MAXON CINEMA 4D S24: A Tutorial Approach, 8th Edition

Chapter 1

 Exploring CINEMA 4D S24 Interface

Learning Objectives

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

• Work with Viewport Navigation Tools in CINEMA 4D S24

• Understand various terms related to CINEMA 4D S24 interface

• Work with tools in CINEMA 4D S24

INTRODUCTION

MAXON CINEMA 4D S24 is a high-end 3D application developed by MAXON Computer. This application is used by professional 3D artists to create impressive 3D scenes, VFX, and broadcast artwork. CINEMA 4D provides fast and easy solution to architects, designers, and photographers for creating realistic animations and better product visualization. It also has the ability to import models from all major 2D and 3D file formats. Moreover, it includes character animation tools that makes it easier for its users to create rigs and character animations. 

MAXON CINEMA 4D is a user-friendly application which is used for sculpting, creating particles using advance particle system, hair system, and for creating motion graphics using MoGraph. In this chapter, you will be introduced to MAXON CINEMA 4D S24 interface elements.

STARTING MAXON CINEMA 4D S24

To start MAXON CINEMA 4D S24, click on the icon of this software available on the desktop of your PC; the default interface of MAXON CINEMA 4D S24 will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-1.

Figure 1-1 The default interface of CINEMA 4D S24

EXPLORING MAXON CINEMA 4D S24 INTERFACE

CINEMA 4D interface consists of various components such as title bar, Viewport, Command Palette, Modes Palette, main menu, and so on, as shown in Figure 1-2. All these components are discussed next.

Figure 1-2 Various components of CINEMA 4D S24 interface

Viewport

Viewport is a part of the work area where you can create a 3D scene. Every viewport has a grid placed at the center. A grid is a framework of intersecting lines placed perpendicularlyin the X-Z plane. At the center point (origin), the X, Y, and Z coordinates will be 0, 0, and 0, respectively.

Note

In CINEMA 4D, the X, Y, and Z axes are displayed in red, green, and blue colors, respectively, refer to Figure 1-2.

When you start CINEMA 4D, the Perspective viewport is displayed by default, refer to Figure 1-2. This viewport displays objects from a perspective camera. You can also display other viewports such as Top, Right, Bottom, and Front in the work area. These viewports display objects from orthographic camera view and do not display the perspective view. To switch to the 4-view viewport arrangement, hover the cursor over the Perspective viewport and then press the middle-mouse button once. If you need to maximize any of the four viewports, hover the cursor over the required viewport and then press the middle-mouse button once.

Tip

You can display different viewports by using the functional keys: F1 (Perspective), F2 (Top), F3 (Right), F4 (Front), and the F5 key (for all viewports).

Title Bar

The title bar, located at the top of the interface, displays the name and version of the software, and the name of the opened file. A CINEMA 4D file is saved with the .c4d extension.

Main Menu

The main menu is located just below the title bar, refer to Figure 1-2. The options in this menu are used to access tools, functions, or commands in CINEMA 4D.

Command Palette

The Command Palette is located below the main menu, refer to Figure 1-2. It is used to invoke the most commonly used tools in CINEMA 4D. The tools in the Command Palette are discussed next.

Undo

The Undo tool is used to revert the last action performed in the scene. By default, the user can undo maximum of 30 changes.

Tip

You can increase or decrease the undo limit. To do so, choose Edit > Preferences from the main menu; the Preferences dialog box will be displayed. In this dialog box, choose Memory from the list of options on the left of the Preferences dialog box; the Memory area will be displayed. In this area, enter the required value in the Undo Depth spinner.

Redo

The Redo tool is used to revert the last action performed by the Undo tool. The number of redo actions cannot exceed the number of times a change is made.

Live Selection

The Live Selection tool is used to select objects in the scene. You can also select elements (points, edges, and polygons) using this tool. It works like a paint brush where the user paints over points, edges, and polygons to be selected. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Live Selection tool, a flyout will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-3. The various types of selection tools in this flyout will be discussedin the later chapters.

