Cinema 4D Reviews & Product Details

I really liked the interface and layout, coming from using 3Ds Max, Cinema 4D felt a little more streamlined in places than Max. The material features also seemed more advanced and from what I learned from my teachers at University, its more geared towards VFX than the other 3D packages. This was evident from its unique compatibility with after effects and I really loved this feature(unfortunately I haven't found it anywhere else) For me however, Cinema 4D ended up being a stepping stone to Maya as our University's native software was Autodesk and I simply needed something that would work on my macbook.

There really wasn't much I disliked about this product in the time that I used it for, other than the usual problems one faces when migrating to a new software package. Slightly different way of working, particularly anal ways of doing certain things, ect.

I tried out a lot of different 3D packages during this time, including 3Ds Max, Rhinoceros, Cinema 4D, and Blender, until I eventually settled on Maya. I gained a little insight from trying all of these and conferring with my teachers at the time. Although each package really does the same things in different ways, It seems that each package is geared towards a certain industry, 3Ds Max seems to be a fairly generic middle ground and starting point for most novices, similar to Maya however this is geared more towards gaming assets with its compatibilities with Unity, Blender is also geared towards gaming but in more the sense of character design and creature creation. I hear Rhyno is good for more formal designs due to its deadly accuracy, being suited more for medical illustration and artwork of this nature. And as mentioned, Cinema 4D is geared towards VFX and cinematic related work.

I like the simple method that allow you to build things, expecially in mograph. also the interface is clear and was the first thing that introduced me in to a 3d program without problems.

I don't like the render engine. It is too slow, expecially now when you can use external plug in that allow you to do the same render in a very short time. modelling tools are different from many other programs and sometime not good.

when I work usually I use cinema to improve the animations, it is a great tool also to integrated with 2d and Aftere effects. sometime you have to study a lot of new things but Is good for your brain!

Mograph is the best module, you can achieve what you can't with other 3d software

the viewport is terrible, there is smt wrong with the programming. IE can't really stand that it cannot handle the clones but it can handle the matrix object.

I use cinema 4D for everything, recently even to do 2D stuff like transitions or grids I use mograph rather than illustrator and after effects.

I think the interface is very user friendly and you can achieve good results easily. It's pretty good to model preliminary sketchs but also good to render final images. So, you have a good work flow within the same software.

Sometimes it might be tricky to import from CAD softwares. It's actually working good with Revit through FBX, but it's brings some issues. When you're working only with autodesk products it's way easier.

Preliminary images to show clients are produced very fast and impresses customers. It's also very good when you participate in architecture contests, because Cinema 4D has tools to render simples 3Ds, for example: only outlines images, sketchs (cartoon looking).

The best thing about Cinema4D is perhaps the friendly interface of the software. Anyone who never worked in a 3D software can just start working on C4D without many constraints, it's as user friendly as that. As a matter of fact, C4D is known as the best 3D software for beginners. Another great thing is the "all in one factor" - you can model, animate and render with great quality, all in one software. After i've seen what some artists could do with C4D i just had to jump in on it!

Maybe the fact that it's not the best software for each specific area. Although is a great 3D software, it's not the best for modelling, rendering and animation. Top 3D artists usually use different softwares for each purpose, maybe the negative point it's not being the best at each area.

In the advertising world, 3D is essencial. We've reached a point were just photo manipulation isn't enough for the bigger challenges - there's many projects nowadays that we don't even realise they're 3D, it's come to the point were it's more rentable to make a 3D model with a super realistic render than to arranje a photoshoot with the exact model that we want, that would envolve a posterior pos-production. So if you wanna be on top of your advertising game, learning 3D it's a must.

I really like how C4D speeds up my workflow from selecting simple basic shapes to modding and changing complex shapes and the fast and simple rendering previews.

Takes some time to get the objects properties right, but it's common place with all 3D software, but took me a while to accommodate to C4D interface.

Rendering models for architect and for catalogs for different clients. Speeding up my workflow from model to render.

It's user friendly interface is really simple. Multi[le plugins and recent updates make it more usable for using in my motion graphics videos.

No i don't dislike it. I rather use it only when i need to make quick motion graphics videos or just to keep myself updated on the new plugins.

I do motion graphic videos while freelancing for clients who are into different types of business and like business schools and media and social events and thus solve some design and communication problems. I get paid for the work that i do and also get to know about industry trends and styles.

C4D is a fantastic tool for smaller teams - its interface allows it to be operated by a single artist, as opposed to other tools requiring a larger team of specialists.

The import and export options are seriously lacking. It is a pity C4D does not easily talk to VR and game development tools with sub-par OBJ and FBX feature set.

I use it to pre-viz sets for 360/VR film. I can quickly prototype props and light setups and render them out to try in an HMD.

I like that the texturing tools are fairly easy to use and the quality of renderings is pretty good. I also like that you can lock camera views and certain elements so you don't move them by mistake.

This program's snap tool is a joke. If I draw 2 objects and need their edges to be touching, the snap tool goes to random points and is never helpful or accurate. I have to zoom in as far as I can and try to manually move the objects to align. Of course it's never exactly precise and is very frustrating. Another annoying thing is that it will not tell you the overall size of grouped or multiple objects. the tape measure tool is hard to use (the snapping goes to random points) and it's frustrating for precise projects and objects.

I am an exhibit designer and use this program to crete 3D models of designs that are then pitched to clients. This program does a much better job than a sketch and helps clients see every aspect of an exhibit they are considering purchasing.

Tags and chracters tree are the best feature

Material editor is limited No "editible poly" as in 3Ds max Can't use multiple uvw channels for the same object

3d modeling for futher use in interaction design

I love the outcome of Cinema4d. The work produced with it is stunning and unlike the work created in any other program I've seen before.

I've tried multiple times to get started over the past few years to get into Cinema 4d. I'm very proficient in the adobe programs and I've been accessing it through after effects. A few years ago, I even had a teacher give our class an introduction. Because I didn't have much need for it then I forgot about it. The past couple days, I've been brushing off the dust and reintroducing myself. It's very hard for a beginner. The program gives no tutorial for beginners so I've been using YouTube videos. I'm following ok, but there's so many little details that I get lost with that make me frustrated. It doesn't seem user friendly to me at all. The interface itself is very dark and intimidating. I'm having trouble understanding what's selected, where to start, what the possibilities are.

Because I can't get past doing basic things, I haven't been able to solve any real problems yet. I'd like to use it for type design, mockups, and other 3D modeling.