Older Versions - availability & legality

[mikeh64]

this is a question for maxon, but I think it would be legal and likely supported by maxon to buy an older version of a mod to go with your C4D 8 - the only thing you'd need to make sure of is that the old mod you're buying was never upgraded to a newer version

if you find someone selling old mods, probably the best thing to do is check it out with maxon before purchase

[Srek]

Alan, please contact MAXON UK on this, they are the only ones who can give you a usefull answer.

Cheers
Björn

[alanmac]

Hi Mike

Thanks for your reply and good advice.

Yes, that's what I would ensure with Maxon that I can buy and use the older version.

In the scheme of things I'd not even worry about using these versions to try and upgrade myself as from what I can see of the upgrade value of my version of Cinema 4D I'm not going to lose much by starting over again with a new license anyway, if that is I ever get enough funds together to buy the latest version.

Thanks again. All the best.

Alan

[alanmac]

Hi Bjorn

Thanks also for your advice. Nice to see you are still around. Are you still riding the motorbikes or are you like so many of us...an ex-biker fondling remembering the good old days ?

I'll check with Maxon UK on the legal side, I just wondered if folks here, Cinema users, knew of anybody with older copies to sell, rather than like my copy of the main program, gathering dust on a studio shelf somewhere.

I'm gathering enthusiasm to really make the effort this time. It's the lighting in my renders I want to improve on most. Artlantis can be pretty crude in this area and at times hard work to get a good result from.

All the best.

Alan

[brammelo]

Hi Alan,

While I understand your financial P.O.V., I think you wouldn't be doing yourself a favor by getting started with anything else than C4D R11. If lighting is the issue at hand, and you need better lighting for your professional life, then your only real solution is R11. The Global Illumination is sooo much better than what it used to be - and there's no older version that can compare. If you would, for instance, be interested in modeling, then most would even advise you to stick with R8. But for lighting, I'm afraid only R11 will really make the difference. Keep in mind that the radiosity in R8 was unchanged (basiicaly) up till version R10.5. So any version you buy will (basically) have the same indirect light calculation. granted, pre-R11 will have interesting things like HDRI-output, Sky, Area lights etc., but the real difference will be found in R11.

[alanmac]

Hi Brammelo

Yes I take your point, but I'm really not in position to spend any big sums of money at present. Tell me though, if on buying the "basic" version of C4D R11 will I get this new lighting system you speak of or is it only obtainable by buying something like the Advanced Render Module on top of the price asked for C4D Version 11 ?

Also can I use it with Vectorworks 10.5 as that's my current version, all be it I may have to invest in another exchange plug in, as I currently have version one supplied with C4D 8.1.

cheers

Alan

[brammelo]

Hi Brammelo

Yes I take your point, but I'm really not in position to spend any big sums of money at present. Tell me though, if on buying the "basic" version of C4D R11 will I get this new lighting system you speak of or is it only obtainable by buying something like the Advanced Render Module on top of the price asked for C4D Version 11 ?

Also can I use it with Vectorworks 10.5 as that's my current version, all be it I may have to invest in another exchange plug in, as I currently have version one supplied with C4D 8.1.

R11 + Advanced Render would be the way to go. R11 Core is (for Arch-Viz) not different from R10.5, R10, and probably R9.5. I'm not too sure about VW 10.5, though. If I were in your shoes, I'd send an email to MAXON. They should be able to tell you if it's compatible or not.

[alanmac]

Hi

Thanks for the information. I'm grateful for it don't get me wrong but it's not really encouraging me to consider the extra financial burden.

Considering my particular situation. I use and get what I regard as good value for money from Vectorworks. I model completely in it and for my circumstances find it does more that what I need to do from it's toolset.

My reason for buying Cinema was it's import link plug in from Vectorworks the same as the Artlantis one I use already. That's what sold me on Cinema, the hope it would give me considerably better quality renders and was at the time unaware that to do this required Advanced Renderer as well.

Don't get me wrong I knew that there would be huge amounts of Cinema's capability I would not use and I don't for one minute think that for all of those things it offers its not very good value for money in the context of the program as it stands. But for somebody in my situation it seems the only way to get render quality that you speak of is via a program which I will pay a considerable sum for but not actually use 95% of it, then pay an additional sum to get the new lighting capability you speak of.

I guess when I do get enough stable income to consider upgrading/changing I need to look at the straight render options available to me without paying more than needed to achieve the better lighting than my current set up cannot achieve. With what you've said my gut feeling is I should be looking more closely at Artlantis R and what it can do and poor old Cinema is once again going to gather dust on the shelf. Which is real shame as I was really up for giving it the time and effort needed to become proficient in using it, but if it's not worth learning unless I spend nearly £1,000 on upgrades then I'm losing enthusiasm by the minute.

Thanks for all your help anyway, I really appreciate the responses and how it's clarified what my options are.

Alan

[Srek]

Are you still riding the motorbikes or are you like so many of us...an ex-biker fondling remembering the good old days ?
Technicaly i'm still an ex biker for a few years now, but only until i get back the frame of my bike from sandblasting and painting and reassemble it.
Hopefully i get it done within this year (spare parts for that old goat are pretty scarse) so i have a new (old) bike early next year.
It's actualy my very first bike i got back from my brother who (mis-)used it for a few years, a 24 year old Honda XL 200 R

Cheers
Björn

[alanmac]

Hi

Ouch, the bike in bits has an all to familiar ring to it. I bet I can beat you....a 1977 GS 750 Suzuki, stripped to clean up and customise back in 1981 still in bits although it does look like a motorbike if you don't look to close !!!

As regards Cinema, word from my local supplier in turn from Maxon UK is that an upgrade path to version 10 on to 11 is available up to the 1st of September. After that date I'd be treated as a new user and have to buy a full license with no account taken of my existing 8 version.

With little or no available cash I get the feeling I'm being pushed even more into considering the alternatives when it comes to better times.

Cheers

Alan

[alanmac]

Hi

Just for information purposes and to show I did take peoples advice and contacted Maxon UK, Liam at their offices did inform me that modules are linked to the core program when it comes to a license, so you can't buy a second hand version of a module on it's own to use, I'd have to buy the modules with the core program together to transfer ownership. Makes sense to me but does mean I can't really do any more with my copy of 8.2 other than get a bit of discount on upgrading, all be it only till the 1st of September. Ah....never mind.

Thanks all for your help. I did spring for Adam Watkins Cinema 4D book for this version on ebay in the hope I can get into it despite the previous false starts, so I haven't given up entirely on learning the program and you may see me back in the "community" in the future.

Thanks again

Alan

[Erik Heyninck]

That's either bloody nonsense, or a user-unfriendly change in politics.
I had a copy of Pyrocluster for R7 (that was given to me by a friend who upgraded and had it separately) transfered to my license by Maxon Germany.
No one acted difficultly, everything was done within days by e-mail.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.