Considering C4D & want feedback including best add on module

[joe t]

I am using LW, XSI Foundation, MOI, C6 and have found there may be a need to pick up Cinema 4D 10.5.

I am seeking feedback about others experience with Cinema 4D 10.5 and pros/cons.

There is a sale (until June 30, 2008 for core plus 1 module) on that is also a plus in looking at C4D. I am not sure which module to get with the purchase. I have looked at the MOCCA but see there are others that could be very useful.

Look forward to your feedback and experiences.

So, I look forward to others opinions on C4D and best add on module for it.

Joe T

[mon_stdnt]

I have C4D 10.5 with all the modules, but to tell you the true I don't really use them all.
I use the advance rendering module just for another alternative to C5P. For animation could probably get away with just the basic controls, unless you're doing facial or morph animation, then MOCCA comes into play.

It all depends on what you want to do with the application--animation or stills.

[Grendel]

I have v10 and all the modules. If I were to just pick one though it would have to be Advanced render. I don't think it should even be a module as important as it's features are.

[Hugo]

I like C4D, but i really hate this module policy, like grendel say the "Advanced Render" should be by default in cinema 4D, and not an extra option!

I love the hair module, fast rendering, and realy easy to use and control the cut.

[joe t]

Thanks for the replies. I had not considered the advanced render engine as one to look at. After reading the replies and looking at it, I can understand how it was suggested by those replying as important.

For any wanting to respond, does having the bundle such as 10.5 XL take care of most every need?

How fast is the render engine in the core and the advanced?

The responses that I have seen on this site and 2-3 other user sites indicates that C4D will be easy to learn coming from Carrara 5 & 6 users. Is that correct?

What would be the top 3 purchased and free plug ins that you have added on to C4D?

What tutorial programs would you recommend in learning C4D. Are there certain teachers that you have found more helpful than others and tutorial producers?

Thanks for all the suggestions that have been given. I really appreciate your feedback.

Joe T

[Tartiflette]

What i don't understand is : with such a bunch of 3D apps in your arsenal what is the project you're working on that would require Cinema4D ?
Not that it isn't a good package -it is really good for sure- but except if you're doing Motion Graphics extensively, in which case you have to consider and add MoGraph, i don't see anything Cinema4D will do that other s don't.
The other explanation would be that you don't know very well any of the apps you mentionned and then they don't fit that well your worflow ?

In any case, there is a demo version of C4D 10.5 with all the modules available and i think it would be a good idea to test it.

The last thing i'll add is that compared to XSI or LightWave, Cinema4D's render engine (be it normal or advanced...) is far behind in term of possibilities, speed and "realism".
So it all depends on what you do the most, but it's an important thing to keep in mind.


Cheers,
Laurent aka Tartiflette

[Hugo]

Originally Posted by Tartiflette

i don't see anything Cinema4D will do that other s don't.

Please, stop your bitching about C4D. Don't like it, don't use it.

[joe t]

Hugo,

Thanks for support in exploring.

Laurent, your comment on the render engine suggest that you have used C4D. Is that correct?

I have been learning for some time and realized limitations that most all 2D & 3D applications. I am interested to have options rather than forcing a tool - application in a task that has a shortcoming.

MOI does not import well into the applications I have and produce acceptable renders without artifact. I have read and talked with Michael (MOI program developer) and the solution suggested (of options suggested) when needing MOI in a project that C4D might be the better option to use.

So, please focus if you are interested in presenting feedback about the program I am interested in having feedback. No interest in software turfing here.

I hope to hear from others on your comments on my C4D request(s).

Joe T

[Tartiflette]

Originally Posted by Hugo

Please, stop your bitching about C4D. Don't like it, don't use it.

Hugo you know that's not bitching, it's just a valid question.
I don't say Cinema4D isn't good, and you'll never see any of my post saying this, but i've read Joe's post and he says he owns LightWave, XSI and Carrara, so my first question is, aside for doing Motion Graphics, what does Cinema4D have others don't ?

