Learning Cinema4D: Week 02

I wasn’t sure I would be able to update this week on my progress with cinema4D. I have actually been focused on trying to get a hang with all the modeling tools, the timeline (animation) and lighting basics. I was asked to help with a project and decided to use the opportunity to apply some of my learning outcomes from C4D (cinema4D). The stills are from the animation I made, which was then composited in after effects.

Click on images to magnify

SUMMARY OF OUTCOMES

Firstly the command manager, which allows you to basically assign any keyboard shortcuts to ANY function, is pretty handy and something you probably should look into if you are new to cinema4D.

It can be located in the menu tab: Window->Layout->Command Manager (Shift+f12)
So far I have mapped the following tools to this keyboard shortcuts.
Magnify tool – Alt + Z
Point tool – Ctrl + 1
Edge tool – Ctrl + 2
Polygon tool – Ctrl + 3

These are tools I used very frequently during modeling and they had no shortcuts (to my knowledge) assigned to them.

I am yet to find the Boolean function in Cinema4D (like in 3Ds Max) or something similar that allows you to make mathematical, forms (complex objects) i.e. subtract an object (A) from object (B).

Right now, I have to create spline shapes and then apply the extrude NURBs which in my opinion, is very inefficient and breaks some of the enjoyment you get in modeling. So if anyone knows how to do this, please let me know ASAP.

As always, reflections, refractions are a nightmare to render. It made me release just how underpowered my MacBook pro really is. Although it was to be expected since the current generation of MacBook pros is about twice the power of mine. It just gave me something to add to my calculations when working on animations.

My first attempt at animating the camera was fair and the result was just acceptable at best so I decided to do a little digging on how to go about animating around a spline. It was then I got my first introductory lessons on XPresso by Robert Ledger.(Great guy!)

The power of this simple node-programming tool is amazing. I thought I will begin exploring the tool by month 2 but it looks like XPresso, dynamics, mograph and many other big functions of cinema4D need to be visited every so often rather than structuring my learning like a university course.

I hope I could post the animation later once I have been given the clear on that.
During this week, I realized I do need to work intensively on improving my animating (camera techniques) and also lighting. As it was a constant battle to get things to look how I wanted them to look. Then again its only week 2 so I cannot be too hard on myself for this.

Right now, my next point is to try out the figure rigging and more hard-surface modeling to get accustomed with the tools. Of course it will be an animation but I am not sure I could pull this one off in a week. Well till next time!