Screenshot of CINEMA 4D Release 12 running under Windows 7
Developer(s)
Maxon Computer GmbH
Initial release
1990; 29 years ago
Stable release
Operating system
Microsoft Windows, macOS, AmigaOS
Type
3D computer graphics
License
Proprietary
Website
maxon.net
Cinema 4D is a 3D modeling, animation, motion graphic and rendering application developed by Maxon Computer GmbH in Germany. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing, rendering, and common features found in 3D modeling applications.
283 Free Characters 3d models found for Cinema 4d. Available for Free download in.c4d format.
Overview[edit]
Four variants are currently available from Maxon: a core Cinema 4D 'Prime' application, a 'Broadcast' version with additional motion-graphics features, 'Visualize' which adds functions for architectural design and 'Studio', which includes all modules.
2014 saw the release of a 5th variant, 'Lite', which came packaged with Adobe After Effects Creative Cloud 2014. 'Lite' acts as an introductory version, with many features withheld. This is part of a partnership between the two companies, where a Maxon-produced plug-in, called Cineware, allows any variant to create a seamless workflow with After Effects. The 'Lite' variant is dependent on After Effects CC, needing the latter application running to launch, and is only sold as a package component included with AE CS through Adobe.
Initially, Cinema 4D was developed for Amiga computers in the early 1990s, and the first three versions of the program were available exclusively for that platform. With v4, however, Maxon began to develop the program for Windows and Macintosh computers as well, citing the wish to reach a wider audience and the growing instability of the Amiga market following Commodore's bankruptcy.
Modules[edit]
Cinema 4D Version R14. Videohive Cubist C4D Logo Animation. Free Cinema 4D Templates. After Effects Version CS6| Cinema 4D Version R14.
Intro Template Cinema 4d Add a pin to solve the camera's position, and set the scene scale by adding known lengths for any line. Quickly create a background object, or generate a camera mapping tag to begin using the image as part of a matte environment.
Up until Release 11.5, Cinema 4D had a modular approach to the application, with the ability to expand upon the core application with various modules. This ended with Release 12, though the functionality of these modules remains in the various flavors of Cinema 4D (Prime, Broadcast, Visualize, Studio)The old modules were:
Advanced Render (global illumination/HDRI, caustics, ambient occlusion and sky simulation)
BodyPaint 3D (direct painting on UVW meshes; now included in the core. In essence Cinema 4D Core/Prime and the BodyPaint 3D products are identical. The only difference between the two is the splash screen that is shown at startup and the default user interface.)
Dynamics (for simulating soft body and rigid body dynamics)
Hair (simulates hair, fur, grass, etc.)
MOCCA (character animation and cloth simulation)
MoGraph (Motion Graphics procedural modelling and animation toolset)
NET Render (to render animations over a TCP/IP network in render farms)
PyroCluster (simulation of smoke and fire effects)
Prime (the core application)
Broadcast (adds MoGraph2)
Visualize (adds Virtual Walkthrough, Advanced Render, Sky, Sketch and Toon, data exchange, camera matching)
Studio (the complete package)
For a full comparison of the various components of Cinema 4D, go to the Maxon Product Comparison page
Additional rendering engines[edit]
As of 2014, these alternative rendering engines and connections are currently available as plug-ins for Cinema 4D:
Redshift (biased GPU-accelerated renderer, acquired by Maxon in 2019[2])
finalRender stage 2.0 SP4 from Cebas Computer GmbH
FurryBall GPU renderer
FryRender from RandomControl
Indigo Renderer, unbiased photorealistic renderer
Krakatoa from Thinkbox Software
Maxwell Render from Next Limit Technologies
mental ray & iray from at² GmbH
Octane Render, unbiased GPU-accelerated renderer from oToy
Pixar Renderman Connection Cineman from MAXON Computer GmbH
V-ray (Vray4C4D)
Arnold Renderer (C4DtoA)
Cycles 4D, Blender's Cycles Renderer adopted to Maxon Cinema 4D by Insydium LTD makers of XParticles. The most fully integrated XParticle Renderer.
Version history[edit]
1990
Christian and Philip Losch enter their ray-tracer into Kickstart magazine's monthly programming contest, and win the competition.
1991
FastRay (Cinema 4D's first name) is released for the Amiga.
1993
Cinema 4D V1 is released for Amiga.
1994
Release of Cinema 4D V1.5 and V2 for Amiga.