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Figure 1-3 The flyout displayed

Tip

You can interactively change the size of the Live Selection tool’s brush by pressing and holding the middle mouse button and then dragging the cursor to the left or right. You can also use the { and } keys to increase and decrease the size of the Live Selection tool’s brush.

Move

This tool is used to move an object in the viewport provided the axes are not locked. Moreover, this tool is used to select points, polygons, and edges by clicking on them. You can increase the selection by pressing and holding SHIFT and then clicking on the elements. You can also remove elements from the selection by pressing and holding CTRL and then clicking on the elements.

Scale

This tool is used to scale an object in the viewport.

Rotate

This tool is used to rotate an object in the viewport.

Place

This is an interactive tool used for placing the objects on the polygonal surfaces. When you choose this tool, two handles will be displayed; the cube shaped handle is used to scale the object and the hemisphere shaped handle is used to rotate the object. To place an object on the surface of any other polygonal object, you need to click on the surface of the object so that the cube shaped and hemisphere shaped handle is not selected. Next, drag the object to the desired place. When you press the CTRL key along with this tool, you can create the copies of the objects to be placed. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Place tool, a flyout will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-4. The Scatter Pen and the Dynamic Place tools are discussed next.

Figure 1-4 The flyout displayed

Scatter Pen

This tool is used to randomly distribute the polygonal objects just like painting the object on the surface. You can modify the distribution of the objects by changing the settings in the Attribute Manager. You can also delete some of the distributed objects if you do not want them in the scene.

Dynamic Place

This tool is used to simulate the falling objects as if gravity is applied to them. Note that this process also involves orientation of object(s) and this orientation is affected mainly by collision or friction with other objects. To dynamically place the object(s), select the object(s), press the SHIFT key and then drag them in the viewport. When you choose this tool, four handles are displayed on the selected object, namely: Rotation handle, Scale handle, Move handle, and Group handle. The group handle is used to place multiple selected objects simultaneously.

Active Tool

This tool displays the icon of the last used tool.

X-Axis/Pitch

This tool is used to lock or unlock the transformation along the X axis. If this tool is chosen, the object will not move, scale, or rotate along the X axis. The shortcut key for invoking this tool is X.

Y-Axis/Heading

This tool is used to lock or unlock the transformation along the Y axis. If this tool is chosen, the object will not move, scale, or rotate along the Y axis. The shortcut key for invoking this tool is Y.

Z-Axis/Bank

This tool is used to lock or unlock the transformation along the Z axis. If this tool is chosen, the object will not move, scale, or rotate along the Z axis. The shortcut key for invoking this tool is Z.

Coordinate System

This is a toggle tool and is used to switch between Object and World coordinate systems for the movement, scaling, or rotation of an object. By default, Object coordinate system is activated in CINEMA 4D. It operates using the HPB system (Heading, Pitch, and Banking). The shortcut for invoking this tool is W.

Asset Browser

Asset Browser is used to provide access to assets like objects, scenes, nodes, materials, images, and so on. Figure 1-5 shows the Asset Browser. It has the Category area located at the left where catgories are displayed in a tree view. At the right of the Category area, an Asset list is available which displays the assets based on the categories selected in the Category area. You can search for the desired asset in the scene using the search field located above the Category area. You need to double-click on the desired asset to get it loaded in the respective manager. Alternatively, you can also drag and drop the asset to the respective manager.

Figure 1-5 The Asset Browser displayed

Render View

This tool is used to render the currently active view. On choosing this tool, the rendered output will be displayed in the active view. If you click in the rendered output, the active view will be displayed in the viewport. You can also choose this tool by pressing CTRL+R.

Render to Picture Viewer

This tool is used to render the scene in the Picture Viewer window. On choosing this tool, the Picture Viewer window will be displayed. The progress of the render and the frame number being rendered will be displayed in the status bar of the Picture Viewer window. In CINEMA 4D, you can also render a region, make previews of the animations, and add scene to the render queue. To access these rendering options, press and hold the left mouse button on the Render to Picture Viewer tool; a flyout with various rendering options will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-6. Next, choose the desired option from the flyout.

Figure 1-6 The rendering options displayed in the flyout

Edit Render Settings

This tool is used to invoke the Render Settings window. The options in this window are used to specify various settings to control the rendering process. In this window, you can set the size, quality, and so on of the scene that has to be rendered.

