Not everything in 3D has to involve complex modeling. Sometimes there are alternative techniques that can be used to create imagery just as effective as anything you might spend hours building from scratch. This week we'll take a look at one such technique for creating a holiday graphic for St. Patrick's Day. (DigitalMediaNet.com)

In previous tips, we've taken a look at the HyperNURBS objects available in Maxon's Cinema 4D. NURBS, of course, can be used to make complex geometry from simple splines, and there are several varieties to work with. (DigitalMediaNet.com)

A simple and basic tutorial for newcomers into Cinema4D and the 3D-world

If it's not straight lined geometry you're after, and you haven't tried playing with NURBS object, this might be of some help to you to create some interesting and organic looking backgrounds for your animations or web design. (DigitalMediaNet.com)

With some effects, achieving a "3D look" is sometimes better left to an actual 3D application. Let's say, for example, that you want to create the effect of a flag waving and dancing across the canvas like a snake. Well, some of you might be tempted to try this inside your motion graphics package. But here's a quick and effective way to do it in Maxon's Cinema 4D XL, which you can then render and bring into Discreet Combustion, Adobe After Effects or any other compositing a

The new series, presented by DMN's Cinema 4D host, Rob Garrott, focuses on extrusions and working with NURBS objects. We kick it off with some tips for importing Adobe Illustrator files, including preparation of the files themselves and various options for working with AI files imported into Cinema 4D. (DigitalMediaNet.com)

In earlier versions of Cinema 4DXL, C.O.F.F.E.E. programming language was the tool required to script both complicatedly interesting and simple operators to control the 3D objects and attributes of your project. With the release of Cinema4D version 8, a new, comprehensive, easy to use tool was introduced called XPresso. Still, many people are still afraid to open it up, assuming only code warriors and superusers will understand its contents. If I can use it, so can you. Here is the first of two

Glint passes can add a simple bit of motion to a static image, or provide the additional highlight the client is looking for. It's a handy, yet simple trick to have in your skill set. This week we'll take a look at one technique for creating this effect using Maxon's flagship 3D program, Cinema 4D, along with Adobe After Effects to develop easy glint passes that add dimension in an instant. If you're a veteran user, you may think it a basic technique, but take a look at an altern

A practical first lesson about XPresso in Cinema4D

Part 2 of a brief description about Cinema4D's XPRESSO abilities.

n this tutorial, Jannis Labelle demonstrates modelling and animating a bird in flight. This is a follow up of his head tutorial so he will not go into a great detail of describing techniques in minute detail, instead he will try to introduce you to some alternatives in modeling, texturing and animation. It is a tutorial for intermediate level users, you would need to know your way around the view ports, tools, the Attribute Manager and be comfortable with using Photoshop. Still, even as a beginn

In this tutorial, Jannis Labelle demonstrates texturing a head in Cinema 4D and Bodypaint. Jannis says this is the tutorial that he wished he had when he first learned about texturing a mesh. He's written this tutorial so that others won't have to go through the headaches that he went through. This is not a tutorial for beginners. (CreativeCOW.net)

In this tutorial, Jannis Labelle demonstrates modeling a head using the Edge-Extrude plugin. This is a tutorial for intermediate or advanced Modelers with Cinema 4D who already have an understanding of the modeling capabilities of the software, although enthusiastic beginners can follow also with a little bit of perseverance. Jannis has tried to include as many screen shots as possible and tries to make the instructions clear and let the pictures talk for themselves. This technique can also be e

In this tutorial, Sven Hauth demonstrates creating a more complex character with Cinema 4D XL 6.1 or above, a kind of a rat on two legs. He starts with the modeling process, then creates a bone skeleton and finally animates a simple walkcycle. Basic knowledge of C4D is helpful. (CreativeCOW.net)

In this tutorial, Sven Hauth will discuss the task of facial animation, and the methods that Cinema 4D offers us to deal with it. Facial animation in this case means that Sven will primarily talk about animating the mouth - once you can do this, you can apply the same concepts to any other part of the face or whatever you would like to animate. After finishing it, you should be able to make your own characters talk and express emotion.(Creativecow.net)

In the beginning was the idea to get to know Cinema's bone and IK capabilities by making a simple character walk. There is a sculpture of two ping pong playing nuts-and-bolts guys in my bookshelf that I wanted to come alive. Eventually the idea of making one of them walk developed into a 45 sec. ping pong game. (CreativeCOW.net)

Cinema 4d COFFEE scripting tutorial, explaining the basics of creating a dialog box in COFFEE.

This article will demonstrate how to set up the SplinMotion Plug-in to build an animation rig allowing you to animate a fire hose by moving only one null. This principle can be used to animate any spline based model.

This tutorial will take you through the steps of creating a comet, in Cinema 4D XL, which orbits a sun. (Maxon)

This is a fast and simple method of creating a basic faucet with knobs in Cinema 4D XL. (Maxon)

Occasionally you might find yourself wanting to have pages in a book turn and fan away as though blown in a stiff breeze. This is a fairly easy effect to rough out using Bezier NURBS objects and simple morphing techniques in Cinema 4D XL.

This tutorial describes creating paths on a spline for 3D animations in all versions of Cinema 4D.

Making animated pie charts with all versions of Cinema 4D is easy as show in this tutorial.

This tutorial explains how to make a common office tabletop. Provides experience in working with curves and splines.

Many Cinema 4D tutorials on creating animations, simulating multiple camera, 3D effects, more.

Use Cinema 4D's wonderful render engine to render Poser figures with help from Steve Cox's awesome UVmapper.

Take a first look at Cinema 4D GO. The benefits of this program for the beginner are its low learning curve, lightning speed and rock solid stability.

Cinema 4D is a very robust and powerful 3D modeling and animating package. This tutorial is focused on low polygon modeling, which is essential for game production.

Cinema 4D V6 now handles Wavefront OBJ's beautifully so bringing Poser figures in becomes quick and simple.