped value (0-1) that splits the list into candidates and protected items. Default: 0.5.
Percent	Number, optional	Share (0-1) of the candidates to remove. Default: 0.5.
Seed	Integer, optional	Random seed that picks which candidates are removed. Default: 0.
Invert	Boolean, optional	Make the items below the Threshold the candidates. Default: False.
Kept	Output	Items that survive the cull, in input order.
Culled	Output	Items that were removed, in input order.
Pattern	Output	One boolean per item, True where the item was kept.

Pattern 2

Lattice PatternLattice ShowHide A chord lattice inside every cell, picked with one index

Port	Type	Description
Cells	Curve list	Closed cell curves, one lattice each. Curved edges are read as straight lines between their corners.
Pattern	Integer, optional	Which combination of chord families to draw, in the order given above. Wraps at 1023. Default: 0 (Outline alone).
Inner	Number, optional	Size of the inner ring, from 0 (collapsed onto the centroid) to 1 (on the outline). Default: 0.5.
Enclose	Boolean, optional	Also resolve each cell's chords into the closed shapes they enclose, for cutting rather than engraving. Slower than the lines alone, except where cells are copies of one another. Default: False.
Lines	Output	The chords, one branch per cell. Zero-length and repeated chords are dropped within a cell, but neighbouring cells each draw the edge they share.
Shapes	Output	The closed shapes the chords enclose, one branch per cell. Empty unless Enclose is on; the cell must be planar.
Families	Output	Names of the chord families Pattern draws.

Voronoi PatternVoroPatt ShowHide A Voronoi subdivision of every cell, picked with one index

Port	Type	Description
Cells	Curve list	Closed planar cell curves, one pattern each.
Pattern	Integer, optional	Which combination of seed families to use, in the order given above. Wraps at 120. Default: 0 (InnerVert + InnerEval).
Inner	Number, optional	Size of the inner copy: 1 is the cell itself, 0 collapses it onto the centroid, and values above 1 put its seeds outside the cell. Default: 0.5.
OuterAt	Number, optional	Where along each cell edge the OuterEval seeds sit, from 0 (its start) to 1 (its end). Default: 0.5.
InnerAt	Number, optional	Where along each inner edge the InnerEval seeds sit, from 0 to 1. Default: 0.5.
Shapes	Output	The Voronoi regions clipped to the cell, one branch per cell, running the same way round as the cell.
Seeds	Output	The seed points each pattern grew from, one branch per cell.
Families	Output	Names of the seed families Pattern uses.

Fabricate 4

Fold CellsFold ShowHide Folds cells up along creases into flaps, wedges or pyramids

Port	Type	Description
Cells	Curve tree	Closed planar cells to fold.
Creases	Curve tree, optional	Optional. Crease lines, one branch per cell. Ignored in Mode 2.
Angles	Number tree	Fold angle per cell, in degrees; the last value repeats, so one angle folds every cell alike and a Values list drives a field.
Mode	Integer, optional	0 folds open flaps, 1 closes each flap into a solid wedge, 2 raises a closed pyramid on each cell. Default: 0.
Folded	Output	Folded pieces, wedges or pyramids, one branch per cell.
Hinges	Output	The edge each piece turned about, parallel to Folded; empty where a piece stayed flat and in Mode 2.

UnfoldUnfold ShowHide Flattens folded geometry into cut and score lines

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Brep tree	Folded faces or closed solids to flatten.
Spacing	Number, optional	Gap between neighbouring pieces in the row. Default: 10.
Cuts	Output	Outside edges to cut, one branch per flat piece.
Scores	Output	Shared edges to score, one branch per flat piece.
Bounds	Output	Rectangle each flat piece occupies, parallel to the branches.

