Cinema4D 3D Objects in After Effects

[Sam Palmer]

Ok, so I’ve previously brought into AE a 3D object created in Photoshop. I could then move, rotate, scale etc this object within photoshop.

Can I do the same with a 3D object created in Cinema 4D?

Cheers
Sam

[John Cuevas]

No, you would want to do whatever moves you are going to do in C4D, render out the movie and bring it into AE.

C4D and AE work well together and you can export and import camera data, nulls, planes from one app to the other. Then when you create your 3d animation in C4D, you can bring it into AE for final composite and have the camera and it’s keyframes already working in AE.

There are a couple of plugins you need to do the export/import and they are here:
https://www.maxon.net/support/updates/plugins.html

Some tutorials that will explain the process better than I can:
https://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2011/12/cinema-4d-to-after-effects-tutorial-plasma-tv/

https://vimeo.com/7226475

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
Thinkck.com

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[Sam Palmer]

Thanks John,

IO’ve been searching all morning and actually came across this plug-in on co-pilot;
https://www.videocopilot.net/products/element/

It’s looks like it does what I’m after, what do you think?

[Walter Soyka]

John outlined the excellent workflow between C4D and Ae.

I’ll add that you have another option now, too: Video Copilot’s Element 3D plugin. While it’s fundamentally a 3D particle array system, you can use it at its simplest level to bring 3D objects into After Effects and manipulate them in Ae’s 3D space. It imports .c4d files (but does not import animation).

Zaxwerks Invigorator also allows 3D object import (via .obj files).

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
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[John Cuevas]

As Walter has pointed out, it is pretty much what you want.

It slipped my mind as I haven’t had a reason to buy it…yet. I’ve watched a few of Andrew’s tutorial’s and it looks like and incredible plugin for AE and 3d intergration.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor
Thinkck.com

“I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
—THOMAS EDISON on inventing the light bulb.

[Sam Palmer]

Sweet, exactly what I want, just bought it and it’s pretty darn amazing! Highly recommend so far!