Lynda.COM CINEMA 4D R12 Essential Training

Author:
Rob Garrott

Duration:
10h 01m

Released on:
12/14/2010

Exercise files:
Yes

Software works on:
Windows only


CINEMA 4D R12 Essential Training with Rob Garrott introduces artists to the CINEMA 4D workflow, using CINEMA 4D as an important part of a toolset that includes Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, and Illustrator. The course explains the key foundational concepts, such as polygons, textures, and rays, that are crucial to understanding exactly how this 3D application functions. It also includes practical techniques for creating, selecting, and transforming objects, working with splines, polygonal modeling, and adding materials, lighting, and camera views for a fully realized 3D image. Exercise files are included with the course.
Topics include:

    Exploring the importance of object hierarchy
    Modeling with splines
    Modeling with the Knife and Extrude tools
    Applying materials and texturing
    Creating and manipulating light sources
    Animating in the timeline with keyframes
    Controlling camera movement
    Compositing in After Effects
    Texturing with BodyPaint
    Using XPresso and MoGraph
    Creating particle systems
    Rendering and adjusting final render settings




Introduction
Welcome           01m 13s
Using the exercise files           00m 32s

1. Getting Started
Understanding the CINEMA 4D workflow           02m 36s
Clarifying the differences between 2D and 3D           02m 02s
Understanding how 3D software works           02m 56s
Navigating the viewports           03m 45s
Navigating using a three-button mouse and keyboard shortcuts           07m 54s
Touring the interface           08m 20s
Configuring project settings           03m 26s
Setting application preferences           04m 21s

2. Creating and Understanding Objects: Hierarchical Relationships
Exploring the importance of object hierarchy           07m 19s
Creating, selecting, and transforming objects           09m 05s
Understanding object categories: Comparing active and passive objects           02m 34s
Comparing object types           08m 16s
Using the Attribute Manager to modify object attributes           04m 45s
Creating a basic model with primitive and null objects           12m 42s

3. Working with Splines
Creating and working with splines           07m 38s
Selecting and transforming points on a spline           04m 08s
Modeling with splines: Sweep NURBS           07m 58s
Modeling with splines: Lathe NURBS           07m 58s
Modeling with splines: Extrude NURBS           06m 29s
Extruding and organizing paths from Adobe Illustrator           09m 01s

4. Polygonal Modeling Tools
Understanding the basic components of 3D objects: Points, edges, and polygons           07m 35s
Modeling with the Knife tool           06m 14s
Modeling with the Extrude tool           06m 25s
Modeling with the Extrude Inner tool           04m 17s
Closing and connecting geometry with the Create Polygon and Bridge tools           06m 38s
Organic modeling: Creating a HyperNURBS object           08m 18s
Organic modeling: Setting up a scene and reference images           08m 30s
Organic modeling: Creating a simple model           09m 43s
Organic modeling: Adding the finishing touches           09m 54s

5. Using Deformers to Modify Objects
Working with deformers           05m 47s
Deforming objects: The Wind Deformer           05m 23s
Deforming objects: The Wrap Deformer           06m 46s
Deforming objects: The Spline Wrap           09m 30s

6. Materials and Texturing
Understanding material channels           04m 23s
Applying materials: Projection methods           08m 15s
Creating materials: Reflective surfaces / shiny surfaces           08m 37s
Creating materials: Rough surfaces / bumpy surfaces           07m 43s
Creating materials: Transparent surfaces           06m 56s
Using alpha channels to create a label           06m 11s
Using selection tags to apply materials to part of an object           02m 49s
Texturing type using multiple materials           04m 56s

7. Lights
Understanding how lights work in the 3D world           06m 24s
Adjusting falloff to limit how light affects objects           03m 32s
Understanding light types           07m 03s
Creating and manipulating shadows           05m 31s
Creating light rays with visible light           03m 42s
Creating a simple three-point light setup           05m 50s

8. Keyframes and Animation
Understanding keyframe animation           08m 45s
Animating in the Timeline           04m 24s
Controlling what happens in between keyframes using the F-Curve Manager           11m 25s
Copying keyframes to create an animated pause           05m 30s
F-curve exercise: Bouncing a ball down stairs           09m 56s

9. Camera Movement and Control
Understanding the differences between the Editor Camera and a camera object           05m 05s
Exploring field of view and aspect ratio           03m 17s
Explaining parallax in camera movement           02m 09s
Creating a dynamic camera movement           09m 27s
Refining and previewing a camera movement           08m 47s

10. Rendering
Understanding the render engine           02m 02s
Exploring render settings           08m 25s
Rendering: Still images vs. animation           07m 35s
Setting up multi-pass rendering for still images           08m 37s
Batch-rendering multiple files           03m 36s

11. 3D Animation Workflow: Compositing in After Effects
Understanding the 3D animation workflow           04m 21s
Using the Compositing tag           05m 18s
Using the External Compositing tag           03m 33s
Setting up a multi-pass render           08m 58s
Importing elements into After Effects           04m 46s
Manipulating 3D renders in After Effects           06m 46s
Fine-tuning a composition in After Effects           02m 48s

12. A Very Quick Introduction to MoGraph
Explaining MoGraph           03m 14s
Using the Cloner object           07m 15s
Modifying cloners with Effector objects           07m 34s
Creating animation with the Fracture object           05m 24s
Creating abstract shapes with the MoSpline object           06m 47s
Using the Tracer object to create paths           03m 48s
Creating realistic movement with MoDynamics           04m 35s

13. Texturing with BodyPaint
Understanding BodyPaint           04m 48s
Using the Paint Setup Wizard           05m 31s
Understanding material channels           03m 56s
Painting on a texture with brushes           06m 18s
Creating layers with projection painting           05m 54s

14. Dynamics
Understanding the dynamics engine           02m 35s
Exploring the difference between soft bodies and rigid bodies           06m 36s
Using connectors to create relationships between objects           08m 19s
Creating movement with motors           08m 48s
Creating bouncing motion with springs           05m 32s
Attracting objects with forces           05m 33s

15. XPresso
Introducing XPresso           05m 13s
Creating a data slider to control XPresso data           07m 11s
Controlling parameters with the Range Mapper node           10m 13s
Controlling multiple lights with a single slider           09m 15s

16. Particles
Explaining basic particles and thinking particles           04m 07s
Creating particles with the Emitter object           07m 40s
Controlling particles with basic forces           06m 24s
Creating a liquid effect using Particles and Metaballs           10m 10s

17. Conclusion
Next steps           01m 06s