[Mikeh64]

the manual is html based and only viewable inside R10 – from the “help” menu at the top left. If for some reason you don’t find it there, it may need to be installed, and is available from the maxon website (follow the install instructions).

As far as your questions go – I think it might be best to advise you to find the docs and try to get the basics down on your own – all of your questions are answered in the manual.

…but here are the short answers:
2 – polygon reduction tool
3 – the dots refer to visibility in viewport and at render time
4 – many ways
5 – yes
6 – some, countless places to get more, mostly free (but you should just learn to make your own)

[Mikeh64]

you could use the duplicate function – make a spline where you want them (use a helix spline as a start), use the “along spline” mode, and enable rotation

you could use the array tool

you could also use mograph and clone them on to the cylinder using object mode

[Mikeh64]

I have always been surprised by the lack of logo items for my favorite software and hardware. I’d love a After Effects or Photoshop t-shirt.

I hope someone knows of a place that has them – of course it will probably need to be adobe who makes them, unless they are willing to license the logos and branding to someone else.

Mike

[Mikeh64]

this is true – the help is now HTML based (installed as a language pack, included on the install disc)

I don’t think R9 came with printed manuals either – only PDF (C4D 8 was the last printed manual)

I think you can purchase a manual from Maxon if you really want one.

[Mikeh64]

you could also select a cube face, and choose “split” which will create a copy of the selected face – you will need to do this for each face.

You could also make new cube primitives, and use the “transfer” tool to move them to the exact location of the cubes, check the “separate surfaces” box, then make editable.

[Mikeh64]

I know you don’t want to hear this, but just go for the full studio bundle plus mograph, you be happy you did later.

Do not under estimate the usefulness of the “hair” and “sketch & toon” modules for motion graphics, and you need Advanced Render. The only things you THINK don’t need are MOCCA and Dynamics, but you will use all of them eventually.

Also, it makes upgrade time easier and cheaper in the end. You can really get yourself into a frustrating and expensive situation by buying this and that, and then wanting/needing other modules and updates later.

mike

[Mikeh64]

I use Cinema4D, and it has great AE integration. You actually create an AE project with C4D and just open it up in AE and everything is put together already – and all the lights and cameras are in place, and there is even the ability to define a point in space (using the “external compositing tag” – which comes in to AE as a solid that you can replace with whatever you want).

There is also multipass rendering, so you have adjustment control of almost anything you want in AE (for example, you can have shadow info on it’s own layer so they can be adjusted in AE).

One downside – the camera position will have a keyframe in EVERY frame, so you can’t really make any cam adjustments in AE.

I don’t know about other 3D apps, many have some or all of the above features, so I’m not saying C4D is the best – just that Maxon (makers of C4D) cares about AE integration and has worked towards making it work well.

Mike

[Mikeh64]

in AE 7, the size popup you refer to has the choice of “fit to 100%”

what version are you using?

[Mikeh64]

you said – “I entered what I think are the permanent serial numbers (not the ones that came on the sheet with the box, but the ones that showed up after I initially installed under the help/personalize menu.”

Did you know you need to register your temporary serials numbers with Maxon (either through their website or via mail), and the will issue you permanent serials? The serials that you see in the personalize menu after the original install are the same temp numbers, but with 16 characters removed. Those are not you permanent serial numbers – they will expire.

mike

[Mikeh64]

it’s not entirely clear what you are trying to get and what the problem is, but one suggestion would be trying to adjust the axis orientation of the spline you are sweeping (turn the axis only, not the whole spline)