[Davesink]

To bring an AI file (or another C4D file) into an existing scene, use File/Merge.

Also regarding your original question, an AI file (saved as version 8), with compound paths should extrude correctly without connectying all splines if you check the “Hierarchy” box in the extrude options window.

Hope this helps.

Dave W.

[Davesink]

If you’re used to animating in AE, the jump to C4D should be relatively easy. And wait until you see how easy it is to composite in AE using multipass renderings and the External Compositing tag. The Video wall tutorial in Trish & Chris Meyer’s “Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects, Vol. 2” would give you a good start, though I think it was written before the External Compositing tag was added to C4D, so instead of using lights as placeholders, you simply use the EC tag.

[Davesink]

I don’t know about a “one-click” solution, but let’s say you want a spinning globe. What I’d do is animate the untilted sphere (or other object) on its y axis, then place that into a null. You can then rotate or tilt the null object. Your globe (or Cylinder should now roate properly.

[Davesink]

I haven’t tried experimenting with it much, but you’d use Mograph’s Extrude Deformer. Here’s a desciption on C4D CAfe’s site:

https://www.c4dcafe.com/reviews/Mograph/extrude.php

[Davesink]

Oops make that CONTROL/drag

[Davesink]

To copy a keyframe , just select it in the timline and command/drag to duplicate. Same way you duplicate an object in the Object Manager.

[Davesink]

You might try duplicating the keyframe where you want the pause to start and moving it to the right in the timeline. Also it might be helpful to familiarize yourself with the f-curve editor. If you flatten out the curve for x,y and z movement where you want the pause to occur, you can avoid having the objects drifting one way or another during the pause. Hope this helps.

[Davesink]

If you’re using C4D 9.5 (I think) or later, you can use an External Compositing tag on your planes, which SHOULD show up as nulls when the project is opened in AE, including movement and rotation. I say “should” because while it usually works fine, I’ve occasionally run into situations where the null coordinates didn’t line up quite right. But theoretically, that should do it.

[Davesink]

Ah, here we go:

https://www.captain3d.com/

[Davesink]

You’re probably thinking of “Pump Action” by Phil Captain 3D McNally. It was a great effort as I recall. Sorry, I don’t have a link, but I’ll post it if I find it.