Thoughts on the AE/C4D implimentation by C4D users

[Joseph W. bourke]

Ted, don’t get me wrong – I’ve earned my living in 3D and motion graphics for a long, time, and, while I own 3DS Max, I also own Element 3D, MIR, and several other plugins which incorporate 3D in some way shape or manner, even it it’s using .obj files to create particle arrays. I actually just finished a big project using Element 3D, which in the recent past, I would have had to use Max for.

I see it as a positive thing, but, being a realist, also see the downside of trying to do an AE project in 3D without having the slightest knowledge of what you’re in for. I applaud the people who will jump in and take this capability to the next level, but I also know there will be a huge groundswell in all the support forums of new users screaming “help! can’t import my model”, or “why don’t the texture maps show up?”, when all it takes is a half hour with the support docs. As always, there are those who can hit the ground running with little support, and those whose hands need to be held. I guess that’s just the way it is…I’m all for these new capabilities.

Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com

[Todd Kopriva]

> Not exactly free version; free lite version.

I hate that name. It’s not actually all that “light”. It’s comparable to Cinema 4D Prime. Lite has some features that Prime doesn’t, and vice versa.

The main difference is that Cinema 4D Lite is made to work with After Effects, and it doesn’t have the full output capabilities except through After Effects.

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Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
After Effects quality engineering
After Effects team blog
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[Tom Daigon]

Im going to visit the HP booth were hopefully they will have CS Next running on a comparable Z820 to mine. I want to see how the display and render performance of C4D inside AE is.

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
(Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid

[Tom Daigon]

I decided since I had some time this week, I got the demo disk from Maxon and am taking the free C4D tutorials offered by digital tutors.
I do enjoy learning new stuff if I can see a use for it. I just have to flush out my brain cache of Blender stuff for the moment to make some room 😀

How I pursue it in the future will be determined most likely from my visit to the HP booth to really see how C4D performs inside AE.

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
(Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid

[Walter Soyka]

I dig the new Ae/C4D integration. I’ll still make heavy use of the traditional pre-rendering workflow (I have a little render garden set up for C4D network renders), but the new integration is going to be a really nice option on a good number of projects, too.

As for C4D vs. Blender… I love Blender, and I’ve contributed to the Blender foundation. If you’re working entirely on your own, Blender is a fine choice. You can’t beat the price, and there are a few things it does nicely that C4D can’t do at all (fluids!) or does somewhat poorly (Pyrocluster!).

On the other hand, C4D is a fantastic application, too, and it has some unique advantages. The Mograph module is that rare combination of easy-to-use and immensely powerful, the interface is probably the most Adobe-like of any 3D app I can think of, the Ae interchange (aside from the new Cineware renderer) is mature and proven, and there’s an enormous community around C4D motion graphics.

I’d heartily encourage anyone serious about freelance motion graphics to learn C4D. Your chances of getting a .blend file as an asset from an agency, or of your agency client accepting a .blend file as a deliverable approach zero. I’m certainly not saying that Blender’s not capable of the work — I’m just saying that there’s next to no one willing to pay for you to do it with Blender. With C4D Lite now bundled with Ae, there will be more and more artists venturing into 3D with C4D, and an app like Blender will be minimized among this client base even more.

Again, if you’re self-contained or if your clients are buying a final product only, it doesn’t matter what you use. If you’re a freelancer and your clients do care about specific software capabilities and workflows, C4D has tremendous momentum and is worth a look.

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

[Tom Daigon]

After seeing AE/C4D performing at NAB, I decided to follow your advice.

I got a free demo of Studio and am going thru great free tutorials from Digital Tutors. The time learning Blender was a good refresher for me since I haven’t done 3D for a while. They both share certain basic tenets so that is helpful.

I still see a use for Element 3D (2.0 has shadows)in projects where ray tracing attributes are not necessary.

Tom Daigon
PrP / After Effects Editor
http://www.hdshotsandcuts.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPrG3WUyz8
(Best viewed at 1080P and full screen)
HP Z820 Dual 2687
64GB ram
Dulce DQg2 16TB raid