Cinema 4D R12 Essentials

Introduction
Welcome
Using the exercise files

1. Getting Started
Understanding the CINEMA 4D workflow
Clarifying the differences between 2D and 3D
Understanding how 3D software works
Navigating the viewports
Navigating using a three-button mouse and keyboard shortcuts
Touring the interface
Configuring project settings
Setting application preferences

2. Creating and Understanding Objects: Hierarchical Relationships
Exploring the importance of object hierarchy
Creating, selecting, and transforming objects
Understanding object categories: Comparing active and passive objects
Comparing object types
Using the Attribute Manager to modify object attributes
Creating a basic model with primitive and null objects

3. Working with Splines
Creating and working with splines
Selecting and transforming points on a spline
Modeling with splines: Sweep NURBS
Modeling with splines: Lathe NURBS
Modeling with splines: Extrude NURBS
Extruding and organizing paths from Adobe Illustrator

4. Polygonal Modeling Tools
Understanding the basic components of 3D objects: Points, edges, and polygons
Modeling with the Knife tool
Modeling with the Extrude tool
Modeling with the Extrude Inner tool
Closing and connecting geometry with the Create Polygon and Bridge tools
Organic modeling: Creating a HyperNURBS object
Organic modeling: Setting up a scene and reference images
Organic modeling: Creating a simple model
Organic modeling: Adding the finishing touches

5. Using Deformers to Modify Objects
Working with deformers
Deforming objects: The Wind Deformer
Deforming objects: The Wrap Deformer
Deforming objects: The Spline Wrap

6. Materials and Texturing
Understanding material channels
Applying materials: Projection methods
Creating materials: Reflective surfaces / shiny surfaces
Creating materials: Rough surfaces / bumpy surfaces
Creating materials: Transparent surfaces
Using alpha channels to create a label
Using selection tags to apply materials to part of an object
Texturing type using multiple materials

7. Lights
Understanding how lights work in the 3D world
Adjusting falloff to limit how light affects objects
Understanding light types
Creating and manipulating shadows
Creating light rays with visible light
Creating a simple three-point light setup

8. Keyframes and Animation
Understanding keyframe animation
Animating in the Timeline
Controlling what happens in between keyframes using the F-Curve Manager
Copying keyframes to create an animated pause
F-curve exercise: Bouncing a ball down stairs

9. Camera Movement and Control
Understanding the differences between the Editor Camera and a camera object
Exploring field of view and aspect ratio
Explaining parallax in camera movement
Creating a dynamic camera movement
Refining and previewing a camera movement

10. Rendering
Understanding the render engine
Exploring render settings
Rendering: Still images vs. animation
Setting up multi-pass rendering for still images
Batch-rendering multiple files

11. 3D Animation Workflow: Compositing in After Effects
Understanding the 3D animation workflow
Using the Compositing tag
Using the External Compositing tag
Setting up a multi-pass render
Importing elements into After Effects
Manipulating 3D renders in After Effects
Fine-tuning a composition in After Effects

12. A Very Quick Introduction to MoGraph
Explaining MoGraph
Using the Cloner object
Modifying cloners with Effector objects
Creating animation with the Fracture object
Creating abstract shapes with the MoSpline object
Using the Tracer object to create paths
Creating realistic movement with MoDynamics

13. Texturing with BodyPaint
Understanding BodyPaint
Using the Paint Setup Wizard
Understanding material channels
Painting on a texture with brushes
Creating layers with projection painting

14. Dynamics
Understanding the dynamics engine
Exploring the difference between soft bodies and rigid bodies
Using connectors to create relationships between objects
Creating movement with motors
Creating bouncing motion with springs
Attracting objects with forces

15. XPresso
Introducing XPresso
Creating a data slider to control XPresso data
Controlling parameters with the Range Mapper node
Controlling multiple lights with a single slider

16. Particles
Explaining basic particles and thinking particles
Creating particles with the Emitter object
Controlling particles with basic forces
Creating a liquid effect using Particles and Metaballs

17. Conclusion
Next steps