1995
Release of Cinema 4D V2.1 and V3.0 for Amiga.
Plans are made for porting Cinema 4D to the PC platform.
New programmer team begins development of a completely new, operating-system-independent architecture.
1996
Cinema 4D V4 for Windows, Alpha NT, Macintosh and Amiga is released.
The first multi-processor version of Cinema 4D is made available.
1997
The development of a production-level version begins, integrating the latest technologies.
The last version of Cinema 4D for Amiga, V4.2, is released.
The first production-worthy version is released — Cinema 4D XL V5.
1998
Cinema 4D SE V5 is released.
1999
Cinema 4D GO V5 and Cinema 4D NET are introduced.
2000
Cinema 4D XL V6 is released.
BodyPaint 3D is made available as an integrated version for Cinema 4D, and as a standalone version for other 3D packages.
2001
Cinema 4D ART is introduced.
PyroCluster and Dynamics modules are introduced.
Cinema 4D XL R7 is shipped worldwide.
MAXON integrates the shader set Smells like Almonds from bhodiNUT.
2002
Cinema 4D R8 is released with a modular system. The new modules are Advanced Render, PyroCluster, MOCCA and Thinking Particles.
2003
Cinema 4D R8.5 is released.
BodyPaint 3D R2 is introduced.
Sketch and Toon module is introduced.
2004
Cinema 4D R9 is released.
2005
Cinema 4D R9.5 is released.
HAIR module is introduced.
2006
Cinema 4D R9.6 is released.
MoGraph module is introduced.
Cinema 4D R10 with integrated BodyPaint 3D is released.
2007
Cinema 4D becomes the first professional 3-D graphics application released as a Universal Binary for Apple's new Intel-powered Macs (even before Apple Universal Binary versions of its own software are released).
Service update R10.1 is released in March, in response to bug feedback provided to Maxon by users and testers.
Service update R10.111 released to address several reported problems, such as stability.
Cinema 4D R10.5 is released, and features updates to MOCCA and MoGraph, as well as an optimization of the HAIR module.
2008
Cinema 4D R11 released.
Cinema 4D supports 64-bit architecture on Apple G5 and Intel-powered Macs.
A new implementation of Global Illumination (included in the Advanced Render module) offers a higher quality than that of the old version, and much improved animation support.
Non-Linear Animation has been completely reworked.
The Renderman support (CINEMAN) is now included in AR.
2009
Cinema 4D R11.5 released.
Introduces MoGraph 2 (which includes MoDynamics [Uses the Bullet Engine], PolyFX, and MoSplines)
Bucket rendering reduces render times and manages clone instancing and memory management much more efficiently. Anti-Aliasing methods to choose from are Scanline, Ray-Tracing, and Hybrid (which uses both to best optimize quality vs. speed). Also greatly improved Subpolygon Displacement and Area Shadows efficiency and speed using Multi-Threading.
An enhanced Picture Viewer that will allow a history of renders, RAM previews, and A/B swiping. Also, manages post filtering and Multi-Pass Layers.
Full 3D support for Apple Motion, and improved support with Adobe After Effects. Also, exports clones and XRefs to Motion and After Effects, as well as the ability to bring in solids for mapping video onto 3D surfaces. It can also export multiple cameras at once.
Fully compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) and Windows 7.
QuickTime for Windows (64 bit) now supported.
File exchange for FBX 2010.0
Other new features include a new Camera Shader which will map any camera view onto any surface, improved MoGraph Effectors, and other general improvements and refinements.
2010
Cinema 4D R12 released.
Dynamics has been improved (complex physics engine)
Renderer works better / faster.
Menu has been cleaned up.
Many minor improvements like the Shaders and Materials.
Linear workflow introduced with correct display in OGL.
Double precision calculation introduced and true units.
Support for IES lights and physically correct lighting.
Integration of Python
Support of OpenGL 3
Support for PPC CPUs
2011
Cinema 4D R13 released.
New Physical Render engine (More photorealistic: Physical Camera with ISO, f-stop and shutter speed or angle, true depth of field, true motion blurring, lens distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration.)
Stereoscopy. New Stereoscopic Camera and Rendering with real-time display. Supports Anaglyph, Side-by-Side, Interlaced, or Active Shutter mode for 3D Monitors, projectors and glasses.
New Character tools, allowing the user to set up complex rigs quickly and easily. CMotion Walk Cycle editor; Character Components for TDs to define rig hierarchies, and new Muscle Object & MSkin Deformer.
