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View Full Version : Cinema 4D - wot's lacking...

Gazzamataz
05-06-2003, 10:48 AM
Hi C4D people

I am new to this forum but have been using C4D on and off for 3 years now. I started out using version C4D GO5 in 1999, got hooked on 3d but I wanted to do character animation. Version 5 was lacking in that department so I moved over to Animation Master after reading about it in Computer Arts magazine.

This tool was great for character animation but boy was it buggy - I missed C4D's stability. Anyway, two years later I started using C4D 7 at work for walkthroughs and packaging shots and now we have C4D R8 with all the modules.

The more that I use the program the more I like it, whilst I have used Maya, C4D is easier to get around. It still doesn't have NLA like AM or Maya I don't think that the MoMix is quite the same - someone tell me otherwise. Mocca adds great tools but it is not quite the same as AM or Maya.

What really dissappoints me is there doesn't seem to be a great wealth of tutorials or forums for Cinema like Lightwave, Maya and all the other 'BIG' programs or many books or training CDs. C4D seems to have a wealth of features but the manuals only tell you about the tools not quite 'HOW' to use them or what for.

Mind you this forum seems great and a step in the right direction, I see that Kai is here whom I remember from the 3D Ark Forum who is a wealth of information.

The other thing I wonder about with Cinema is it doesn't seemed to be used that much in films or games, it does get a mention but not like Maya or Softimage etc - I imagine that with the new pricing and modules that this will all change.

Anyway that's my thoughts, I hope it provokes some good responses!
Phasmatis
05-06-2003, 11:04 AM
Yeah, cinema doesn't quite have the tutorials or resources of other programmes but like you say this forum is a big help, I don't think I would know half as much I do now without this forum.

There are many tutorials out there it's just a matter of finding them, that's where the forums the forums come handy. :)

Oh and welcome to the forum. :)
AdamT
05-06-2003, 01:30 PM
Hi Gazz,

First welcome--you found a good place. Second, most of the things you mentioned are a result of the relative newness of R8. There are at least two books on R8 I know of that will be released in the near future--one by Adam Watkins and a host of contributors, and one by Arndt Von Koenigsmarck (possibly only in German). There are also some training DVDs in the works. The manuals covering the new modules are slim simply because there was not time to make them better. I'm sure this situation will improve for subsequent releases.

As far as movie work, Cinema was used recently to do the opening sequences of Spider Man and Daredevil, and it has been used in Episode 2, Harry Potter, Men In Black 2, among others. AFAIK, it hasn't been used for character work. I suspect that's because the CA tools--even though they're much improved--still cannot match Maya, XSI, etc. I'm sure the tools will continue to improve, and the addition of .fbx (hopefully in the near future) will give access to Motion Builder and provide better compatability with other programs.
Thalaxis
05-06-2003, 03:56 PM
Originally posted by Gazzamataz
The other thing I wonder about with Cinema is it doesn't seemed to be used that much in films or games, it does get a mention but not like Maya or Softimage etc - I imagine that with the new pricing and modules that this will all change.


That part has a lot to do with money. Maxon isn't exactly a large company, and it seems as if their owner (Nemetschek? Did I spell that correctly?) is focussed on the products and services, rather than on marketing, which is good for the users, but doesn't accomplish much by way of getting the word out.

I'd say that given another year or so, you'll see Cinema cropping up in almos as many places as you see LightWave presently -- which is just about everywhere.

Most of what else I was going to offer would be redundant in light of AdamT's post, so I won't say it again, but I will say that I think that you will be pleased with v8.
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