Cinema 4D

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Cinema 4D

Screenshot of Cinema 4D Version 10.111
Developer: MAXON Computer GmbH
Latest release: 10.5 / October 1, 2007
OS: Mac OS X, Windows, Linux
Genre: 3D computer graphics
License: Proprietary
Website: http://www.maxon.net

CINEMA 4D is a commercial cross platform high-end 3D graphics application produced by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf near Frankfurt, Germany. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing and rendering, and is noted for being very easy to use and artist friendly among high end 3D applications and having a very flexible interface.

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CINEMA 4D is a popular 3D application amongst matte painters in film largely due to the BodyPaint 3D functionality and is equally popular amongst motion graphics artists thanks to an excellent integration with compositing application pipelines coupled with a very artist-friendly and customizable workflow and interface. It has been utilized for films such as Polar Express[1], Open Season[2] and Monster House[3].

The application relies on widely used computer 3D technology which works by creating groups of "points" (known as vertices) which form surfaces when connected. The illusion of three dimensions is created by modeling objects out of multiple surfaces. Still pictures, movies and game environments (among other things) can be created with this technique.

CINEMA 4D has its own runtime scripting and programming language C.O.F.F.E.E. which is rather similar in form to JScript and an advanced modern C++ API with extensive SDK to develop platform independent plug-ins. The free C++ SDK for creating plug-ins comes with the software (including the Demo version) and is also available on Plugin Cafe.

Four different packages have been released by MAXON: the core CINEMA 4D application, the XL-Bundle (including NET Render [3 lic], PyroCluster, Advanced Render, MOCCA and Thinking Particles), the Studio Bundle, which includes all modules, and the Production Bundle, which comes with a service contract, Linux version, Renderman support and a number of other high-end studio-specific features. This version is only available upon request.

Initially, CINEMA 4D was developed for Amiga computers in the early nineties but has since been released for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, and most recently, via the Production Bundle, Linux.

MAXON has created a way for all users to be able to 'get into' 3D with their software by pursuing this route. Most notably, MAXON has created a community for educators and students at CINEVERSITY.com. There are also online communities such as c4d cafe, Spanish forum and CGTalk available. MAXON bundles HTML manuals and tutorials/videos with its software. New in release 10 are context sensitive help menus.

CINEMA 4D has been embraced by the Adobe After Effects community because of C4D's external compositing tags and object IDs which make exporting 3D data and separate alpha and depth information efficient and simple. Because the export feature also supports Apple's Final Cut Pro and other popular software, it fits well into several post production studio configurations.

As well as the core application (for modeling, texturing, lighting and rendering), CINEMA 4D also has several add-on programs (modules) available that expand its capabilities. These programs include:

  • Advanced Render (global illumination/HDRI, caustics, ambient occlusion and sky simulation)
  • BodyPaint 3D (direct painting on UVW meshes)
    • With CINEMA 4D R10 the module BodyPaint 3D became integrated in the basic package
  • Dynamics (for simulating soft body and rigid body dynamics)
  • HAIR (simulates hair, fur, grass, etc.)
  • MOCCA (character animation and cloth simulation)
  • MoGraph (Motion Graphics procedural modeling and animation toolset)
  • NET Render (to render animations over a TCP/IP network in render farms)
  • PyroCluster (simulation of smoke and fire effects)
    • With CINEMA 4D R10 the module PyroCluster became integrated in the Advanced Render module
  • Sketch & Toon (tools for cel shading, cartoons and technical drawings)
  • Thinking Particles (enhanced particle system based on nodes)

As-of 2007, these alternate rendering engines / connections are currently available for CINEMA 4D as plug-ins:


1990 Christian and Philip Losch enter their raytracer into Kickstart magazine's monthly programming contest and win the competition.

1991 FastRay (CINEMA 4D's first name) is released for the Amiga.

1993 CINEMA 4D V1 is released for Amiga.

1994 Release of CINEMA 4D V2 for Amiga.

1995 Release of CINEMA 4D V3 for Amiga

Plans are made for porting CINEMA 4D to the PC platform.

New programmer team begins development of a completely new operating system independent architecture.

1996 CINEMA 4D V4 for Windows, Alpha NT and Macintosh is released. The first multi-processor version of CINEMA 4D is made available.

1997 The development of a production-level version begins, integrating the latest technologies.

The first production-worthy version is released — CINEMA 4D XL V5.

1998 CINEMA 4D SE V5 is released.

1999 CINEMA 4D GO V5 is introduced.

CINEMA 4D NET is introduced.

2000 CINEMA 4D XL V6 is released.

BodyPaint 3D is made available as an integrated version for CINEMA 4D and standalone version for other 3D packages.

2001 CINEMA 4D ART is introduced.

PyroCluster module is introduced.

CINEMA 4D XL R7 is shipped worldwide.

MAXON integrates the shader set Smells like Almonds from bhodiNUT.

Dynamics module is introduced.

2002 CINEMA 4D R8 is released with a modular system. The new modules are Advanced Render, PyroCluster, MOCCA and Thinking Particles.

2003 BodyPaint 3D R2 is introduced.

2003 CINEMA 4D R8.5 is introduced.

Sketch and Toon module is introduced.

2004 CINEMA 4D R9 is released.

2005 MAXON become the first High-End 3D vendor to release a 64bit version of their software with Cinema 4D R9 64

CINEMA 4D R9.5 is released.

HAIR module is released.

2006 CINEMA 4D becomes the first 3D/professional graphics application released as a Universal Binary for Apple's new Intel Core Duo, Core 2 Duo and Xeon powered Macs (even before Apple Universal Binary versions of its own software are released).

CINEMA 4D R9.6 is released.

MoGraph module is introduced.

CINEMA 4D R10.0 with integrated BodyPaint 3D is released.

2007 The service update CINEMA 4D R10.1 is released in late March which sorts out many of the bugs that users and testers have reported to Maxon.

2007 Service Update R10.111 released addressing several problems, that have arose in several areas of the software, such as stability.

CINEMA 4D R10.5 is released and features updates to MOCCA and MoGraph as well as an optimization of the Hair module.

  1. ^ Polar Express runs on Cinema 4D and Bodypaint 3D. computerarts.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  2. ^ Sony Pictures Animation’s “Open Season” Paves a New Way for Imageworks’ Paint Artists to Work Together. cgfocus.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  3. ^ SIG: MAXON Is In The House - Sony's Imageworks Uses MAXON Software. architosh.com (2006-08-06). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_4D"
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