LWCAD :: It might be great if c4d has plug-in like this

[rendermania]

I've spotted this project on sourceforge:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/c4darch

don't know if its moving ahead at all though. it hasn't released any files since I first stumbled on it.

[Per-Anders]

hmm c4d has everything in that plugin pack by default fro what i can see. snapping is inbuilt, editable curves are inbuilt (more than most other apps too), curve primitives are inbuilt, shape library is inbuilt... i think you just need to spend some time with your manual.

[AdamT]

Hm, I haven't spent a lot of time reviewing the plugin, but it looks to add quite a bit of functionality for arch modeling. It has a kind of Sketchup/Catia snapping system, useable arc tools (unlike Cinema's use*less* arc primitive) and some other nifty things. I'll have a better look at it later.

[moka.studio]

hmm c4d has everything in that plugin pack by default fro what i can see. snapping is inbuilt, editable curves are inbuilt (more than most other apps too), curve primitives are inbuilt, shape library is inbuilt... i think you just need to spend some time with your manual.

Actually, I strongly disagree. C4d has some similar functions for some of these tools, but the workflow, judging frmo the website , seems really good for arch modelling. The rotate snap, and scale snap would be really nice to have, as well as the spline creation tools ( and especially the arc, as Adam mentions. the way to build basic shapes in C4d is more geared towards box modelling than complex scenes with 1000's objects.). Another one that looks really nice is the spline to poly command. That would save quite a few clicks, creating an extrude nurbs, setting the extrusion to 0,0,0, placing the spline inside, making editable.... takes too long right now. This would be a nifty little plugin.
Actually most of these don;t seem very complicated, but they are nice workflow improvments.
jp

[lllab]

cinema has NOt all that, some though,

it definitly need a lot better snapping workflow, and a way to draw curves, circles lines exact and directly extrude them to surface polys, as this is standard in any cad package.

cinema 9 was a move in the right direction, hope the small, but important missing things will be added.

cheers
lllab

[acmepixel]

C4D already has hi-end Architecture plugins.
They are called VectorWorks and AllPlan. You can also buy an exchange plugin for ArchiCad and others. AllPlan exports native C4D format as well. :)

BTW, Maxon is owned by the Allplan folks. So you won't be seeing any Architectural tools in C4D base any time soon.

http://www.maxon.net/allplan/allplan_e.html
http://www.maxon.net/pages/products/c4d/vectorworks_edition/vw_specialedition_e.html
http://www.maxon.net/pages/products/c4d/archicad/archicad_e.html

[AdamT]

Well, Allplan, VW, and Cinema are all owned by the same company, but I don't think that would deter Maxon from developing more CAD-like modeling tools. Even with these additions Cinema would never be a replacement for a true CAD application.

As mentioned above, Cinema mainly needs the ability to *draw* arcs, rectangles, and circles (instead of using only primitive objects), improved snapping, and better scene scaling capabilities. Ngons was certainly a big step in the right direction.

[lllab]

yes as adam says,

all this pure cda software are NO replacment for cinema. cinema has much more fluent workflow. cad is for final construction, but not good for design development, creativ modelling etc.

if cinema just would get this tiny addition it will be even more a power horse poly modeller!
v9 has improved milestones, it just need a few things tiny more
(it will never be a replacment for cad software, this is not the intension)

cheers
lllab

[moka.studio]

yes as adam says,

all this pure cda software are NO replacment for cinema. cinema has much more fluent workflow. cad is for final construction, but not good for design development, creativ modelling etc.

if cinema just would get this tiny addition it will be even more a power horse poly modeller!
v9 has improved milestones, it just need a few things tiny more
(it will never be a replacment for cad software, this is not the intension)

cheers
lllab

My thoughts exactly. The idea is not to convert C4d in an " architectural" modeller, rather make some (often small) improvements to the toolset. And an exchange plugin to Archi cad or vectoor works is not that interesting to me. Sure it is good if you are modelling many standard objects, but I use C4d for teh modelling capacities that it offers that do not exist in Cad programms. Plus, modelling in c4d allows me for a much tighter integration of teh working process, instead of having to worry about correcting imported meshes etc...
Maxon is capable of producing a fantastic cloth simulation apackage ( wich btw is very intersting to use for architecture design as well...) , they shoul dbe able to make small improvements to the toolset, which believe me would make a huge difference to archis/ designers.
jp

[dan22]

Cinema mainly needs the ability to *draw* arcs, rectangles, and circles (instead of using only primitive objects), improved snapping, and better scene scaling capabilities.


I absolutely agree with you Adam - and would love to see more of a CAD ability absorbed into C4D.

For my Arch viz, including (joinery) furniture construction for interiors, I always build in VW and I can work very quickly - it always seems more cumbersome to build accurate rectilinear type objects in C4D. Soft stuff like sofas, chairs on the other hand is far easier and much more powerful in Cinema.

So I live with the exporting OK, but it would be much better to do it all under one roof.

In VW, the direct "drawing" (and resizing by grabbing the vertex or edge handles) of rectangles, n-gons, circles etc are so fast, and the ability to read off the live dimension windows as you do so, add centre points in 2D, and extrude in the "Z" direction of any view as default, with a pop-up window for you to quickly add the value, makes for a really rapid workflow.

VW'sQuick access to the snapping (constraints) pallete- with keystroke commands to switch on/off snapping modes - and Smart Cursor snapping info. is very helpful.
BTW, one thing I miss in R9 is the ability to permantly dock the snapping pallette for easy access - it only comes on in the AM when you are in the Move tool.

Also proper Rulers in each viewport, but with readable dimensions - unlike the Rulers plug-in, as well as Smart Scrolling in viewports - as in Pshop and Vectorworks, PLEASE Maxon !

Sorry, this is turning into one of those wishlist posts !

D.

[moka.studio]

I

Sorry, this is turning into one of those wishlist posts !

D.

Yes, but a good one. I am wishing for more workflow improvments as well. Of course there has been a lot of improvments with r9, but all teh things people are mentioning in this thread would not be too difficult to implement, and it is often the small things that make a big difference in a production environment.
jp

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