Panel TabsPanelTabs ShowHide Flat blank of a folded panel: face, folds and tabs, plus creases

Port	Type	Description
Panel	Curve	Closed planar outline of the panel face.
Fold	Number	Width of the fold zone turned back along each side.
TabWidth	Number, optional	Optional. How far each tab reaches beyond its fold zone; ignored when a Profile is given.
TabHeight	Number, optional	Optional. Height of each tab; ignored when a Profile is given.
Spacing	Number	Distance between tab centres; give Frame Slots the same value.
Profile	Curve, optional	Optional. Closed planar curve drawn as the right-hand tab, used in place of a rectangle.
Plane	Plane, optional	Plane the panel is laid out in. Default: the panel's own plane with Y running up the panel, world XY when it lies flat.
Blank	Output	The outline to cut: face, fold zones and tabs as one closed curve.
Creases	Output	The two fold lines to score, left then right.
Tabs	Output	The tab outlines, left and right in pairs from the bottom up.
Count	Output	How many tabs were placed on each side.

Frame SlotsFrameSlots ShowHide The frame slots that line up with Panel Tabs

Port	Type	Description
Frame	Curve	Closed planar outline of the frame face.
SlotWidth	Number	Width of each slot before clearance.
SlotHeight	Number	Height of each slot before clearance.
SpacingX	Number	Distance between the centres of the two slot columns.
SpacingY	Number	Distance between slot rows; give it the panel's Spacing.
Clearance	Number, optional	Added around every slot on each side. Default: 0.
Plane	Plane, optional	Plane the frame is laid out in. Default: the frame's own plane with Y running up the frame, world XY when it lies flat.
Slots	Output	The slot outlines, left and right in pairs from the bottom up.
Count	Output	How many rows of slots were placed.

Geometry 2

Region TrimTrim ShowHide Splits curves into what lies inside and outside a region, keeping closed curves closed

Port	Type	Description
Curves	Curve list	Curves to trim, open or closed. Curves off the region's plane are projected onto it first.
Region	Curve	Closed planar curve to trim against.
Inside	Output	Pieces inside the region, in input order.
Outside	Output	Pieces outside the region, in input order.

Plane BoundsBounds ShowHide Bounding rectangle and box square to any plane, for stock sizes

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any list	Items to measure.
Plane	Plane, optional	Plane to measure in. Default: world XY.
Rectangle	Output	The bounding rectangle, drawn on the plane.
Box	Output	The bounding box, square to the plane.
Center	Output	Centre of the box.
SizeX	Output	Size along the plane's X axis.
SizeY	Output	Size along the plane's Y axis.
SizeZ	Output	Size along the plane's Z axis.

Display 1

Material PreviewPreview ShowHide Shaded preview in a chosen colour and opacity

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Geometry list	Geometry to preview.
Color	Colour, optional	Preview colour. Default: Phoenix orange (242, 101, 34).
Opacity	Number, optional	Preview opacity, from 0 (invisible) to 1 (solid). Default: 1.

Document 4

Layer GeometryLayerGeo ShowHide Live geometry from a Rhino layer, updating as the layer changes

Port	Type	Description
Layer	Text	Full path of the layer, nested layers joined with a double colon.
Sublayers	Boolean, optional	Also read the layers nested under it. Default: False.
Geometry	Output	Geometry of each object, layer by layer, oldest first.
Names	Output	Rhino object name of each item, blank when it has none.

Bake to LayerBake ShowHide Bakes branches onto named, coloured layers, replacing on each press

Port	Type	Description
Geometry	Any tree	Geometry to bake, one branch per layer.
Layers	Text list	Layer for each branch, nested layers joined with a double colon.
Color	Colour list, optional	Layer colour, one per layer name; the last repeats. Default: new layers get Phoenix orange (242, 101, 34) and existing layers keep theirs.
Replace	Boolean, optional	Clear each layer before baking onto it. Default: False.
Bake	Boolean	Set True, usually from a Button, to bake.
Count	Output	Number of objects baked.
Report	Output	One line per branch saying what was baked, removed and skipped.

Export ParametersParamOut ShowHide Writes the canvas's inputs to a CSV, one section per variant

Port	Type	Description
File	Text	Path of the CSV file to write; relative paths start at this .gh file.
Section	Text, optional	Optional. Section name written into every row.
Export	Boolean	Set True, usually from a Button, to write the file.
Count	Output	How many inputs were written.
Report	Output	What was written, or why nothing was.

