C4D - Save As vs Export As - Texture Ressources

[zoomer]

In short :

I want Control over the Location where the C4D (Temp) File and TEX Folder will be saved,

when a C4D file gets exported by "Send to C4D"

In detail :

C4D Files will have usually a "tex" folder beside, which contains all needed image

textures used in the file and which C4D will find again without the need of any

further path assignments.

(Which can tremendously slow C4D down if you don't use lots of search paths

without care or better assign absolut paths to your Texture Images, which has

other drawbacks)

This will work only as long as the "tex" Folder IS LOCATED BESIDE the C4D file.

(I will have a project wide, common Texture Folder used by all Software and

a search path for each current project though)

When you export a C4D from VW by using the "Export As C4D", everything is fine.

VW will create the C4D File + TEX Folder with all need image resources at the

desired File Location => Perfect !

Other than that, when you choose "Send to C4D", which you will need to keep your

VW data current in C4D, VW will do nearly the same (C4D + tex)

except that you have no control WHERE that data will be saved.

It will be saved in a temporary Cache Folder that is hidden and (normally)

not accessible by an OS X user at all !!!1!11!!

So this is not a fine solution in general.

Only being optimized to do all Work in VW only, using C4D to hit the Render button

only. (Will VW ever delete these Temp Files one time ? How will VW know what I will

need again and what not ?)

This totally ignores the fact that Image Textures are no dead Resource but may be

edited in an Image Editing App at any time.

Of course there will be one time when you will finally "Save As" your C4D File to a

desired location, so that you will find it again.

Boom - at this point - C4D will no more find the Textures and Material Preview will

get instantly black as soon as you try to find/locate one of the Materials Textures.

(Because the TEX Folder is still located in the secret Temp Folder and Textures had

no absolut path assignments - you'd better saved the File as an Archive with all

needed resources in that case)

It gets even worse for my workflow.

I generally "Export/Save" the initially C4D export to a specific location to leave VW and

go on working in Cinema.

If I later have to change my VW Data for any reason and need a "Refresh" of the

Geometry in C4D - I can still do so > Send To Cinema while the old file open in C4D.

In that case, given I have created some new Materials using new Image Textures in VW,

"Send to C4D" will import new data/materials BUT still use the hidden Temp Folder to

store File and Tex.

In that case there is no chance for me to locate the Tex Folder again, and so the images,

from within C4D or VW. Nor from Finder or OS X search because the Temp Cache is

in a hidden Location that a normal user should never touch.

In that case the images Textures weren't even never available for C4D at any time.

One easier of a few tedious Workarounds ist

(To re-RenderRW Mode argh!!! As the only way to get all data and settings to C4D)

to do an second Export by "Save As C4D" to a temporary and known location to get

access to a Tex Folder and its Content.

[fabrica]

theres an option to save the C4d file with assets (which are the VW materials) - this is how I normally do this workflow.

[Dave Donley]

You need to use the "Save Project with Assets" menu command in C4D to carry the tex folder to where the scene file is saved.

HTH!