Null

This tool is used to create a null object in the scene. Null object is nothing but an empty axis system in 3D space. This object has neither points nor surfaces. Also, you cannot edit it like any other 3D object. This object is mainly used to place other objects within it. Null objects are also created when you group the objects using the options in the Object Manager.

Cube

This tool is used to create a cube in the viewport. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Cube tool, a flyout with various tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-7. These tools are used to create the parametric objects in the scene.

Figure 1-7 The tools to create the parametric objects displayed in the flyout

Spline Pen

The Spline Pen tool replaces the previous versions of the Bezier, B-Spline, Linear, and Akima Spline tools and is equipped with new functions and used to draw spline curves in the viewport. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Spline Pen tool, a flyout with various spline modeling tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-8.

Figure 1-8 The spline modeling tools displayed in the flyout

Extrude

This tool is used to extrude a spline so that an object with depth is created. When you choose this tool, an Extrude object is created in the Object Manager. To extrude the spline, you need to drag and drop the spline onto the Extrude object in the Object Manager. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Extrude tool, a flyout with various generatorswill be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-9.

Figure 1-9 The generators displayed in the flyout

Subdivision Surface

This tool is used to interactively subdivide and smoothen the objects. This feature is very useful in organic modeling. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Subdivision Surface tool, a flyout with various generators will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-10. These generators will be discussed in the later chapters.

Figure 1-10 Various generators displayed in the flyout

Cloner

This tool is used to create a number of copies of the selected object and arrange them in a desired pattern by selecting the suitable option from the Attribute Manager. You can arrange the cloned objects in a linear or radial direction. You can also arrange them in a grid array or in a honeycomb array. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Cloner tool, a flyout with various cloners will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-11.

Figure 1-11 Various cloners displayed in the flyout

Volume Builder

This tool is used to convert cinema 4D objects to voxel objects. These voxel objects are then connected to volume generators like volume meshers in the Object Manager. In this process, a complex object can be created by combining multiple objects using a boolean operation. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Volume Builder tool, a flyout with various tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-12.

Figure 1-12 Various tools displayed in the flyout

Bend

This tool is used to bend a selected object in the specified direction. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Bend tool, a flyout with various deforming tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-13.

Figure 1-13 Various deforming tools displayed in the flyout

Floor

This tool is used to create a floor object in the viewport. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Floor tool, a flyout with various tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-14.

Figure 1-14 Various tools displayed in the flyout

Camera

This tool is used to add a camera object to the scene. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Camera tool, a flyout with various camera tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-15.

Figure 1-15 Various camera tools displayed in the flyout

Light

This tool is used to add light objects to the scene. When you press and hold the left mouse button on the Light tool, a flyout with various light tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-16.

Figure 1-16 Various light tools displayed in the flyout

Modes Palette

The Modes Palette is located on the extreme left of the interface, refer to Figure 1-2. It consists of various tools. These tools are discussed next.

Make Editable

This tool is used to convert primitive objects into polygon objects. By default, all the primitive objects and splines are parametric. The shortcut key for this tool is C.

Model

The Model tool is used to activate the Model mode. In this mode, you can move, scale, and rotate an object. When you press and hold the left mouse button on this tool, a flyout will be displayed. Choose the Object tool from the flyout to activate the Object mode. In this mode, you can move, scale, or rotate the axes of the object. The Object Mode is used when the animations are created. You can use the Animation mode to transform entire animation path of an object.

Texture

This tool is used to edit the active texture. When this tool is chosen, the projection type is also considered. The grid lines are drawn in the viewport according to the projection type. The texture can be moved, scaled, or rotated by using the Move, Scale, and Rotate tools.

Workplane

This tool is used to modify the workplane manually by using the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools. A workplane in CINEMA 4D is a plane that can be positioned and rotated for arranging newly created objects, snapping spline points, and so on.

Points

This tool is used to display an object in the Point mode. In this mode, you can select and edit the points of an object. On choosing this tool, the points of the object are displayed. This tool can be used only when an object is converted into a polygonal object.

