What 3-D programs best for intergration with CS3?

[Sam Moulton]

C4D

[Craig Wall]

Bez–Bez–Bez

I too am very interested in this topic. I have a hunch in time Adobe will feature their own full-featured 3d program that plays friendly with AE.

In the meantime I have been considering upgrading my Lightwave, buying Sketchup Pro or other options.

I recently bought Vue Esprit just for some special scenes. I also used 3d invigorator and it certainly has it’s uses and that is the tightest integration you can get–sharing cameras, lights, etc.

I don’t have much expectation that these apps will truly integrate with AE. Some minimal integration for now would be fine.

[Craig Wall]

Why Sam?

[–bez–bez–bez–]

cheers

[Steve Roberts]

Cinema 4D is best for mnotion graphics, because it allows you to export a file with images and cameras ready for compositing in AE. Very useful.

Also, it’s the 3D app of choice for motion graphics, to my mind because it has modeller and scene in one space (sorry, lightwave) and unless you want to do some polygonal modelling, everything stays live and editable … useful in case of client changes. (really?) I replaced lightwave with C4D mostly based on the fact that doing (and especially revising) an extending, snaking tube in LW is a big pain, but in C4D it’s incredibly easy. After that, I;ve found that C4D is actually a pleasure to use.

The only downside of C4D (compared to LW at least) is that to do certain things in C4D require the purchase of a separate module over the basic package, whereas LW will do those things out of the box. Maybe sub-surface scattering and clever particle behaviour comes under that topic.

Anyway, post on the C4D cow (or search the web) for more info.

[Craig Wall]

Steve, considering I would need to buy extra modules — what might a realistic total investment look like?

I can upgrade my Lightwave for about $400.

[Steve Roberts]

It depends on what you want to do. I’ve gotten along with the core and the excellent Mograph module for a little while now, but I might want Thinking Particles and Sketch & Toon soon. S&T first.

The Mograph module is just useful for making all kinds of multiple clones and arrays of stuff. What’s neat is that the effect stays live: after applying it, just change the settings for more or less objects, at different angles or whatever.

Go to the Maxon.net site to check out the Modules and prices.

[Craig Wall]

“What’s neat is that the effect stays live: after applying it, just change the settings for more or less objects, at different angles or whatever.”

Sounds like digitalanarchy’s “3d assistants” — instead for Maxon’s 4d

[Emre Tufekci s.o.a.]

Depending on where you are based, currently there is the Adobe+Maxon(Cinema 4D) power integration tour. I went last thursday in DC and it was very informative with real life examples showing how to go from CD4 to AE8.

Cheers,

Emre
http://www.productionpit.com
Boxx Tech PC, dual-dual AMD 2.0,4BG ram,Avidexpress HD w/Mojo,UVW-1800,DSR-25, Adobe production studio.

“Creative cow is udder madness.”

[Antoni Jones]

Hi,

I have been using C4D because it has tight integration with AE. You can import camera and 3D information etc straight from C4D into AE with a minimum of fuss. Not only this but C4D is surprisingly easy to learn.

-Regards

DaMasteRZ