!Restored: Cinema 4D CE 6

[Karl Ottenstein]

Ola wrote:
I purchased Cinema 4D 8.2 and was wondering what the best way to export from Archicad and workflow. How does the rendering time vs result compare to Artlantis. Just purchased Piranesi also, I believe you can create a Epix file directly in C4D now

thanks

Lots of new toys! 😉

I only have C4D XL 7 - so AFAIK, there I have to use 3DS and Vedute to go into Piranesi. Nice if 8.2 allows it directly.

3DS format works well from AC to C4D. See various notes and comments in the archives at:

http://www.escribe.com/software/archicadtalk/

and there are also some good comments at:

http://www.fred-speaks.com/phpBB2/index.php

Some of those guys will hopefully re-post their comments here with some nice screenshots of the parameter settings dialogs (hint, hint).

As for speed, comparing C4D and Artlantis is difficult because C4D can do so much more than Artlantis, particularly as far as lighting goes...if you have the "Advanced Render" module (or the XL package). For comparable quality on a fast computer, I don't know that you'd see the difference. With a dual processor, C4D wins since Artlantis won't use the other processor. As soon as you use a radiosity solution, C4D will start to slow down (the race depends on your parameters and number of processors - or even network rendering, and option there and not with Artlantis) - but the results will astound you compared to Artlantis 'global illumination'.

[For example: if the C4D 8.2 CD contains some of the same sample scenes as XL7... look for a folder called 'Radiosity-LIght'. There's a JPG there ("Light") that is a wonderful demonstration of lighting effects that C4D can do and Artlantis cannot even come close to. Load the sample scene file in C4D and render it as a sample of how long such a thing takes on your computer. Not bad at all on mine. I've attached a cropped section of that image for others to see here ... image copyright Maxon Computer I should imagine.]

Including human time, Artlantis is a no-brainer IMHO - wins hands down for quick renderings.

Even if you cannot create the EPix file in C4D ... you can create the file in AC or Artlantis, then render the (same sized) image in C4D and finally import that image as the new Save RGB channel in Piranesi. Mix and match.

Have fun!

Karl

[Anonymous]

In the XL Bundle with C4D, don't underestimate the power and ease of use that Net Render provides. My home office is not the best example but I put it through a test last night.

A simple animation of a face, done in C4D - Wes Head

Systems used:----------------------------- Frames Rendered
My G5 DUAL 2GHz--------------------------146
eMAC 800 MHz------------------43
Windows machine 2GHz--------111

The animation took 20 minutes, twice as fast as rendering it on just the G5 alone. Not bad, it's like having two G5's.

You see my point, in a well suited architectural office, one that has many dual processing machines (Windows or Mac), the idea of distributed rendering can get you to the finish line much faster. Net render is provided free with the XL Bundle for 3 clients and it can be expanded to 10 or more as a upgrade.

More Information:

http://www.maxon.net/index_e.html

[Anonymous]

Dwight Atkinson's apartment model, translated to C4D. Initial setup by Jesper Lund, further tweeks and rendering by Mark B.

C4D radiosity, it took several hours, but I was working on those silly door and window schedules anyway. Mac G5 dual.

Mark

[Dwight]

just to have something to shoot for - that same model in Lightworks

[Anonymous]

O.K., I'll take a shot. hehe 15 sec. done....

[Dwight]

haha.

More than just [adjective we wouldn't want our mother to read] diffuse glow! Well spotted.

Come on get with the translucent curtains and soft lighting...

[Anonymous]

My vote for the most useful Cinema4D plug-in. I have just purchased a plug-in that will save tons of time and allow me to really advance my craft of rendering a building in C4D.

I am talking about SNIPER PRO.

This plug-in allows Cinema to act like Artlantis. Real time updates to a rendered image while you adjust lights, reflections, textures and objects. You can toggle it on or off at will resulting in a small preview window that shows a simplified view of your finished rendering. This feature is great for getting those shadows placed just right, or the overall light levels adjusted. The remarkable thing about this simple and inexpensive plug in is that you can freely experiment with any rendering variable and within seconds see the effect. Cinema has so many items which can be adjusted up and down, with this plug in you will see the visual and know what effect it will have on the render time. If the SNIPER PRO render time changes from 15 sec to 20, you can be assured the final render time will increase a similar amount.

For example, the Galaxy Office Building File built by Michael Rensing was used as a test. This 162 MB file renders in 7 minutes with a dual processing G5 - 2 GHz machine. With SNIPER PRO that same file previews inbetween 7 sec and 15 sec (Depending on the preview quality).

Look at the sample image suppled with this post. The upper right shows the first view, you can easily notice the washed out building and the dreaded shadows of death, (yes, thank you Dwight).

Without wasting any time you can jump into the setting and adjust the black shadows to a dark blue or magenta. Within 7 seconds you can see the overall effect. See the preview image to the upper right. Then all you need to do is final render and you are done.

The cycle of RENDER - RENDER - RENDER - AREA RENDER - AREA RENDER - is completely out the door. If you were to do this loop the time you would spend could total over 30 minutes ((with SNIPER PRO it is reduced to less that two minutes.)) Giving you plenty of time for asking the boss for a raise.

Oh, and YES! it does the same trick with radiosity - it is simply amazing to see a radiosity solution within 30 seconds

Try this out yourself if you don't believe this post, there is a fully operational DEMO available at :

http://www.tools4d.com

While you are there check out STORM TRACER, a plug in that can simulate 3D grass. There are plenty of other great plug-ins too. Enjoy!

[Dwight]

More correctly, the DBSOD:

Dreaded Black Shadows of Death.

Caused by ignoring the truth that ambient light has a color.

Blue, mauve; anything but white or black!

Waiting for ArchiLightSniper.

[Anonymous]

As seen so many times in this thread and on my web site with marginal renderings, I would like to present an image of the ArchiCAD model that I really like.

Cheers!

Carlsbad, Ca 4,900 s.f.
Mark Burginger - Architect

http://www.Burginger.com

[Dwight]

Wow. Lets have a barbeque in the back yard.
Can you post a few of the details? Rendering quality? Time?
Very luminous.

[Anonymous]

Got ya! I took a photograph of the actual built project. hehehehe