Review: Cinema 4D R8 Core

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Reviewed by
Paul Gerstenbluth

Software Review of:
Cinema 4D R8 Core
Cinema 4D is your 3D tool for motion pictures

Paul Gerstenbluth is President of the ARIE Foundation. The ARIE Foundation's mission is to provide VA hospitalized patients with hobby materials and Powerbooks that help during their stay and in their recovery. Paul Gerstenbluth

From the June, 2003 issue of PC Alamode Magazine

Animation is at the heart of Cinema 4D application. Cinema 4D's animation is the process from moving character's lights and cameras, and changing angles. The program handles various types of animation such as inverse kinematics, keyframe and path animation using splines.

The Five Parts of Cinema 4D R8:

Modeling

Materials

Lights

Animation

Rendering

Each section is a module of the program. Cinema 4D opens into a 4-view wireframe with palettes for modeling and manipulation tools. You can customize the palettes.

Features of Cinema 4D R8
Now, Cinema 4D has enhanced modeling, animation and rendering. Noted is the new and extremely timesaving Attribute Manager. You can create buttons and palettes and move them anywhere around the screen. Next, dock the buttons and palettes to ensure that they do not change.

What will you find inside Cinema 4D's Tutorial Book? The tutorial book has realistic work projects. You can use the projects separately. Also, you can use the projects in a series such as starting from modeling and ending with rendering. The tutorial helps you learn the Cinema 4D's program well. However the results do not follow the examples in the book nor do the black and white illustrations follow the ones on the CD-ROM.

Pro Reaction
Cinema 4D comes with a several reference books and tutorial books. Cinema 4D has an excellently written 482-page tutorial with real-life objectives. There are extensive keyboard shortcuts in Cinema 4D.

You will like the Cinema 4D speed and stability. Also, the option: Render to Pictures works well in Cinema 4D.

Con Reaction
Cinema 4D is complex. I had to spend time learning the workings of the Cinema 4D program. Unfortunately, Cinema 4D uses Windows-like buttons for No, Cancel and Yes when quitting the program. Also, I find that it was difficult to stop a Cinema 4D rendering in progress.

Final Remarks

Sophisticated. Cinema 4D is a sophisticated modeling and animation program that is affordable in comparison to similar programs. Wealth of modeling tools and fast rendering is the hallmark of Cinema 4D. You can create motion pictures with smooth animation renderings with Cinema 4D program.
Innovative. Cinema 4D Core introduces many important basic ideas and techniques. With it, you will find that Cinema 4D is for beginners to advanced users. Expressions and the COFFEE language used in Cinema are some of its most powerful features.

3D for the Real World! The benefits of using a 3D tool are clear — you can make pictures you want from any angle and Cinema 4D costs about the same as Photoshop. It is definitely worth the time it takes to master the Cinema 4D program.

Please note that 4D 8 XL is for serious-minded PC users. The Cinema 4D 8 XL has precision tools for rendering your graphic work for studio productions.

Discover Cinema 4D XL 8 extensive character animation tools with advanced rendering features and amazing particle effects. The Cinema 4D 8 XL extends Cinema 4D's Core functions. You will find that Cinema 4D 8 XL gives you solutions for most of your 3D animation and rendering needs.

You can start the fun by downloading the free demo version of Cinema 4D. Hint: Just go to the Maxon.net Website for the demo.

Cinema 4D works well with Xpresso. Also noted is that Cinema 4D 8 XL works well with the following: Xpresso, Caustics, Radiosity, MOCCA, Advanced Renderer, Thinking Particles and PyroCluster.

The Cinema 4D Terms
MOCCA (MOtion Capturing and Character (Animation) used for cartoons, photo-realistic and non-photo realistic projects. Advanced Rendering further enhances Cinema 4D’s with radiosity rendering, caustics, highlights, glow and depth of field features.

Thinking Particles makes particles and streams interactive with each and the environment. PyroCluster adds realistic volumetric effects like smoke and fire. NetRender splits the rendering working across three (as many computers as you have a Net-Render license for. Three are included free with the XL Bundle) computers.

The particulars of Cinema 4D R8: Modules contain Interface and Workflow, Modeling, Lighting, and Animation.

Using Cinema 4D Studio Bundle
Your advanced 3D projects will come alive with the addition of 3D painting, dynamic simulations and network rendering. The Cinema 4D Studio Bundle lets you unleash your creativity and enjoys 3D without limits.

Cinema 4D Studio Bundle contains Cinema 4D 8 XL plus NET Render (unlimited clients license), Dynamics and BodyPaint 3D.

Retail Price
Three Programs: Cinema 4D R8 Core cost is $595, Cinema 4D 8 XL cost is $1,695 and Cinema 4D Studio Bundle is $2,495.

System Requirements
Minimum System Requirements: Windows 98 / ME 128 MByte RAM, PowerPC, Intel Celeron or AMD Duron and compatible with 400 MHz

Recommended System Requirements: Windows NT4 / 2000 / XP 512 MByte RAM, PowerPC, Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon with 1 GHz, CD drive, hard disk.

Registration with Maxon Website is necessary depending on your license for Windows computers to enjoy the continued use of the program.