It's not about bitching or what, it's also about habits and such...
Nothing replaces experience with an app, except if that app is so much better than the other you used to use...
That's the meaning of my question.

If it wasn't well understood and taken as an attack to Cinema4D, then my apologies, but i don't see anything here to go mad about ?


Cheers,
Laurent aka Tartiflette

[Tartiflette]

Originally Posted by joe t

Laurent, your comment on the render engine suggest that you have used C4D. Is that correct?

Yes that is correct, and the informations i have provided are correct too...
Anyhow, it really depends on what you do the most...

Originally Posted by joe t

MOI does not import well into the applications I have and produce acceptable renders without artifact. I have read and talked with Michael (MOI program developer) and the solution suggested (of options suggested) when needing MOI in a project that C4D might be the better option to use.

I won't argue with MoI's developer as i don't use MoI (it's a Windows only app and i'm using a Mac...) but as i told you earlier you have a demo of Cinema4D on Maxon website and you'll be able to test by yourself if the import function is better than other solutions...

Originally Posted by joe t

So, please focus if you are interested in presenting feedback about the program I am interested in having feedback. No interest in software turfing here.

Well 2 guys telling me i'm bitching about Cinema4D is a proof my question wasn't understood as it should have been...
An app os just a tool and some are better at some tasks than others, that's why i also asked what you were doing the most... but that's not a big deal, i'm sure you'll have better answer than mine.
I guess i'll refrain from talking about software in the future.
And finally it's your money, you're free to do whatever you want with it !


Cheers,
Laurent aka Tartiflette

[Grendel]

Originally Posted by joe t

MOI does not import well into the applications I have and produce acceptable renders without artifact. I have read and talked with Michael (MOI program developer) and the solution suggested (of options suggested) when needing MOI in a project that C4D might be the better option to use.

I use MOI in conjunction with Carrara, XSI, and C4D and have not had problems in any of them. I've posted quite a few examples over at MOI3D in a gallery thread, they're not the greatest things ever but the meshing turned out well. The OBJ exporter is very good. XSI has not given you good imports from MOI?

If I had to pick my top three modules they would be AR, Mocca, and Hair. Sketch & Toon seems way overpriced to me but it is usefull but the effects can be mimiced in post. Mograph just makes complex procedural animations such a breeze it is a joy to use but if you don't need it it's kind of pointless.

[bwtr]

MoI
From every thing I see, given the export settings available from MoI, you get first class results exporting as .obj,lwo, and 3ds.
All other file export types also seem fine.

Surprisingly, not all apps are "up to date" in thier import capabilities.

ONE DAY!--a universal file type?

[WillBellJr]

I purchased Cinema 4D XL and added Mocca, Hair and Dynamics specifically for use with MOI since what I was seeing in MOI looked exactly the same in C4D.

If I could do it again however I'd drop Dynamics since it's universally considered outdated.

But I'm happy with my purchase - C4D feels like Carrara Pro's big brother as far as ease of use and GUI...

-Will

[joe t]

Will,

Glad to hear from you. MOCCA and Hair had been running up front before getting feedback and trial use as others have suggested.

Thanks for sharing your choices in C4D modules. The sell and a few other variables make the option to add C4D a definite consideration.

Joe T

[WillBellJr]

Definitely download the 10.5 trial - here, do what I did:

Go into C4D's browser, in the MOCCA folder, locate the "Flabio" character - dblclick it to load the project.

Open the Visual Selector for the character (say "Ohhh, Ahhh..." etc...)

Now, select the different controllers and move around the character and play with the rig - I was sold at that point ;-)

Also in the same folder, open the Pandora (female) character - the rigg setup for her is just awesome!

I had never cared about C4D/BodyPaint before I started using MOI.

I downloaded the demo and saw that all my MOI objects looked exactly the same way in C4D so I was pretty much sold - playing around with those character riggs did it for me!

It was almost like when I downloaded the trial of Particle Illusion a coupla years ago - after about 2-mins of dragging around the different particle effects - I went back to the site and spent my monae! It was that good!

-Will