• Maxon Cinema 4D

  How to get chrome effect on text

  Posted by John on April 18, 2007 at 3:22 pm

  Let me start by saying that I am very new to C4D, but I love the product. I am learning more each day and the results are stunning.

  My question is: how can I easily create a very shiny chrome-like effect for text or a logotype?

  Basically all i’m trying to do is take an extruded text object (I’ve been using the MoGraph text object because it has the extrude built-in) and paint the inside of the text with a shiny colored paint and have the edges be a very bright shiny chrome. There are no other objects in the scene which has no floor. I just want a solid black backdrop.

  Now.. I have tried several of the built-in chrome materials and I even downloaded a material set called ‘chrome reality’ (from ‘www.c4dtextures.com’), but no matter what i do, the material always looks like a dull brushed metal with a few highlights. I want the edges of the text to really pop off the background and give that super shiny look of chrome as I orbit around it. What am I missing here? Do I need to create an entire scene and turn reflection on? Again, all I want is the shiny text in black space.

  Any help is much appreciated. Or point me to a tutorial package would be great too.

  thanks. John

  Brian Jones replied 19 years, 3 months ago 3 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  Satesh Ramjattan

  April 19, 2007 at 12:44 am

  You will need lights for more reflections, or better yet, add a sky with an HDRI image, add a compositing tag and uncheck “seen by camera.” As far texturing, add your base material first, then add your chrome texture after. click on your chrome texture and in type R1 (must be CAPS)in the selection area. Duplicate your chrome tex and change the selection to R2. This will make just your edges(or ROUNDS)chrome on both sides. All of this is dependent that you have a fillet cap on your extrusion.
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  Brian Jones

  April 19, 2007 at 12:51 am

  Chrome only looks that way because of what it reflects. Either you can make a world for the text to reflect (hard/slow) or
  – put an image in the Reflection or Environment channels of a shader (easy)
  – put an image on a sky/sphere around the text for it to reflect (bit more work, still easy)
  either way is good really.

  there’s a tutorial for the latter here, for environment/reflection channel images check out the manual in the Material Editor/Environment section.

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