Microfilmmaker Magazine - Reviews - Software Review: CINEMA 4D r11.5, Pg. 4 of 4


	Software Review: *CINEMA 4D r11.5, Pg. 4*

Performance
MAXON has implemented what is becoming a CG standard of Bucket Rendering, which is kinder to computer RAM and renders significantly faster. This is most excellent.

In my studio, like most studios that utilize CG software, I have multiple software solutions. While they are all very good at what they do, there are two primary qualifiers that make rating them easy:

1) Stability (Hardware), and
2) Ease-of-use/speed-of-production (Peopleware)

C4D is unbelievably stable. In talking to other shops that use it on both PC and Mac, this is uniformly echoed. Nothing drives up blood pressure like losing work due to a crash, especially on deadline. Maybe I’m lucky, but after two months of heavy r11.5 use, C4D hasn’t hiccuped once. Still not good enough? You can set up the software to incrementally save back-ups as you work.

The ease-of-use/production can be more subjective. However, the integration of tools within C4D and to destination post workflows like AE, Motion, Shake, or Combustion leaves little to quibble about. It’s pretty tidy. For those coming from a menu driven environment, one of the most unusual capabilities to get used to is the option to drag and drop elements within the various managers. For example, if you want a Random Effector to modify a MoGraph array of objects, just drag and drop it into the appropriate spot on the MoGraph attibutes window. This immediacy of workflow makes using C4D a smooth experience.

Very powerful for some digital slight of hand is the ability to add a composite tag within C4D defining an object for replacement within filmmakers compositing software. In this example the camera backs have images replaced in After Effects so as the camera falls, the images rotate as if on the cameras themselves. Other uses include replacing window elements on CG digital mattes like sky scrapers - get a passing crane shot of an actor, motion track with Syntheyes, bring the info into C4D and create an identical camera move past a sky scraper which will let users replace a window element with the crane footage.

Value
Working with C4D is like working with any well thought out professional equipment. The experience becomes invisible because things just work. If your budget allows and you desire pro level CG work that doesn’t scream “I did it myself,” you’ll never regret working with this software.

Final Comments
C4D has a robust and apparently generous user community that regularly posts online tutorials to augment your usage of the software. There are multiple learning options out there including MAXON’s own Cineversity that provides some excellent, detailed instructions on more advanced usages of C4D.

One absolutely killer feature is the fact that MAXON provides free tech support. Always. No 30 day period, no pay-as-you-go. Free. I suspect they offer it for free because there doesn’t seem to be a need to call - everything works.


Ease of Use	9.8
Depth of Options	10.0
Performance	9.9
Value vs. Cost	10.0
Overall Score	9.9

Mark Bremmer has operated his own commercial studio for 15 years. He’s been fortunate enough to work for clients like Caterpillar, Amana, Hormel Foods, Universal Studios Florida, and The History Channel; producing stills, digital mattes and animations. Mark contracts regularly as an art mercenary with production houses that shall remain nameless by written agreements. His production pipeline is Mac-based, with the FCP Studio2 workflow. He loves Shake and Motion. And his family.