C4D and Ligthscape

[guzmoc]

Hi,

 

Anyone knows if C4D can export LP files like MAX can ? and then import LS files ?

 

thanks

[AJLynn]

Nope, I think you'd have to go the 3DS route.

[Ernest Burden III]

Nope, I think you'd have to go the 3DS route.

 

No. there is no link. You can use FormZ to translate into and out of Lightscape, or the shareware program AccuTrans (much cheaper than FZ). The problem is that only the Max plugin allows reading the LS radiosity solution. You can also use VRML into and out of Lightscape, by the way. Still, no lighting info.

 

Also, only FZ will read LS blocks as syymbols, but Cinema still lacks a way to read blocks/symbols in as 'Instance' objects. That is a big loss, and I hope it gets addressed soon, yes I've asked.

[guzmoc]

ggrrrr bad news ...... c4d is very much cheaper than MAX ....

[Ernest Burden III]

ggrrrr bad news ...... c4d is very much cheaper than MAX ....

 

Is your only interest using Lightscape lighting meshes? Yes, you have the ability to bring them in and render in Max, but they are static. Our friend Fran is a Lightscaper and Max user, yet I don't think she has bothered using the old bridge. Hopefully she'll see this and comment on it.

 

Lightscape is dead. It's a pity, but its true. I had to make the hard choice of where to go next, and for me that was Cinema. Max is good, too, but C4D had what I wanted. But it cannot replace what was good about Lightscape. But neither can Max. Neither has the amazing LS raytracer, and that's what made all those images you've seen. In many ways C4D goes well beyond LS, especially if you also buy FinalRender.

 

If toy have any more specific questions about LS/C4D just ask.

[AJLynn]

Ernest- Are you sure you can't go C4D -> LS? I've never actually tried it, but I've done Autocad -> 3DS file -> LS, and C4D -> 3DS file -> whatever.

 

guzmoc- Have you used the LS to Max import? I've only done it a couple of times and was not happy with the results - Ernest is right, with LS files you're better off staying in LS. But if you need new software and don't want to pay for Max, the C4D XL bundle has the C4D Advanced Render engine which produces great image quality (slowly), and cebas.com is selling a package of C4D basic plus FinalRender 2 (replaces Advanced Render) for about $1300 - but with these guys, who knows what the price in France is.

[Ernest Burden III]

Ernest- Are you sure you can't go C4D -> LS? I've never actually tried it, but I've done Autocad -> 3DS file -> LS, and C4D -> 3DS file -> whatever.

 

From C4D to LS, yes. Use 3ds or dxf. But Lightscape does not export. You can take VRML out of it, but only after the engine has sliced up the geometry. This can be minimized but not eliminated.

 

But only the plug-in for Max carries the LS lighting mesh. Anything else will just have geometry.

[guzmoc]

At this time nothing had replace Lightscape for me . FinalRender , Brazil , Maxwell...etc are good for static but if you have to do a 5 minutes animation with good light , nothing can replace Lightscape . ( with 10 seconds or less render time / frame ) .

I was using MAX + Lightscape at this time at my office but now I want to be freelance and have to buy licenses and MAx is too expensive for me now , that's why I am considering C4D but if I can't export in Ligtscape my C4d textured scene then I have to find another solution....

 

AJLynn all my picts in my site were done using the combo MAX and LS and I was very happy with the results .

[Ernest Burden III]

I am considering C4D but if I can't export in Ligtscape my C4d textured scene then I have to find another solution....

 

You can export textured scenes (including UV) from Cinema into Lightscape via 3ds, but you will be stuck with the triangles. Or you can export quads via dxf but Lightscape will not get textures, though they can be put on in Lightscape, easily.

 

I was addressing taking results OUT OF Lightscape, which is hard. In is easy.