more c4d questions (vs. max)

[cakewalkr7]

I am still playing with the c4d demo and trying to figure out a few things that I know how to do in max. I was hoping some of you might know.

 

1. I set up my units to feet, but on another forum, I was told that units don't really matter in c4d and not to work in feet because in smaller units like that, c4d has a tough time. Soooo, how do all of you using it for arch viz end up with accurate renders if you don't use the feet units?

 

2. In max, there's the ram player which is very convenient for comparing 2 renders to see what little lighting tweaks are doing. I have not found a way to do this in c4d aside from just saving every image and comparing them manually. Is there any plugin available for c4d like this?

 

3. When I switch from the 4 panel view to a 2 panel view and then go back, the positioning of my perspective view is reset. I'm assuming this is just a c4d quirk, but is there anything I can do to make my panels remember what they looked like before I switched? I think it mainly happens in my perspective when I have a camera in it and in that case, it zooms out a ton so I have to do a lot of rezooming to get back to where I can see everything.

 

4. In max, I can select a bunch of polygons and smooth them. I know c4d has hypernurbs, but is there anything similar to that so that I can have a hard edge on one set of polys, but select some on the other side and smooth just those?

 

Thanks for any input. I like max and feel at home when modeling, but I'm finding that the lighting and materials in c4d are just so much easier to set up that if I can get past some of these little annoyances/questions, I may have to switch. Thanks again!

[Frosty]

1. I set up my units to feet, but on another forum, I was told that units don't really matter in c4d and not to work in feet because in smaller units like that, c4d has a tough time. Soooo, how do all of you using it for arch viz end up with accurate renders if you don't use the feet units?

Cinema 4D, like most animation software, is not cad based. Personally I model in FormZ (CAD Based), Strat models in AutoCAD (CAD based) and I think Ernest models in AutoCAD maybe DataCAD (both CAD based). The lack of an accurate system of measurement is a short fall of C4D and I dont know why Maxon has made no attempt to improve it. It has only slightly bothered me because I always used FormZ. You could use its existing system to do accurate measurements and construction if went decimal, but I dont know too many people that can read decimal feet. In my mind, every 2D/3D package should be able to measure accuartely in metric and imperial and be able to switch between the two at any time - ala FormZ and VectorWorks.

 

2. In max, there's the ram player which is very convenient for comparing 2 renders to see what little lighting tweaks are doing. I have not found a way to do this in c4d aside from just saving every image and comparing them manually. Is there any plugin available for c4d like this?

There is a plug to do this, I think by Paul Everret. Check http://www.tools4d.com. Also check the sticky in this forum for lots of other plugins.

 

3. When I switch from the 4 panel view to a 2 panel view and then go back, the positioning of my perspective view is reset. I'm assuming this is just a c4d quirk, but is there anything I can do to make my panels remember what they looked like before I switched? I think it mainly happens in my perspective when I have a camera in it and in that case, it zooms out a ton so I have to do a lot of rezooming to get back to where I can see everything.

This should NOT be happening.Possibly a problem with your demo? The install? I really have no idea.

 

4. In max, I can select a bunch of polygons and smooth them. I know c4d has hypernurbs, but is there anything similar to that so that I can have a hard edge on one set of polys, but select some on the other side and smooth just those?

Hypernurbs can do this too on edges or polys. Select the polys or edges the use Structure >> Weight HyperNurbs.

[cakewalkr7]

Cinema 4D, like most animation software, is not cad based. Personally I model in FormZ (CAD Based), Strat models in AutoCAD (CAD based) and I think Ernest models in AutoCAD maybe DataCAD (both CAD based).

 

So, in order to use c4d accurately I basically need to model in another program and import the model for texturing and rendering, eh?

 

There is a plug to do this, I think by Paul Everret. Check www.tools4d.com. Also check the sticky in this forum for lots of other plugins.

 

I checked out that site the other day (and just now again), but I can't seem to get anywhere except the free plugins which don't include that one. A lot of their site seems to be unusable which is a shame because from some other sites I read on, their plugins seem pretty cool.

 

Hypernurbs can do this too on edges or polys. Select the polys or edges the use Structure >> Weight HyperNurbs.

 

Thanks, I'll have to look into that option and get familiar with it.

[Frosty]

So, in order to use c4d accurately I basically need to model in another program and import the model for texturing and rendering, eh?

No, I'm not saying that. I'm simply stating that I don't think there is an easy way to use imperial units. Metric is easy - not surprising since Maxon is German.

 

I checked out that site the other day (and just now again), but I can't seem to get anywhere except the free plugins which don't include that one. A lot of their site seems to be unusable which is a shame because from some other sites I read on, their plugins seem pretty cool.

Yes, Paul creates some very cool little plugs and usually very inexpensive. The one I'm thinking of may not have even been his...but its def. out there

[Jorge Arango]

For comparing rendered pictures, check a plugin called mes images. You'll find it in frenchcinema.com.

 

 

Jorge Arango

[cakewalkr7]

Apparently the site is down right now. Thanks, I'll check back later and see if it's up.

[Jorge Arango]

Apparently the site is down right now. Thanks, I'll check back later and see if it's up.

 

Sorry, it's frenchcinema4d.com

 

Jorge Arango