Edges

This tool is used to display an object in the Edge mode. In this mode, you can select and edit the edges of an object. This tool can be used only when an object is converted into a polygonal object.

Polygons

This tool is used to display an object in the Polygon mode. In this mode, you can select and edit the polygons of the selected object. This tool can be used only when an object is converted into a polygonal object.

Tip

To select one or more points, edges, or polygons, press and hold SHIFT and then click on them. To deselect one or more points, edges, or polygons, press and hold CTRL and then click on them.

Enable Axis

The Enable Axis tool is used to move, scale, and rotate the axis of an object. The shortcut key for this tool is L.

Viewport Solo

This tool is used for hiding or displaying the selected objects in complex scenes. On choosing this tool, a flyout with various tools will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-17. By default, the Viewport Solo mode off tool is chosen. As a result, all the objects in the scene become visible.

Figure 1-17 Various options displayed in the flyout

Enable Snap

On choosing this tool, a flyout with various snapping tools will be displayed. You can snap objects, edges, points, and polygons.

Locked Workplane

The Locked Workplane tool is used to disable any defined automatic workplane modes. When you press and hold the left mouse button on this tool, a flyout will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-18. You can use the tools in this flyout to align the workplane on different axes.

Figure 1-18 Flyout displayed on choosing the Locked Workplane tool

Animation Toolbar

The Animation toolbar is located below the viewport area. It consists of all the animation controls that are used to control animation in a scene, refer to Figure 1-19. These controls are discussed next.

Figure 1-19 The Animation toolbar

Timeline Ruler

The Timeline Ruler is located at the top of the Animation toolbar. You can move the timeslider on the Timeline Ruler to view the animation at a particular frame in the viewport.

Start Frame

The Start Frame spinner is used to set the first frame of the animation displayed in the Timeline Ruler.

End Frame

The End Frame spinner is used to set the last frame of the animation displayed in the Timeline Ruler.

Go to Start

The Go to Start button is used to move the timeslider to the start frame of the animation in the Timeline Ruler. Alternatively, you can press SHIFT+F to move the timeslider to the start frame.

Go to Previous Key

The Go to Previous Key button is used to move the timeslider backward by one keyframe from the current keyframe in the Timeline Ruler. Alternatively, you can use CTRL+F to move to the previous key.

Go to Previous Frame

The Go to Previous Frame button is used to move the timeslider backward by one frame from the current frame in the Timeline Ruler. Alternatively, press F.

Play Forwards

The Play Forwards button is used to play the animation in the forward direction. Alternatively, you can press F8 to play the animation in the forward direction.

Go to Next Frame

The Go to Next Frame button is used to move the timeslider to the next frame in the Timeline Ruler. Alternatively, you can press G to move the timeslider to the next frame.

Go to Next Key

The Go to Next Key button is used to move the timeslider to the next keyframe in the Timeline Ruler. Alternatively, you can press CTRL+G to move the timeslider to the next keyframe.

Go to End

The Go to End button is used to move the timeslider to the last frame. Alternatively, you can press SHIFT+G to move the timeslider to the last frame.

Record Active Objects

This button is used to create a key for the selected object on the current frame in the animation. By default, this button is not enabled. It is enabled only when an object is created in the viewport. Alternatively, you can press F9 to create a key for the selected object on the current frame.

Autokeying

The Autokeying button is used to set the keys automatically in the Timeline Ruler for the changes made in the animation. It saves the time of the user as the user need not manually choose the Record Active Objects button repeatedly to save the animation. Alternatively, you can press CTRL+F9 to set the keys automatically.

Keyframe Selection

On choosing this tool, a flyout will be displayed with the tools that restrict the setting of keys to selected objects only.

Position

This button is used to record the position of the object on the current frame.

Scale

This button is used to record the scaling of the object on the current frame.

Rotation

This button is used to record the rotation of the object on the current frame.

Parameter

This button is chosen to ensure that only the selected parameters are applied while recording keyframes. It works in both Automatic Keyframing and Record Active Objects modes.

Point Level Animation

This button is used to record the position of the points in the object. This mode only works with the polygonal objects.

