Cant export camera from C4D to AE!

[Blair Harrower]

Thanks for getting back to me Jim.

I did a fresh C4D install 2 days ago on a new machine. The only files in the Maxon exchange folder are the ones put there on install. These werent working so I went onto Maxon’s site and replaced them with the latest R17 ones they have in their downloads section. Still no luck unfortunately.

I’m so confused.

[Jim Scott]

Just to confirm:

1) You have copied the two plugins from the Exchange folder (C4DFormat and C4DImporter) into the plugins folder in AE.

2) In C4D: In the Render Settings>Save>Compositing Project File settings you have checked “Save” and “Include 3D Data,” and then rendered an image sequence (pngs for example) to a folder.

3) Once #2 has been done, you should have a folder with a XXX.aec file and all the images.

4) In AE: File menu>Import>File, and select the XXX.aec file from the folder above.

AE should import the files and you should have a folder in your Project window with two items – the XXX composition and the XXX [0000-0060].png (assuming a 60 frame animation). When you double-click on the XXX composition it should open in your timeline and include the Camera and Light and png sequence that you created in C4D.

If that’s not what you’re getting, please elaborate.

[Blair Harrower]

Thanks again for the reply.

Yes I’ve tried all of the above. The frames render fine but it seems like the problem is with c4d exporting the .aec file. The icon looks like the one you posted above plus there’s no data (1kb). C4D would usually take some time to calculate the 3d data when exporting a camera / lights but this does not behave like that.

I even tried importing the file into AE but the .aec file is greyed out. I’m 99% sure the issue lies with C4D’s exporter. Do you have to move the files in the exchange folder or something? I can’t remember ever doing this in the past?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

B.

[Jim Scott]

Since the .aec file is just a project file it will be small. In a quick test, mine was 8KB. 1KB does seem excessively small and would seem to suggest that an improper (or simply empty) file is being generated.

As I understand it, C4D’s “Exchange Plugins” folder is essentially just a contents folder for the plugins you need to install in AE (or other applications). You don’t need to “move” them, other than copying and pasting them into the AE “Plug-ins” folder. If they’re only in the C4D folder they aren’t doing anything. And as far as importing into AE is concerned, you only need the C4DImporter plugin to be in the AE folder. The C4DFormat plugin is for AE to C4D export.

When you select File>Import>File, and navigate to the folder containing the .aec file and the image sequence, you should be able to select the .aec file and click on “Open.” If the file is greyed-out (unselectable) then there is obviously an issue with it. What that issue is, I don’t know.

If you want, post the C4D project file you created for testing and I will run it on my system. I could then post the generated .aec file back to you and see if that works on your system. By the way, I am assuming you’re on a Mac. If not, this probably won’t work.

[Blair Harrower]

Hi Jim,

Thanks again for the help with this.

Ok so I need to copy the contents of the exchange folder into AE’s plugins folder too? – I haven’t done this yet. I’ll try this shortly and let you know how I get on. I still find it strange that C4D doesn’t export the .aec properly though.

Yes, I’m using a mac – let me try copying those files and I’ll see how that goes. Failing that, I’ll send you a simple test build if thats ok? I’m a bit of a newbie here so how is best to send you files? Can you PM on here?

Thanks again!
B.

[Jim Scott]

I’m glad to help, Blair. Hopefully we can get this all worked out.

Yes, copy the C4DImporter.plugin and C4DFormat.plugin for your version of AE from the “Exchange Plugins” folder and paste them into AE’s “Plug-ins” folder.

To upload a file, click on the floppy disk icon (or maybe it’s a computer) in the Message menu. It’s the last one on the right. You can hover your cursor over each of those icons to see what they do.

That will open up a window which will allow you to select the file to upload. It will then create a link that you can copy and paste into your message.

[Blair Harrower]

Great! Yeah it’s so frustrating when you hit these kind of walls.
Let me give this a try when I’m at my work machine tonight. I’ll keep you posted!
Cheers,
B.

[Blair Harrower]

Jim,

Huge thank you for your help with this. That worked a treat! Thanks again for your patience. Much appreciated!

B.

[Jim Scott]

Great. I’m glad you got it worked out.