Cinema 4D

CINEMA 4D is a 3D graphics software company Maxon to create 3D models, textures, computer graphics and animation. CINEMA 4D is not only used for TV commercials and in the private sector, but also for movies (similar to Autodesk Maya ). Developed the software from the MAXON Computer GmbH, based in Friedrichsdorf.

History

The origins of CINEMA 4D date back to 1989 and on the FastRay program, a software for the Commodore Amiga. There were initially no graphical user interface. The scenes to be calculated were read from text files.

Two years later FastRay was released in version 1.0. So there were a graphic user interface, named for FRED FastRay editor, but still no 3D editor view. In 1993 went from this project CINEMA 4D 1.0 out for the Amiga.

In 1995 has been ported to Windows and Mac OS, as Commodore filed for bankruptcy in 1994 and thus the future of the Amiga was uncertain CINEMA 4D on the Amiga. The original code was written in Modula -2. For porting the decision was the absence of other compilers for C .

In 1997, CINEMA 4D 4.0 and thus also the last Amiga version was released. After that has been developed only for Windows and Macintosh. With this version of the object manager has been introduced as a core piece of the user interface for the manipulation of objects in a scene.

CINEMA 4D is also marketed outside of Germany ( such as in the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan).

CINEMA 4D is used in architectural visualization.

Current Version

The current version is Version 15

Some key features:

  • Node -based visual "Scripting" with the program module XPresso
  • Caustics calculation
  • N- Gons: polygons with more than four edges
  • Cloth simulation: dynamic textile animation
  • Sub-polygon displacement: Replacement of polygons after automatic partitioning
  • Support of multiprocessor systems when rendering still images and when rendering animations in a network
  • Complex Dynamics physics engine ( CINEMA 4D R12)
  • Indirect lighting for realistic light distribution
  • Tools for character animation, inter alia, an auto- rigger
  • Sculpting

CINEMA 4D is available for Windows and Mac OS X. On Windows CINEMA 4D as 32 ​​- and 64 -bit application available for OS X CINEMA 4D is available as a Universal Binary and natively supports Intel-based Macintosh systems with 32 and 64 bit. A Linux version is not available, it is only a few studios that work closely with MAXON available. However, CINEMA 4D runs fine under Wine.

In general, the source code of CINEMA 4D to about 90 % is platform independent. This has led to adaptations to new technologies (64-bit, Intel -based Mac, 64 bit COCOA support) could be carried out very quickly. At the same time, this fact is responsible for the very uniform appearance of CINEMA 4D on different platforms. In order to simplify the platform-independent programming, built- Modeller working in an OpenGL environment.

A free software development kit ( SDK) that allows users to develop in C extensions for CINEMA 4D. In addition, the proprietary scripting language COFFEE support that is similar to C and Java. Since version R12 the scripting language Python is also included, which allows the development of plug- ins and scripts in a standardized language, and thus simplifies the porting scripts from other Python -aware applications.

Modules

Since R12 there instead of the modules is only the packets Prime, Studio, Broadcast, Visualize and BodyPaint 3D.

Until CINEMA 4D R11.5 following modules were available:

  • Advanced Render: Global Illumination, HDRI, radiosity, caustics, ambient occlusion
  • BodyPaint 3D: unwrapping and freehand drawing on UVW meshes.
  • Dynamics: simulation of "soft body" - and "rigid body" - body dynamics
  • HAIR: create hair, fur, feathers, grass areas, etc.
  • MOCCA: character animation, as well as semi-automatic animation of fabrics and clothing
  • MoGraph: Spline object cloning and animation
  • NET Render: Networked computer over a TCP / IP network to a render farm
  • PyroCluster: simulation of smoke and fire effects (since R10 in the module Advanced Render )
  • Sketch and Toon: tools for cel shading, cartoons and technical drawings
  • Thinking Particles: Advanced particle system based on nodes / node

History of development

FastRay for the Amiga

CINEMA 4D V1 for the Amiga

CINEMA 4D V2 for Amiga

CINEMA 4D V3 for Amiga: a new development team began a new development with the goal of platform independence.

CINEMA 4D V4 for Amiga, Windows, Windows NT Alpha and Mac OS - this was the first multi-processor version.

CINEMA 4D XL V5

CINEMA 4D SE V5

CINEMA 4D GO V5 with CINEMA 4D NET

CINEMA 4D XL V6: BodyPaint 3D is available as an additional module and as a standalone program for other 3D solutions

CINEMA 4D ART: New modules PyroCluster and Dynamics, Shader Collection Smells like Almonds from manufacturer bhodiNUT

CINEMA 4D R8 new modules Advanced Render, PyroCluster, MOCCA and Thinking Particles

CINEMA 4D R8.5: New module Sketch and Toon

CINEMA 4D R9: New module Clothilde for the physical simulation of substances

CINEMA 4D R9.5: The Hair module is presented.

CINEMA 4D R9.6: New module MoGraph

CINEMA 4D R10.5: Improvements in character animation and workflow / production pipeline.

CINEMA 4D R11: Support of non-linear animation, Advanced Render with global illumination and new 64 -bit support under Mac OS X

CINEMA 4D R11.5: The rendering was changed from lines on buckets, Render Instances were introduced in Windows QuickTime will support 64 bit for CINEMA 4D.

CINEMA 4D R12: The application was converted to double precision, and introduced real units. Dynamics has been integrated into the studio and is now based on the Bullet physics engine. The Module system was replaced by the five packages Prime, Broadcast, Visualize, Studio and BodyPaint 3D.

CINEMA 4D R13: A new physical renderer has been added, it can simulate the real 3D motion and depth of field and lens distortion correctly. The subsurface scattering to create translucent materials (such as milk, skin and wax) has been revised and expanded. Combination of sampling for different effects such as depth and motion blur, area shadows, ambient occlusion and blurry reflections and transparencies for faster computation. New anti-aliasing filter ( Mitchell and Gauss).

CINEMA 4D R14: Sculpting was introduced, the functions corresponding to the known Sculpting applications. In the field of modeling guidelines have been added and completely revised snapping. Also Work Plan were renewed. The Dynamics now support aerodynamic effects. Under OS X, Open GL 3.2 is supported now.

CINEMA 4D R15: Sculping, modeling, and GI enhanced renewal of symbols.

Commodore International Radiosity (computer graphics) Dynamics (physics) Renderfarm Integrated Authority File
190937
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