Cinema 4D
Developer(s) | MAXON Computer GmbH |
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Stable release | R13.029
/ September, 2011 |
Operating system | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux |
Type | 3D computer graphics |
License | Proprietary |
Website | Maxon CINEMA 4D site |
CINEMA 4D is a 3D modeling, animation and rendering application developed by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing, rendering, and common features found in 3d modelling applications.
Overview
The application relies on widely used computer 3D technology which works by creating groups of "points" (known as vertices) who form surfaces when connected. The illusion of three dimensions is created by modeling objects out of multiple surfaces. Still pictures, movies and game environments (among other things) can be created with this technique.
When a scene is finished it is normally rendered. Rendering refers to the act of calculating the scene, the shading, the colors and the textures. After rendering one is able to save the project in many different file formats including high resolution image and video files (such as AVI or QuickTime). Rendering a 3D scene can take anywhere from few seconds to several days depending on the complexity of the scene and the power of the computer. Rendering a movie is especially time-consuming.
CINEMA 4D has its own programming language, C.O.F.F.E.E., to develop platform independent plug-ins. It's also available as a free plug-in.
There are three different packages put out by MAXON: the core CINEMA 4D application, the XL-Bundle (including Net Render [3 lic], PyroCluster, Advanced Render, MOCCA and Thinking Particles), and the Studio-Bundle, which includes all modules. CINEMA 4D runs on Windows and Macintosh PC's - a Linux version for commercial studio use is available upon request. Initially, CINEMA 4D was developed for Amiga computers in the early nineties.
MAXON has created a way for all users to be able to 'get into' 3D with their software by pursuing this route. There are also on-line communities such as c4d cafe and CGTalk available to help novice CINEMA 4D users. Finally, it should be noted that MAXON bundles printed manuals (at extra charge) and tutorials/videos with its software.
Modules
Up until Release 11.5, Cinema 4D had a modular approach to the application, with the ability to expand upon the core application with various modules. This modular approach to Cinema 4D came to an end with Release 12, though the functionality of these modules remains in the various flavors of Cinema 4D (Prime, Broadcast, Visualize, Studio) The old modules were:
- Advanced Render (global illumination/HDRI, caustics, ambient occlusion and sky simulation)
- BodyPaint 3D (direct painting on UVW meshes; now included in the core. In essence Cinema 4D Core/Prime and the BodyPaint 3D products are identical. The only difference between the two is the splash screen that is shown at startup and the default user interface.)
- Dynamics (for simulating soft body and rigid body dynamics)
- Hair (simulates hair, fur, grass, etc.)
- MOCCA (character animation and cloth simulation)
- MoGraph (Motion Graphics procedural modelling and animation toolset)
- NET Render (to render animations over a TCP/IP network in render farms)
- PyroCluster (simulation of smoke and fire effects)
- With CINEMA 4D R10, the module PyroCluster became integrated in the Advanced Render module
- Sketch & Toon (tools for cel shading, cartoons and technical drawings)
- Thinking Particles (enhanced particle system based on nodes)
- Xpresso (is not and never has been a module, it is a core functionality)
As of Release 13, Cinema 4D comes in 4 flavors:
- Prime (the core application)
- Broadcast (a bundle aimed at motion graphics artists)
- Visualize (aimed at product and architectural visualization artists)
- Studio (the complete package)
For a full comparison of the various flavors of Cinema 4D go to the Maxon Product Comparision page
Additional rendering engines
As of 2007[update], these alternative rendering engines and connections are currently available as plug-ins for CINEMA 4D:
- finalRender stage 2.0 SP4 from Cebas Computer GmbH
- FryRender from RandomControl
- Maxwell Render from Next Limit Technologies
- Pixar Renderman Connection Cineman from MAXON Computer GmbH
- Indigo Renderer, unbiased photorealistic renderer
- Octane Render, unbiased GPU-accelerated renderer
- SunFlow
- V-ray
- mental ray & iray from at² GmbH
Version history
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Use in industry
A number of films and related works have been modeled and rendered in CINEMA 4D, including[1]:
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Beowulf
- The Ship-boys of Bontekoe
- The Golden Compass
- Surf's Up
- We Are the Strange
- Spider-Man 3
- Monster House
- War of the Worlds
- Chronicles of Narnia
- Serenity
- Inception
- Doom
- Prehistoric Park
- Homework
- Van Helsing
- Bernd das Brot
- Generation
- The Polar Express
- King Arthur
- June 17, 1953, State of Emergency
- Open Season[2]
- He Was a Quiet Man
- Surrogates
- Tron: Legacy
- Roger Waters: The Wall Live tour projections (some of them) [3]