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Mixing 3D and Live Footage
Hi
Is Cinema3d considered the ‘best’ 3D program to work with AE if you need to create simple 3d forms, both translucent and reflective? -
8 Replies
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Short answer ( for me anyway ) is yes.
I used to use Maya but switched to C4D because of its ease of use with After Effects. They go VERY well together.
Maya will always be more “technically advanced” but that can be one of its shortcomings especially for beginners.
cheers
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Thanks Trevor
Can you recommend the best source for C4D tutorials(with an emphasis on AE integration)?Local is the new global
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also every other tutorial from https://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/category/cinema4d/
its all simple geometry that goes well with motion, perhaps if you say what your goal is we can supply a more apropriate link.
have fun
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For reflective stuff and for easy to follow instruction you should for sure check out The Gorilla over at https://greyscalegorilla.com
lots of great tutorials there on integrating with C4D and Ae too.
C4D Cafe has been my go to site for all things C4D since I picked it up. https://www.c4dcafe.com
Lots of great tutorials there and really helpful community and forum.
cheers -
For simple objects, text and even complex objects (without the modeling part) my option is Zaxwerks Invigorator Pro. It’s fast, you can make use of OpenGL and you can link an object to a 3D layer in AE = you animate using AE controls.
Here’s an example of what this combination can do:
https://reels.creativecow.net/film/jwc-intro-3d-in-aeTudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist -
[jim bachalo] “Is Cinema3d considered the ‘best’ 3D program to work with AE if you need to create simple 3d forms, both translucent and reflective?”
“Translucent” and “reflective” make this a tricky question.
AE’s own 3D space will always be separate from your 3D app’s 3D space. This means that you can’t really get your 3D rendered objects to properly reflect or refract objects that exist only in AE. They would have to exist instead in your 3D app to be properly “seen” by these more complicated materials.
If you want to do 3D motion graphics, I think that Cinema 4D’s MoGraph module gives it a huge advantage over competing packages. The integration with AE is wonderful, as long as you understand the limitations.
There’s tons of good rigorous C4D training from Cineversity and FXPHD. There are a lot of project-based tutorials from Greyscale Gorilla (and everyone that Nick links to in his blog roll).
Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events -
The difference (in my opinion) between software that puts 3D in the AE interface without actually interacting with it (in terms of reflection, refraction, lighting, etc.) is how “real” do you want it to look?
I use 3D Studio Max, and, while I’m not suggesting you necessarily adopt this pup, it can do lighting, motion, z-depth control, clipping, and camera matching (through use of scripting, and output as RLA or RPF files) that few other 3D packages offer. That said, the learning curve is lifelong! I’ve been using it almost 10 years, and I learn something new, or forget something I should have remembered, every day.
There’s a new kid on the block coming soon from VideoCopilot that promises to make Zaxwerks and other “3D” plugins obsolete! Here’s the link to what’s coming (and I don’t have any affiliation with VideoCopilot other than that I buy their plugins, and use their tutorials – their Optical Flares plugin blows Knoll away!). It’s called Element 3D:
https://www.videocopilot.net/blog/2011/07/info-about-element-3d/
If you’re a good student of lighting, and you match your lighting and shadows from the 3D app with your lighting in your video, you’re on the right road, no matter what 3D ancillary package you choose.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Thanks for the heads up!
Local is the new global
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