Apply ParametersParamIn ShowHide Sets the canvas's inputs from that CSV

Port	Type	Description
File	Text	Path of the CSV file to read; relative paths start at this .gh file.
Section	Text, optional	Only apply rows whose section matches. Default: every row.
Apply	Boolean	Set True, usually from a Button, to apply the file.
Count	Output	How many inputs were set.
Report	Output	One line per row saying what was set or skipped.

Utility 1

Feet InchesFtIn ShowHide Lengths as architectural feet and inches

Port	Type	Description
Values	Number list	Lengths in model units. Empty items stay empty.
Precision	Integer, optional	Smallest fraction of an inch, as its denominator: 16 rounds to sixteenths, 1 to whole inches. Default: 16.
Text	Output	One feet-and-inches string per length, in input order.

Template Definition

alexandria_phoenix_master_v1.0.gh with its .3dm shows the layout every definition follows. Logic runs along the top; each input group sits below the stage it feeds.

Grid Remap Scale Cull Result Preview Boundary Attractors · Domain Cull Settings Display

Group	Colour	Holds
Input	Blue	Variables and their relays
Logic	Orange	Phoenix components
Output	Green	Results to bake or pass on
Display	Violet	Material Preview

Showcase

Below the template, every component runs in its simplest form: one column per section of the Phoenix tab and one titled row per sample, each on its own tile in the .3dm. The section headers and row titles are the one place the master uses notes.

Column	Rows
Grid	All seven grids, each on its own region
Voronoi	Hex Grid → Attractor Seeds · Hex Grid → Jitter Seeds · Scatter Seeds, each → Voronoi in Region
Geometry	Region Trim · Plane Bounds
Remap	Layer Geometry → Point Remap + Image Remap → Blend Values → Value Remap → Step Values → Scale by Values
Transform	Random Values → Rotate by Values · Offset by Values
Cull	Random Values → Percent Cull
Pattern	Lattice Pattern · Voronoi Pattern
Fabricate	Lattice → Fold Cells → Unfold → Bake to Layer · Panel Tabs → Frame Slots
Display	Material Preview
Document	Layer Geometry · Export Parameters + Apply Parameters
Utility	Feet Inches

alexandria_phoenix_master_parameters.csv holds the canvas's inputs in two sections, Default and Dense. Set Section and press Apply to switch between them.

Standards

Rule	Why
Every variable feeds a typed relay in its group	Swap a variable, rewire one point
Logic outputs pass through relays too	Swap a component, rewire one point
Groups get short names and a role colour	Readable at a glance
Only Display components preview	The viewport shows what matters
No panels or notes	The layout explains itself
One Rhino layer per referenced input	Inputs are easy to find and replace

Install

Two packages for Rhino 8 on Windows, both from Rhino's Package Manager: Alexandria Rhino Tools (the toolbar, its commands and the display modes) and Alexandria Grasshopper Tools (the components). They live in the office's shared Alexandria packages folder rather than on McNeel's public server.

Add the folderOnce per computer. In Tools > Options > Advanced, replace the value of Rhino.Options.PackageManager.Sources with the one in INSTALL.md, ready to paste.
InstallRun PackageManager, search for Alexandria and install both packages. Tick Automatically update packages when Rhino starts.
RestartRhino.
Set upType AlexandriaSetup. It adds Alexandria Tools as a tab after Standard, where it stays through updates, and installs the display modes.

With automatic updates on, a new release installs the next time Rhino starts; otherwise it's in the Package Manager's Updates tab. Click Alexandria Setup again after an update. The render buttons need V-Ray for Rhino. Full steps, including moving from the old install, are in INSTALL.md.

Alexandria Tools

A Rhino toolbar for drawing and rendering, from the Alexandria Rhino Tools package (see Install). Each button runs one of the package's Alexandria… commands.

