Here is a quick post to share a piece of python code that I use in nearly every C4D scene these days. It is really simple and all it does is take the current state of the objects “Visible in Editor” parameter and apply it to the same objects “Visible in Render” parameter.

I use this to hide objects that I don’t want to render. You can of course simply keyframe both parameters, but this means you only need to key the Visible in Editor parameter. Another option is to use a Display tag which will also allow you to keyframe the object visibility. So it is nothing revolutionary that I’m offering (sorry about that

The reason I use this is simply because you have a visual indicator in the Object Manager of the current state of an objects visibility, you don’t get this with the Display Tag unfortunately. Would be kinda cool if the eyeball closed to indicate visibility, similar to PS layer switches.

Anyway here’s the code, simply copy and paste this into a Python Tag and then choose File > Save Tag Preset in the Object Manager. The tag will be there for you every time you need it.

Start copying here…

import c4d
#Welcome to the world of Python

# pass editor visibility to renderer visibility
obj[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = visibility

…Stop copying here

Thanks to Patrick Goski who actually wrote this little snippet of code.

By the way if you get errors when you copy and paste this, it may be because of the formatting, so make sure you don’t use tabs and that it looks like this..

Python Tag

David Drayton from Maxon Computer has started a new personal project called the 99 frames project, he asked if I’d give it a shout out here on helloluxx, so here it is David!

It looks like a really great idea and hopefully it will showcase some exciting new work as well as highlighting some of the awesome features of Cinema4D R13. Here is a little bit of info from David’s site.

The 99frames project is designed to encourage people to try out the new CINEMA 4D R13 features. Since CINEMA 4D R13 is such a huge upgrade in terms of rendering, character animation and workflow, it’s almost a must in my opinion to get this project started. I really do invite everybody to this very first neosushi68 project, no matter which skill level you have. It simply doesn’t matter. It’s about having fun, learning and sharing your work with the world.

Please head on over and take a look. Could be the inspiration you are looking for?

If you ever wanted to work with high and low resolution models in Cinema4D then this tip should come in handy.

Using the Instance Object combined with a simple Xpresso setup, this shows you how to create an object that allows you to work with a low polygon model and then swap this out for a high polygon version whenever you need to render or preview the final result.

This technique will keep your workflow streamlined, and allow you to perform tasks such as dynamics simulation and caching without the overhead of polygon heavy scenes. Once the caching is complete, you can switch out the object for the detailed version and render away.

Once created, this simple object will become a vital part of your Cinema4D library. You’ll never know how you worked without it!

Kudos to Kai Pederson who originally showed me this trick.

For more in depth and detailed tutorials, check out the Learn Dynamics for Cinema4D training collection. Over 10 hours of intensive training for working with Cinema4D and Dynamics. Available to purchase online here

This quick tip shows you how to create two separate Attribute Managers, one for displaying only tool settings and the other excluding tool settings.

R12 Splash Screen

Well it’s that time of year again. The new release of Cinema4D has been announced. What an amazing release it is too. I have been fortunate enough to be part of the beta team and have been testing the new features for a while now. It is difficult to know where to start, but the most important update for me has to be the new dynamics module.

Restructured GUI - Dynamics Menu

Dynamics is incredible! The old dynamics module was slow, unreliable and quite honestly an unpleasant experience to work with. The new dynamics is an absolute joy to work with. In fact work can quite easily become play!

Those of you familiar with MoDynamics, introduced with r11, will be pleased to hear that the new dynamics is a huge extension beyond this. Maxon have taken Dynamics to a whole new level. Instead of being restricted to rigid bodies that only will work with MoGraph objects, we now have have the addition of Soft Bodies, Springs, Joints (hinges, etc) and Motors. They all work together, and even better they all work with or without the MoGraph module. If you want a stand alone dynamics simulation you can easily create this, but if you want to then duplicate it 500 times, drop it in a Cloner and away you go.

Rigid and Soft Bodies working together - click for movie

Dynamics will function as a fantastic feature in it’s own right, it will also work with MoGraph if you desire. For instance you can create a Soft Body, but you can also create a Soft Body of clones. Imagine virtual springs between all your cloned objects. You can link Soft and Rigid bodies together with the huge number of connector objects, these allow you to create hinges, cardon joints, ragdoll, sliders, the list goes on. Springs can be linear, radial or both, expect to see a lot of bouncing around in your scenes when you get hold of this.

Rigid Bodies, Soft Bodies and Hinges in action - click for movie

All you Xpresso heads will be pleased to hear that Dynamics comes with some new Xpresso nodes, so you can link Dynamics to other elements in your scene, such as Thinking Particles, allowing you to create particles upon collision and plenty more besides.

All in all Dynamics has finally received the upgrade we have all been waiting for. To be honest, I’ve just touched upon the features, you should really check out the Maxon webpage for full details of the new featureset.

