Cinema 4d Light

Learn how easy it is to use Vue atmospheres/skies to light your cinema 4d scenes, even if you don't have Vue Xstream. It's simple to do and can give some lovely results. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted ...more

Turn Cinema 4d into your own lighting studio! This tutorial shows you how to use the HDRI Light Kit Pro kit of plugins and addons to create unique lighting effects - add your own softboxes, ring lights and other sources to improve your renders.

Nick from Greyscale Gorilla demonstrates how to master the Ambient Light and Area Light feature in Cinema 4D. These are great tools for creating believable and organic lighting effects.

In this video series, our expert John Carstarphen will show you how to create an array, do a light falloff, change the light intensity, and scale an array. He will also teach you how to do overall illumination, use the area light effect, create realism with shadows, and use mo ...more

In this video series, our expert John Carstarphen will show you how to create boolean scripts, create the first light, streetlights, mood, and depth. He will also show you how to edit colors, do a graduated background, add illumination, and how to use volumetric light and shad ...more

In this video series, our expert John Carstarphen will show you how to create a white card, render and balance settings, and increase the quality of your work. He will also teach you how to hide the white card, increase the scene brightness, and add reflective surfaces. Part 1 ...more

In this series of instructional software videos, our computer animation expert demonstrates some of the more advanced features in CINEMA 4D. Part 1 of 9 - How to Light and texture in CINEMA 4D. Light and texture in CINEMA 4D - Part 2 of 9. Click through to watch this video on ...more

In this tripartite video tutorial, you'll learn how to create image-based lighting and depth-of-field effects within C4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and func ...more

If you know how to use After Effects, you're probably very familiar with the ability to add 3D lights to a scene, and allow them to interact with 3D layers. In 3D applications like CINEMA 4D, lights are an essential part of your project, but how do you make them look at a spec ...more

In this C4D user's guide, see how to create and employ volumetric lighting. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video so ...more

Nick from Greyscale Gorilla shows you great techniques for getting professional quality textures in Cinema 4D. He also talks you through the update of HDRI Light Kit v. 1.1 to v. 1.1.

In this C4D user's guide, see how to light a subject using luminance channels. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video ...more

In this clip, you'll learn how to use global illumination within a C4D scene. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video ...more

Nick from Greyscale Gorilla presents a fantastic tutorial on texturing objects in Cinema 4D. This is especially helpful for creating realistic looking objects. Describing his workflow, his process is incredibly informative

Nick from Greyscale Gorilla demonstrates how to use the ever-useful CS Tools plug-in (Daylight) for Cinema 4D. This feature enables you to fine-tune your key light and other precise ambient settings.

In this video, Nick walks you through all of the new Daylight 2 from CSTools. CSTools is a free plug-in set for Cinema 4D. Daylight 2 features more realistic area shadows, but you need to work to get rid of the grain - this video will show you how!

Create a three-dimensional logo in Cinema 4D and Photoshop with realistic lighting, reflection and shadows. The render is created in 3D inside Cinema 4D using Mograph Text and a bend deformer, textured and lit for initial reflections, and polished in Photoshop with blending mo ...more

Linear Workflow is automatically activated in new projects in Cinema 4D and is a feature to ensure that lighting falloff is rendered more accurately and realistically on light sources, textures and reflections. Greyscale Gorilla explains the concept in this demonstration video ...more

In this tutorial see how to use MAXON CINEMA 4D to create light reflecting and refracting off of objects. In this example you'll create a bronze ring. Create surface caustics in CINEMA 4D. Click through to watch this video on studiodaily.com

CSTools are free plug-ins that are available for your Cinema 4D application. In this tutorial, Nick will show you how to use the plug-in called Flicker. Flicker is a fun add-on, although you may not use it often. It can be used to add a "flicker" to things like campfires, cand ...more

Nick from Greyscale Gorilla shows you the basics of setting up a project file, creating a scene, and rendering a final image in Cinema 4D. He also does a basic tutorial for post-production HDR lighting. Go here for the HDR map and C4D Project file: greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2 ...more

This video shows you how to recreate the iPod Nano commercial using the tracer tool in MoGraph in CINEMA 4D. The tutorial goes over creating an iPod from scratch and adding the light streams. Mylenium is a bit hard to understand, but the lesson is very detailed. Recreate the i ...more

Using HDRI Lighting and Particles in Cinema 4D, Nick from Greyscale Gorilla gives a great tutorial on creating a black and white balloon animation. These tools give a very slick and organic look to your projects.

There is no such thing as a perfect Cinema 4D render. There are always more techniques to learn to improve your skills at using this powerful software. This video will teach you how to use the light objects options to reduce the gradients on surfaces in your rendering, making ...more

Learn how to create a world in microcosm with this C4D user's guide. While the end result is not particularly pretty the tutorial does show you how do deal with lighting the Hair Render through another layer, creating a cloud layer and the texture for a bubble.

Nick from Greyscale Gorilla shows you a great way of playing around with shapes in order to play around with lighting and shadows. Most of this approach is very conceptual, but it's incredibly important to import ideas for later projects.

