After Effects and Cinema 4D lighting?

[Corrado Carlevaro]

There is an “export to Cinema 4D” in File menu in AE

[Dan North]

Thanks a lot Corrado.
Didn’t know it would bring in the whole scene with lights etc.

I’m making a “paper cut” world with flat colors on shape layers and have set up lights in After effects.
I want to add a train driving through the world, so it’s basically just a sequence of the whole AE project that is “3D”.
Would you render in cinema and import in AE, or what is the smartest way to get it back and mixed with the rest in AE again after it has been through Cinema?

Any direction would be much appreciated

Cheers, Dan

[Corrado Carlevaro]

1. why not doing everything in C4D (flat shapes and train and everything)?
2. Render the train in C4D (where you need in any case your flat shapes to use as alpha masks when the train is passing behind them) and then compose in AE
2. Using Cineware for “seamless integration of 3D assets in After Effects compositions”, which I never used

[Dan North]

1. The look I get in After effects, the “paper cut” look with shape layers and 3D and adding point lights behind windows etc, gives a stylized and cute and look. It would be awesome to do in Cinema if it can “mirror” the same look.
I tried a test where I had 2 shape layers and a point light that I exported to Cinema and got the same look.

However my large scene I working on, with several point lights and Illustrator files with layers (so I one Illustrator file with my landscape in different layers for easy tweak) – when exporting to Cinema, seems like the Illustrator shapes don’t get exported in layers as in After Effects?

2. Good point with the train – and the scene would make sense to re-create in Cinema so it will interact with the light . I see what you mean.
(My thought was first to do it in AE, it moving around as a 3D layer within the other 3D shape layers so I would be able to use the other shapes to “hide” it.
but VERY heavy slow scene ????

Thanks a bunch for direction.
Best, Dan

[Dan North]

Btw, I’n after effects I’m using this look:
https://www.shutterstock.com/da/image-vector/winter-snow-urban-countryside-landscape-city-535531183?id=535531183&rid=3071597
(hope it’s ok I link to it, it’s just to show the “style”)
and when using a point lights in the window and tweaking the colors, I can turn it into night scenes and make it look cute.

How do I re-create the same look in Cinema ?
Best, Dan

[Corrado Carlevaro]

I have to admit I use AE for 2D projects, but sure you can have much more flexibility, possibilities and ease creating a “2D look” in Cinema, if you are not using specific compositing techniques (lot of blending modes, videos, pictures, illustrator files where AE is much better suited).
Your example looks like a perfect task for Cinema