C4D in workflow

[josephus]

I'm somewhat directing this to Ernest, as I think it was he who mentioned a while back that he used FormZ at one time and then switched to C4D, and "never looked back", however, anyone please feel free to comment.

 

Is your workflow something like this? CAD program>C4D (for ??)>rendering module (??)>Photoshop.

 

To what extent do you use C4D in this workflow, just as a bridge to the rendering module, or???

 

After working in FormZ for many years I finally sold the software so now need something to replace it. At the office where I now work as a Sr Designer/Architect we're using Archicad, but still doing renderings by hand .

[STRAT]

c4d is used the same as any other 3d app. if you are unused to a 3d rendering app then dont see cinema as anything new or different to other apps.

 

generally, including myself, i do maybe 95% of my modeling in AutoCAD, 4% in SketchUp and maybe 1% in C4D (thats just my preference. your's might be the other way around. any why not?).

 

i then bring the model into Cinema to render. There's no reason to stop using FormZ purely because you feel it might be old hat and out of date. It certainly isn't.

[josephus]

c4d is used the same as any other 3d app. if you are unused to a 3d rendering app then dont see cinema as anything new or different to other apps.

 

generally, including myself, i do maybe 95% of my modeling in AutoCAD, 4% in SketchUp and maybe 1% in C4D (thats just my preference. your's might be the other way around. any why not?).

 

i then bring the model into Cinema to render. There's no reason to stop using FormZ purely because you feel it might be old hat and out of date. It certainly isn't.

 

Strat, is it fair to say that C4D is primarily your portal to the rendering engine? I would like to use VRay for rendering and see it's available as a plug-in for SU (as well as for C4D, though the AR2 images are very acceptable to me as well). Could that 1% modeling in C4D be done in Acad or SU?

 

I quit FZ primarily because of the lack of an acceptable (to me) render engine (the Maxwell plug-in IMO is not an acceptable on-a-daily-basis rendering engine...I have 2 MW licenses that I'm not using) and too many software crashes in FZ (ugh). I was very happy with its modeling capabilties (though a bit cumbersome to me, especially after having worked in Archicad and Sketchup), and its tech support is the best I've ever experienced. If they had gotten either VRay, Mental Ray, or AR as a plug-in I would still be a FZ user.

[STRAT]

aye, C4D is my only render engine. That includes the AR and Vray from within Cinema. and yes, that 1% needn't be done in Cinema if you dont want. I basically use Cinema to ammend my models after the initial modeling has be completed.

 

Using a cad package like autocad or FZ to model in and then a separate render engine like Vray or Cinema to render on is a normal everyday situation for 1000's of peeps in our trade.

 

of course, you can just buy a 3d app and use it purely as a 1 stop model/render shop, which again, many peeps do, but since you already own FZ and sound pretty proficient in it then why not continue using it? all you need is a renderer. Why not try the free demos? you might prefer max over c4d for example. or maya or lightwave for example.

[leed]

I am sorry that you sold your FormZ, it is a great, modeller.

I have usedZ in conjunction with C4d for 7 years, Form Z is a good companion. although I have dropped the Renderer package now.

 

C4d is a great package, and with Vray is a great renderer, not that AR is a bad one.......

 

I think the thing is to get a pipeline that suites you, if you can model quickly in Z then do that, and bring it into C4d to render.... but to sell Z THEN learn C4d for both rendering and modelling strikes me as a bit hasty.

 

good luck though. C4d is a great app, as Z is a great modeller.

 

Lee

[josephus]

I am sorry that you sold your FormZ, it is a great, modeller.

 

I think the thing is to get a pipeline that suites you, if you can model quickly in Z then do that, and bring it into C4d to render.... but to sell Z THEN learn C4d for both rendering and modelling strikes me as a bit hasty.

 

good luck though. C4d is a great app, as Z is a great modeller.

 

Lee

 

I fully agree about the pipeline....I/we felt that we could not model quickly in FZ...arch parametric modeling tools are supposed to be forthcoming but still "no show". Business not profitable enough...which means to some extent FZ contributed to that by being not fast enough for our budgets, so closed business and sold FZ. I have not given up on 3D Archviz, but in my current position as Sr Designer/Arch all work is done by hand and Photoshop. I do want to get our ofc doing comp generated images which would be far better IMO than hand drawn images by our in-house artist (not me). We are using Archicad here but no renderings yet. If FZ came through with some awesome arch parametric modeling tools (before I purchase either C4D or SU) then I would not have a problem purchasing another FZ license (just needed the $$ when I closed my architectural business). I agree fully that FZ is a great modeler, albeit desperately in need of parametric walls, roofs, windows, etc (like or better than Archicad) AND a plug-in like VRay, MR or AR. BTW, I considered selling my FZ licenses for over a year, and so far no regrets.

[Richard Rush]

As I read posts that discuss formZ on this forum (not just this thread), it appears that most people's familiarity with it is several versions behind the current product.

 

I have been using formZ as an all-in-one modeling/rendering solution for over eleven years. Like many other users I became very frustrated in recent years with the rendering part of the program. But version 6.5 with RenderZone Plus (released a few months ago) is a major leap forward in rendering capability. It achieves GI effects with a combination of Final Gather, Radiosity, and Ambient Occlusion.

 

While the implementation of radiosity in previous versions of formZ was completely unusable in my opinion, the main role of radiosity now in 6.5 is support for the Final Gather. And it works. I'm not suggesting that all this is equal to products such as Vray, but for anyone who values an all-in-one solution, I think formZ is worth a look.

 

If anyone is wondering why I stayed with formZ during a long period of frustration, I discussed that in some detail in another thread: http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/24838-outside-viz-max-2.html

 

Richard

[josephus]

Richard, actually I bailed out at v6.0. Figured if I held on too long that the resale value would go down significantly. I've heard the same "reviews" of Final Gather as you express...not sure if at this point I would be willing to settle for any less than those renderers I mentioned earlier.

 

Since we do use Archicad in the office here, it would seem that C4D is probably the best portal to use to VRay.

 

The reason for starting the thread was that I have a previous client who may need some revisions to presentation renderings (done in FZ) that I did before I closed my arch practice. I also would like to get our office here doing high-end computer generated images, and as I'm not tooooo far from retirement, would like to have my skills such that I can do that "at my leisure" when I don't HAVE to do it 40+ hours a week.

 

I appreciated your link to a similar discussion...will take a look at Modo too.