This tutorial walks through the process of building a grungy scene. Starting with an overview of the process and scene elements, you will learn how to use stacked layers. Mixing them with alpha channels you can build up complex materials; in this case rust and dirt on a nice c ...more

This tutorial will show you how to make your hair module materials multi-colored. There are also some tips on setting up lights to help sell the hairy look. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4 ...more

After Effects allows you to do all sorts of amazing things to your videos and images, but it cannot do it all alone. This video will show you how to use an After Effects plugin called Normality 3 to make lighting adjustments to 3D assets on the fly, having already rendered out ...more

This three-part tutorial goes over how easy it is to incorporate and apply shaders within your 3D project in CINEMA 4D (release 9). The first part goes over material properties, the second goes over using Deepshade, and the last goes over manipulating default lighting to get a ...more

This tutorials shows you how to set up a grassy scene, using C4D's Hair engine. Learn about the importance of lights and shadows and scene scale. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its v ...more

In this tutorial, you'll see how to export a normals pass from Cinema 4D and how to use it to re-light objects in 2D inside of After effects and Fusion 5. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular motion graphics and compositing software or a seasoned video professional just looki ...more

In this video series, our expert John Carstarphen will show you how to use walls, windows, and spline objects. He will also show you how to use the NURBS loft, copy and scale objects, use floor trim, and add a backdrop. He will also show you how to texture the trim, add a back ...more

In this video series, our expert John Carstarphen will show you how to integrate 2D and 3D, add geometry, place geometry, do frontal mapping, alter image distortion, and match lighting. He will teach you how to place a tube object, fine tune the animation, and about keyframes. ...more

Looking to get your start with ThinkingParticles? This exhaustive six-part video series presents a "gentle" introduction to using the ThinkingParticles rule-based particle system within Cinema 4D. For complete, step-by-step instructions, and to get started using ThinkingPartic ...more

In this four-part tutorial, you'll learn how to create realistic 3D ninja throwing stars with Adobe Photoshop and Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and f ...more

Learn how to use Maxon CINEMA 4D R10 - along with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for vector image editing - to create 3D objects from vector images. Cinema 4D has everything to satisfy your professional 3D modeling, texturing, animating and rendering needs. It's fast, stable ...more

Learn how to create dynamic lines in your projects by using the Cinema 4D Tracer Object in tandem with a Sweet Nurbs object. This free, eighteen-minute video Cinema 4D tutorial will show you everything you'll need to know. For more information, and to get started using the Tra ...more

This video explains how to make a "blob" effect with Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutor ...more

In this clip, you'll learn how to export a clip from Cinema 4D to Adobe After Effects. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this fr ...more

This tutorial, inspired by the new SyFy channel idents, will teach you the basics of using RealFlow with Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, ...more

This clip presents a lessson in how to create an eye-catching shatter effect within Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy ...more

In this two-part tutorial series, you'll see how to make a spinning glass block animation with Cinema 4D, Mograph and refraction. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features ...more

This tutorial discusses the differences between a straight and a premultiplied Alpha channel in Cinema 4D. Learn how to spot the difference and ensure you interpret your files correctly when setting up your composite. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling applicati ...more

In this advanced three-part tutorial, learn how to create a beautiful, sweeping animation for Cherry 7-Up. This animation is made using Cinema 4D and will take a bunch of cherries, have them swim together and form the logo for 7-Up. This animation is gorgeous and looks so prof ...more

Cinema 4D is an amazing program, but not a one-stop source for animation needs, especially if you're planning on making a 3D video game, for which you'll need Unity 3D. This three-part video covers the process of rigging a character in Cinema 4D and transferring to Unity 3D. ...more

This Cinema 4D tutorial offers a lesson in creating a very fast and easy comedy title sequence using MoGraph, MoGraph Spline Effector and a bit of compositing in After Effects. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acqu ...more

Learn how to use Thinking Particles in Cinema 4D. Working with these programs could be pretty complicated if you're not sure what you're doing, but this two-part tutorial covers some important topics when using Thinking Particles. As the name suggests, it is a particle-based s ...more

Learn how to model a dynamic 3D chain with Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free video software tutorial. For m ...more

This clip presents detailed introduction to the concept of parenting within Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this fr ...more

This video presents a simple setup for imitating the Transformers title text effect in Cinema 4D using Explosion FX. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions ...more

In this tutorial, create concave objects in Cinema 4D such that particle objects behave and interact realistically with the concave object. The automatic setting for objects is configured in a way that simplifies calculation and speeds up rendering time. By changing the automa ...more

This guide presents an exhaustive look at how to generate eye-catching 3D text within Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enj ...more

See how to create a simple model of an American football wheen working in Cinema 4D. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and functions, you're sure to enjoy this free ...more

Give your animated characters realistic looking hair by using MoGraph Physics with Cinema 4D! You can use the same principles to animate fur, grass or anything similar. This is a pretty simple technique that anyone reasonably familiar with Cinema 4D can pick up.

Despite a lack of native kerning tools for typesetting in Cinema 4D, it is possible with a little bit of effort. Letters and characters can be spaced individually using Mograph and the plane effector. Another solution is to first kern the entire block of text externally using ...more

Make your characters and objects move the way you want them to by mastering these basic animation techniques to display motion. This shows you how you can animate a character walking while also swinging their arms, and maybe even talk, all separate from each other. Part 1 of 2 ...more

This clip covers various methods for modeling soft-body dynamics within Cinema 4D. In particular, this video discusses jiggle deformer and paint vertex maps. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema ...more

Learn how to easily add and set up SSS in your Cinema 4d scenes. Avoid one of the common mistakes made and get great results. Whether you're new to MAXON's popular 3D modeling application or are just looking to get better acquainted with Cinema 4D and its various features and ...more

This clip introduces the Constraint Tag and specifically looks at the use of the Aim parameters. If you make use of the Target Tag in Cinema4D, then watch this tutorial to see how the Constraint Tag could open up a lot of extra possibilities. Whether you're new to MAXON's popu ...more