Cinema 4Drall

[carpalmer]

interested in getting better renderings, what's the word on Cinema 4D R10? Vectorworks users' are you pleased with the import/export capabilities and the overall interface?

What about rendering times and quality as compared to Renderworks?

thx for y0ur feedback,

carpalmer

[Gerard Jonker]

Hi Carpalmer,

I'm using C4D for quite a while now, I started in R7 and just upgraded to R10. I'm very pleased with quality and speed, less with the interface. Coming from VW it (still) feels quite unnatural. I like C4D's ability to do with textures what I want, instead of constantly running into the RW limitations and RW's awkward mapping dialog. C4D is great for making movies.

The import export plugins for VW run fine, I think you need to have them, although in bigger projects I never dare to use the update ability (this may very well be my problem, I'll ask my shrink). I like the plugin's import format over the dxf import.

You may want to check out the odd combination of sketch-up and Maxwell I hear very good things about it and I see stunning results. Unfortunately there is no Maxwell plug-in for VW/RW.

The speed is not so much a problem anymore if you have an Intell running somewhere in your office.

Success,

Gerard

[DDDesign]

Gerard, do you use 4D for modelling at all? If so, how does it compare with VW, especially for fluid shapes?

[Gerard Jonker]

Hi David,

No, apart from subtracting objects, I don't use it for modelling at all. (You can animate the subtractions, really great!)

I have a few VW scripts from my own hand that help me with round and double curved surfaces, all polygon based.

The lack of control over the exact measurements in C4D (and VW nurbs, for that matter), always makes me go back to simple 3D polygon editing.

Gerard

[G_Hannigan]

This was modeled in C4D. Fluid shapes? Like the arms below?

[Gerard Jonker]

Hi G,

That is not what I meant with fluid.

A model like this would be done much quicker (for me at least) in VW than in C4D. Even though special attention is needed to get a nice transition between straight and bend.

BTW, I love the light and the reflections in your image.

Models like these are more what I had in mind:

http://www.thepander.co.nz/art/reviews/cbarker/200404_2.jpg

http://artis.imag.fr/Publications/2002/SCA02/b_blobPiscine1.png

Both are not mine.

Gerard

[G_Hannigan]

Gerard,

Thanks.

Aah, fluid! That should be pretty easy in C4D.

The bends were created using the "Bend Deformer".

George

[David Ormsby]

http://www.semafore.com/design/calendar/2007/2007.02.html

Check this gentleman's art for some fluid C4D renders

[David Ormsby]

I use the export from VW almost daily, and am very happy with the integration. The lighting, texturing, and rendering speed are all excellent, and many notches above RW.

Edited June 28, 2007 by David Ormsby

[DDDesign]

On thing I miss in VW is the ability to do a loft with 2 rails with multiple curves (cross-sections) can C4D do this? Also decent surface blending tools and fillets?

[DDDesign]

One thing I miss in VW is the ability to do a loft with 2 rails with multiple curves (cross-sections) can C4D do this? Also decent surface blending tools and fillets?

Rendering in VW has improved a lot for me since the introduction of area lights (I have't played around with radiosity proper as yet). I've used 3DMax for for some renders, but it's usually hard to go past the convenience of a fully integrated rendering engine.