Alongside Dynamics there are plenty of other improvements to be in awe of. We have now got a bundle of new deformers and a new morphing system. The new Pose Morph is a hybrid of Pose to Pose and Morph. So you can mix and match between position, scale, rotation and point level morphing. On top of the obvious morph parameters, Pose Morph supports UVs, Maps, Hierarchy, Parameters and User Data. Yes! I did say UVs, now you can morph your UV maps as well as geometry.  How awesome is that?

New Deformers

The Camera Deformer allows you to deform objects from the Camera viewpoint, some crazy stuff is going to come from this deformer alone. You set the grid resolution and then you can drag and keyframe points on the grid looking straight out onto your scene (and it has falloff built in too). If you link Pose Morph up to Camera Deformer with some Displacement and Cloth in between, then you can start to understand the power that can be harnessed.

Mesh Deformer is another new deformer. Take a low poly cage and use it control a high poly version. Something I know a lot of users have been asking for. You can even set your low poly mesh deformer work as a Dynamic Soft Body and as the low poly cage deforms, it then passes that deformation on to the high poly mesh.

I cannot finish this without mentioning Linear Workflow. Cinema4D now has the option to include Linear Workflow in your projects. Those of you who have been using DeGamma will be glad to see LWF as part of the core application. The new openGL (which is a fantastic improvement) supports Linear Workflow, so you see an accurate preview of your lighting and materials in the editor. We can use Colour Profiles for input and output now. This means we finally have the ability to work in Linear, and use Colour Management.

An alternative use for the new MoSpline L-System - click for movie

Well I really have only touched on the new features. I haven’t mentioned the new Render Queue, Smoothing Deformer, Correction Deformer, Surface Deformer, GUI enhancements, Freeze Transformations, IES lighting, Weight Manager, L-System (OMG!), Python…

I love this release, it is huge and I am sure you will all love it too. Check out the Maxon website for the full details and visit Cineversity for all the video highlights.

As for learning those new features. Watch this space, helloluxx will soon be updating our tutorials, to offer you an intensive and comprehensive collection of training that will cover many of the new features in depth. Something you definitely won’t want to miss out on.

I was recently contacted by Envy Studio who asked if I’d make a blog post regarding a new product they’d released for Cinema4D. Being the charitable type and always looking to support independent entrepreneurs, I agreed.   Plus it looks like a pretty good deal to me.  So here it is…

ENVY: C4D INTERIORS FOR ADVANCED RENDER 3 AND VRAY – volume 1.

These products are available as a downloadable version on the ENVY website.

- 10 professional interior scenes
- various light setups
- incorporates Linear Workflow for gamma correct results
- high quality lighting and render settings for optimum results
- 10 scenes for only 40 euros

Making It Look Great 7 and HDRI Light Kit Pro are now available in a THREE day sale.

For only 3 days, Motionworks and Greyscalegorilla are getting together to bring you a bundle designed to help you get the most out of Cinema 4D. Learn real-world Cinema 4D MoGraph techniques and workflows with MILG07 and light your scene with realistic lights and studios with the HDRI LightKitPro.

Get both of these products for only $129 which is over 20% off. This bundle will expire this Wednesday, April 28th. Watch your mograph skill set jump and your lighting shine with the Making It Look Great 7 and HDRI LightKitPro Bundle.

Buy The Bundle Now

Learn More about HDRI LightKitPro

Learn More about MILG7

I am often asked the question “What is the difference between a Straight and a Premultiplied Alpha Channel?”

In this tutorial I discuss the differences between a Straight and a Premultiplied Alpha channel.  How to spot the difference and ensure you interpret your files correctly when setting up your composite.

I also cover the Straight Alpha parameter that is offered when rendering Cinema4D Multipass renders.

Head on over to Vimeo to watch the tutorial in HD.

Recently released from Greyscale Gorilla.

Real Studio Lights for Cinema 4D
HDRI Light Kit Pro turns Cinema 4D into a professional lighting studio. Quickly light your scene with realistic lights directly in Cinema 4D.

What is it?
HDRI Light Kit Pro is a collection of lights, studios and objects that lets you quickly light your scene with realistic soft boxes, spotlights, ring lights and more.

What’s Included?
10 Light Types
including, soft boxes, ring-lights, spotlights, light tents, dome lights, window lights and more.

2 Hours of Video Training
including a bonus “How to Make your Global Illumination Renders Shine” tutorial.

10 Hi-Resolution HDR Images
to instantly light your scene with photo-real light.

6 Studios Pre-Lit
Just add your models and hit render for perfect, studio-lit renders.

6 Test Models
to use to help light your scenes.

Visit Greyscale Gorilla for all the details.

I just posted a quick tip about creating scripts within Cinema4D. This tip will show you how simple it can be to create your own script, create an icon and then add it to your layout.

So head on over to Motionworks and check it out.