Button	Does
Alexandria Setup	Adds this tab and installs the DM display modes that ship in the package.
Populate Model	Adds the standard `DETAILS` and `DESIGN` layers, the annotation styles, the render backdrop (wall, modeled ground, scale figure) and the world light.
Set Material	Gives each sublayer of a layer you choose a plaster material in its display colour, `MAT_1`, `MAT_2` and on, replacing any it had. `DESIGN::ILLUMS` keeps its own.
Day Render	V-Ray's bright, neutral studio day, with the lighting on `DESIGN::ILLUMS` off.
Night Render	A dim, neutral night where lit sign faces carry the image, with the lighting on `DESIGN::ILLUMS` back on.
Standard Dimension	Left click: a dimension. Right click: a leader. Both in the Alexandria annotation styles, filed under `DETAILS::ANNOTATIONS`.
Populate Detail	Adds the 2D drawing of a sign detail from the detail library where you click, in the Alexandria styles.
Save as Rhino 7	Writes `<name>_r7.3dm` next to the model. The open model keeps its name and path.

Keep illuminated sign faces and their lights on DESIGN::ILLUMS: Day turns them off and Night back on as you set them up. Other materials and lights stay as they are.

Drawings

Annotation styles and display modes shared by every Alexandria drawing. The details are in STANDARDS.md.

Annotation

Oswald, capitals. Dimensions go on DETAILS::ANNOTATIONS::DIMENSIONS (grey 128,128,128), leaders, notes and titles on DETAILS::ANNOTATIONS::CALLOUTS (grey 50,50,50). Sizes are paper inches, scaled by each style's model space scale (4 by default, 3″ = 1′-0″, so a full-size detail gets 0.5″ dimension text). Populate Model adds the styles; alexandria_annotation_styles.3dm shows each in use.

Style	Shape
Alexandria Dimension	1/8″ text. Feet and inches to 1/16″, no zero feet. Text centred on the line, always level, masked 0.0375″ each side. No arrowheads. Extension lines start 0.05″ off the design and run 0.075″ past the line.
Alexandria Leader	0.1375″ text. 0.055″ dot, a leg at any angle, 0.25″ horizontal landing, text centred on the landing 0.1″ past its end.
Alexandria Text	0.1375″ text, top left aligned.
Alexandria Title	3/16″ Oswald Bold, centred.

Display Modes

Exported to standards/display_modes/ and installed by Alexandria Setup. To import them by hand, download alexandria_display_modes.zip and use Options > View > Display Modes > Import.

Mode	Background	Look
DM-WORKING	White	Off-white shading, dark grey edges, grid and axes, no shadows
DM-AUTOCAD	Dark slate	DM-WORKING's shading on a CAD-style background
DM-DIAGRAM	White	Flat mid-grey with one light, thin dark edges
DM-DIAGRAM-SHADOW	White	Flat white with hard shadows on a shadow-only ground

Rendering

Day Render and Night Render set the same V-Ray values, so they run in either order. Day turns off the lighting on DESIGN::ILLUMS (self-illumination and V-Ray lights) and Night restores it, so give sign faces a V-Ray Generic material: its colour reads by day and its glow at night.

Setting	Day	Night
Environment (background, GI, reflections)	× 1	× 0.05
World light (directional, front left, 31° up)	0.0625	Same
Sun, ground plane	Off	Off
Camera	ISO 625, f/8, 1/100 s	Same
White balance	Neutral	Neutral
Image size	3840 × 2160 (4K, 16:9)	Same

Develop

Each component is one Python 3 script. The scripts are the source of truth; the plugin is built from them.

Editsrc/<family>/<name>.py.
BuildIn Rhino 8, run _-RunPythonScript "tools\build.py".
TestRestart Rhino and test.
ReleaseCommit and push. Pushing main copies the packages into the shared Alexandria packages folder.
DocumentRefresh these docs with python tools/make_site.py.

The Docstring Is the Spec

"""Point Remap (PtRemap)

Measures how far each item sits from its nearest attractor point
and remaps those distances onto a target domain.

Inputs:
    Geometry: Items to measure.
    Points: Attractor points.
    Domain: Target domain. Default: 0 To 1.
Outputs:
    Values: One remapped value per item.
"""

In the script	In Grasshopper
First line `Name (NickName)`	Component name and nickname
Folder `src/grid`	Ribbon panel Grid
`RunScript` arguments	Inputs, in order
`list[...]` annotation	List access
`Default:` in a description	Optional input

Full rules in STANDARDS.md.