Cycle

This button is used to play the animation continuously until it is stopped. When you press and hold the left mouse button on this button, a flyout will be displayed with play mode options: Simple, Ping-Pong, and Preview Range.

Project

This button is used to set the playback rate to the value that is specified in the project settings. This button is enabled by default. When you press and hold the left mouse button on this button, a flyout will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-20. This flyout consists of options to determine the playback speed of the animation.

Figure 1-20 The flyout displayed on choosing the Project button

Play Sound

When this button is activated, audio files, if any, will be played with the animation.

Tween Tool

This button is used to fine tune the animation of a selected object starting from the current time. This button is most useful for character animation.

Material Manager

The Material Manager is located at the bottom left corner of the interface, as shown in Figure 1-21. It is used to create materials and shaders used in the scene. Also, the Material Manager is used to create complex materials, uber material, node material, and some in-built node based materials.

Figure 1-21 The Material Manager

Coordinate Manager

The Coordinate Manager is located at the right of the Material Manager, refer to Figure 1-22. It is used to position, rotate, and scale the objects created in the scene. You need to choose the Apply button to apply the values in the spinners of the Coordinate Manager.

                                                          Figure 1-22 The Coordinate Manager

Object Manager

The Object Manager is located at the upper right corner of the interface, as shown in Figure 1-23. It consists of a list of objects used in the scene. You can specify tags for objects, rename the objects, and select the objects in the Object Manager. Therefore, it is defined as the control center of the objects created in the scene.

Figure 1-23 The Object Manager

Attribute Manager

The Attribute Manager is used to display the attributes of a selected tool or object in the scene. You can also modify the attributes of the objects and materials in it. Moreover, you can set keys for animation to the attributes that have a circle next to their name. By default, it displays the project settings, as shown in Figure 1-24.

Figure 1-24 The Attribute Manager

Layers Manager

The Layers Manager is used to manage the objects in layers when you need to work in complex scenes. To invoke the Layers Manager, choose the Layers tab in the Attribute Manager. The Layer Manager will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-25.

                 Figure 1-25 The Layers Manager

Viewport Navigation Tools

The Viewport Navigation Tools are located on the top right corner of each viewport, refer to Figure 1-2. These tools are used to pan, zoom, and rotate the camera in the viewport.

Pan Tool

The Pan tool is used to move the camera in X and Y directions in a scene. You can also pan the camera by pressing 1 along with the left mouse button or by pressing ALT along with the middle mouse button.

Zoom In/Out Tool

The Zoom In/Out tool is used to move the camera in the Z direction only. You can also zoom the camera by pressing 2 along with the left mouse button or by pressing ALT along with the right mouse button.

Orbit Tool

The Orbit tool is used to rotate the camera in all directions. You can also rotate the camera by pressing 3 along with the left mouse button or ALT along with the left mouse button.

Viewport Tool

The Viewport tool is used to toggle between four viewport and single viewport display.

Note

You can maximize a viewport by pressing the middle mouse button inside that viewport.

Menu in editor view 

The Menu in editor view is available in every viewport and is used to perform various tasks. It consists of View, Cameras, Display, Options, Filter, and Panel menus, refer to Figure 1-2. These menus are discussed next.

View Menu

On choosing the View menu, a flyout will be displayed, as shown in Figure 1-26. The most commonly used options in this flyout are discussed next.

     Figure 1-26 The flyout displayed on choosing the View menu

Undo View

The Undo View option is used to undo the last change made to the view angle in the viewport.

Redo View

The Redo View option is used to redo the last change made to the view angle in the viewport.

Frame All

The Frame All option is used to position the camera such that all the objects including the lights and cameras fill the active viewport and are centered in it.

Frame Geometry

The Frame Geometry option is used to position the camera such that objects (excluding the lights and camera) are at the center of the viewport.

Frame Default

The Frame Default option is used to reset the viewport to its default value.

Frame Selected Elements

The Frame Selected Elements option is used to move the camera such that the selected objects and polygons are at the center of the viewport.

Frame Selected Objects

The Frame Selected Objects option is used to position the camera such that the active objects are at the center of the viewport.

Film Move

The Film Move option is used to move the camera in the