Animation refinements. Rotation Order and Gimbaling Rotation Axis to detect and correct gimbal lock. Better timeline markers. Finely tuned F-Curves. Colored animation paths.
Optimized Modeling workflow. (Enhanced cloning and extrusions; Advanced selection tools; new optimized HyperNURBS weighting algorithm for cleaner topology and sharper but smooth creases; Axis toggle; Auto Tweaking; Easy, intuitive Snapping; Variable Speed Scaling; Better ClothNURBS Extrusion)
Improved Interface and Workflow. Enhanced Picture Viewer. All-new External Referencing System for XRefs.
New Import/Export features (After Effects Integration; FBX Import/Export supports 2010, 2011, and 2012; Multi-Channel OpenEXR; Enhanced Sound Format support including AIF, MP3, and AAC; Collada 1.5; BodyPaint 3D support for Maya UVs)
2012
Cinema 4D R14 released (September 4, 2012)
Sculpting Tools.
Enhanced Dynamics (Aerodynamics)
Plastic Deformations & Breakable Springs.
Enhanced Xpresso UI.
Camera Calibrator. Integrate 3D element into photographs.
Morph camera and motion camera. Blend between different cameras. Create natural dynamic camera motion.
New Shaders: Wood shader, weathering shader, normalizer
Subsurface Scattering enhancements.
GI Multiple Importance Sampling
Radiosity Maps
NUKE export with position pass render
Xrefs enhanced
Completely overhauled snapping and new guides/workplanes
2013
Cinema 4D R15 released (September 1, 2013)
New GI and AO
New Bevel Tool
Intel Embree Support
Builtin Network Render Support (Team Render)
Kerning Support
Enhanced Sculpting Tools
Workflow Improvements
2014
Cinema 4D R16 released (September 2, 2014)
3D Motion Tracking
New PolyPen Modeling Tool
Multi-layer reflections
New Cogwheel Spline Primitive
Team Render Server
New UV Peeler
Updated FBX and Alembic support
Bevel Deformer works non-destructively
Solo Mode added
2015
Cinema 4D R17 released
Take System
Onboard Spline tools
Sculpt to PoseMorph
Material Override
Variation and Formula Shaders
Houdini Engine Integration
2016
Cinema 4D R18 released
Fracture Voronoi
New knife tools
Object Tracker
Shaders and surface effects
Viewport enhancement
2017
Cinema 4D R19 released (September, 2017)
Integration of Radeon ProRender
OpenGL improved with depth of field and reflections
Voronoi object fracturing improved
File import and export system overhauled
Level of detail object added
Polygon reduction overhauled
360 spherical rendering for VR
2018
Cinema 4D R20 (September, 2018)
Node-Based Materials
MoGraph Fields
CAD Data Import
Volume Modeling
ProRender Enhancements
2019
Cinema 4D R21 (September, 2019)
Only one version of Cinema 4D (All functionality is in the one version, no separate editions anymore)
New Licensing Solutions
Field Force Object
Caps and Bevel Updates (New controls for adding more complex functions to caps and bevels)
Mixamo Control Rig
Volume Enhancements (Cache Layer, Vector Volumes)
Volume Rendering with ProRender
Denoiser (Intel Open Image Denoiser)
Use in industry[edit]
A number of films and related works have been modeled and rendered in CINEMA 4D, including:[3]
Generation
TV Patrol (logo and in-newscasting props)
June 17, 1953, State of Emergency
Open Season[4][5]
Tron: Legacy[6]
Roger Waters: The Wall Live tour projections (some of them)[7]
Iron Man 3[8]
Pacific Rim[9]
Dick Figures: The Movie (Paris Pursuit sequence and Crookygrin's plane, CG animation by Joel Moser)
'Eurovision Song Contest and Junior Eurovision Song Contest' Graphics
Furious 7[10]
Insignificant / Une espèce à part[11]
See also[edit]
Sources[edit]
Skull Cinema 4d
^'MAXON CINEMA 4D RELEASE 21 AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY'. MAXON. 2019-09-03.
^'IM Innovations'. IM Innovations. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-04-10.Cite uses deprecated parameter |dead-url= (help)
^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2014.Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on March 21, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013.Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^'Tron Legacy Holograms'. Bradley G Munkowitz. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.Cite uses deprecated parameter |deadurl= (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
