MoGraph 2 and the Broadcast Extension Kit
MoGraph 2 is a quantum shift in capabilities. It is available as an individual module, but it’s also included with the Broadcast Extension Kit (BEK). (More on BEK later.) MoGraph, as its name implies, is for creating motion graphics. However, its prowess extends way beyond that. Included in this module is the ability to dramatically accelerate the building of “normal” everyday scenes by means of replicating objects as “render instances,” saving substantial memory requirements on humble 32 bit systems. This feature can be used for anything from street lights to entire cities or forests - literally thousands of reproductions without killing the average laptop or desktop system.
But wait, there’s more. Physical simulations, things like items breaking apart, realistic gravity interactions, and more are also part of MoGraph. And these are things you can see in realtime as you adjust the effects. Additionally, objects can be used as Tracer objects that make some astonishingly real-looking effects in 3D super easy to do. The new Spline functions and Fracture functions, especially when used in conjunction with the variety of effectors in C4D, means there are more options available than can be reasonably covered. However, seeing them in action (check out the samples online at www.maxon.net) will make you think, “Oh, wow.” and then, “I wonder if I could...?” The answer to “I wonder if...?”, at least in my experience has always been yes. And it can be done fairly easily.
Animation of position, scale and more can be linked to other objects or audio tracks - yes, that's right, audio tracks. It’s tough to sum up the options in MoGraph easily. Essentially, you can create unbelievably sophisticated imagery or animation on, with, or connected to just about anything – and this is important: easily.
Enter the Broadcast Extension Kit.
The BEK is a collection of 3D objects that have been amended to fully utilize MoGraph 2’s capabilities. If you have ever seen pro sporting events on TV, you know that before commercials and right before football games, they use spinning graphics and super cool effects called, “bumpers.” The BEK is designed to help you create things like this very easily. In fact C4D is a foundational software in TV studios for just that reason.
However, the BEK is much more than that. In addition to the object and material catalogs designed for use with MoGraph, it also comes with some incredible camera and lighting tools. By Camera tools, I mean slider controlled presets to mimic things like crane shots; Jiggle, realistic swing and much more, all adjustable in realtime preview. I’ve seen a couple of examples where these capabilities were used to “sell” the idea of funding an actual shoot because investors could see ( in this case, an ad agency) why the shot needed to be done a certain way. However, these tools can also be combined with digital mattes for super realistic work as well.
