It’s becoming increasingly difficult to not see the value in using Computer Generated art (CG), even for modest film productions. CG graphic and animation addition to any film is more accessible than ever and the convenience plus creative license provided the filmmaker are significant - and I’m not speaking of sci-fi special effects either, but ordinary enhancements to studio or location shots. With the release of CINEMA 4D (C4D) revision 11.5 (r11.5), MAXON makes a solid step forward in arming the filmmaker with easy-to-use tools of the trade.
For this review, I’m only going to look at additions to 11.5. plus the features of the Broadcast Edition which includes a must-have tool called MoGraph. For a full scope of what C4D is, please check out my earlier reviews for both the Core Edition and Studio Bundle.
Core Edition r11 review
Studio Bundle r11 review
C4D, especially the full Studio edition, is aimed squarely at the film and broadcast market. It’s utility and capability will reward anybody that desires a CG solution that respects the needs of that market; like microfilmmakers for instance.
As an FYI, the C4D core edition, since the release of r11, now includes what is a cinematic industry standard for digital matte painting called BodyPaint. This tool makes it astonishingly easy to create photorealistic mattes. So, if you buy C4D R11 and above, you now get BodyPaint.
Also as an FYI, C4D uses a module system, making its full range of tools available only as you need them. Not particularly inexpensive, C4D makes up for the expense very quickly in the studio by being extremely stable and user friendly.
Sometimes the mundane is the most welcome. New to r11.5 is some really basic but highly useful features like Connect and Delete. When working with models with many parts and textures, Connect and Delete let’s users combine/connect everything into a single object in one command yet it preserves all texture maps and selection tags - no work is destroyed. While it was possible to eventually end up with the same result via other processes, it was something that potentially take some time and busy work. It’s this kind of common sense, user-centric refinement that proves C4D as a filmmaker’s tool.
