Modeling function in C4D...

[LucentDreams]

method one
Use the loop cut mode in the knife tool, the one issue with this is getting it directly down the center, but requires no selecting or additional commands


Method two
Edge ring selection does not currently have a shortcut that i know of but you can make one. our edge ring selection does not require selecting an edge first, it gives you a rpeview of what reng you sill select so you activate the command, then click on an edge. one done, ativate the edge cut tool, this iwll let you do as many cuts along the edge as you want. in your image you do one, then use bevel to spit that edge into two edges you pull to the side.


Method three
Select the polygon loop an duse bevel with the angle set higher then 89 degrees, and hold CTRL while beveling. this will make your outer edges without having to cut in the center first. if you do wthis with a subdivision of 1, you will have two addition edges coming inwards, then switch to stitch and sew and hold CTRL to stich both edges along your polygon selection in the center. basically doing your selection, cut, spread, and cut in a selection, bevel, stitch. One step less.

[LucentDreams]

ftp is being a real B!TC# today so my apologies that it took so long to get a movie up. this is an example of the last method. Also, while you see me interactively do the second and third bevels, those could eaily be done with the exact same settings as the first by activating the tool and then applying, since the last used settings are stored.

www.kaithestuffguy.com/bevel.mov

[Mahlikus]

Thank you so much for the help.
:beer:

[LucentDreams]

No problem, I'm sure you will find while you definitley will still prefer one over the other, Cinema 4D release 9 and Silo are definitely very comparable interms of features and toolset.

[Per-Anders]

to follow more or less exactly what you have in your video -

edge ring tool - select the ring, edge cut - click once with ngons off to connect the edges, edge loop - clcik to select the new loop, bevel - drag till it's how you want, repeat for all four sides, then do another edge ring followed by edge cut for the central rings. assign any shortcuts to any of these tools (though the defaults will be U~B - Ring Select, M~F - Edge Cut, U~L - Loop Select, M~S - Bevel)

[dfaris]

You can use loop cut mode and use the shift key to hold the cut and then enter 50% in the box in the AM and you can cut it where ever you want.

[AdamT]

Or you can use the mid-point snap with loop cut.

[Mahlikus]

Thats the one baby!
Knife tool in loop mode with snapping!
Thats what I am getting down to!
Thanks guys! For the help!

[Mahlikus]

Okay another question. One thing I do alot is make seams. I mean alot..like mechanical stuff, cars, robos, space craft..you know..seams and places where panels come together. THE thing I use to do this is take an edgeloop or even part of an edgeloop and move it along its normal.
I have found Cinema's Normal move scale and rotate functions but they only seem to be for faces and not edges or verts(points).

Is there a way in C4D? Now, I know I could achieve the same results by taking the edgeloop, bevel it, and select the newly created ring and extrude it along the normal but what If I don't want to add the extra geometry (or worse...can't added the geometry due to poly count or what have you).

Seems like moving and edge or edgeloop along its normal is a basic function..I just can't get my head around C4D modeling method.

Thanks for the help yall. I really appreciate it. I due hope I am overlooking the obvious.

http://prymevalgraphics.com/PG-Garbage/Silo/Move%20Along%20Normal.gif

[Per-Anders]

you could use the bevel tool and not move any newly created edges anywhere, but use the bevel tools own controls for shifting points in/out along their normal (i.e. select the edges you want to create a seam along, bevel with a subdivision of one, and a user curve, then control the extrusion depth either by keyboard shortcut or via the am numeric values)

this will do what you're doing above, but in a single operation.

as for cutting, try the knife tool in path mode (select the edges/polies you wish to cut through).

unfortunately all the plugins that gave normal movement for edges don't work in c4d r9 (though the magnet tool allows points normal movement). otherwise i would have suggested either mesh surgery (that had full normal move/scale/rotate for every element type, as well as superflange, which allowed the direct movement of newly created cuts using it's jigsaw/loop cutting tools), or Samirs Dpack (which is i believe no longer supported or available, but had normal move for points & edges).

however seeing as that's not an option, you could try making two cuts and moving the new polygon strip along it's normal.

[Mahlikus]

OMG thats it!
Its will do the job I need it too. I mean its not a replacement for a move along normal function for verts and edges but hot damn this better then not having it. Thank you!

[dAfTiE]

You can align the modelling axis in R9 to the selection's normals as well,works like a charm.

[AdamT]

OMG thats it!
Its will do the job I need it too. I mean its not a replacement for a move along normal function for verts and edges but hot damn this better then not having it. Thank you!
Cool, glad you got it goin' on. :) Do us a favor, though, and drop a request in Maxon's suggestion box for normal move/scale/rotate for points and edges. I've asked three or four times already.

[JDP]

To move points and edges along there normals change the orientation of the move tools modeling axis to 'Normal' and enable the 'Along Normals' checkbox, then drag the Z axis handle.

[Mahlikus]

WICKED!! DING DING DING!!!

See, its in my best interests to try and starting modeling efficiently in C4D. I personally love Silo but my boss loves C4d and wants to move to a new package (been a Max man since it was dos..never liked the company). I am trying to convert him because we all know Cinema is a dream and pure heaven to work with. So, while he wants to learn C4D (and sub-d modeling), I want to make sure I can work in Cinema witht he same speed and efficiency as Siloe (or wings).

Thanks guys for the help. This place is one of the reasons why I not only love cinema and CGTalk but its communities as well.
:buttrock: :beer:

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