This is the first process and production workshop using Cinema 4D; it is also the first time I have really used the software so I was interested in the workshop from the beginning as its a new skill to add to the list. The program is aimed at graphic designers but based around motion graphics; so for me it will be useful to create graphical images.
We started in illustrator where the artwork was created; for this session we were going to create a logo in C4D. As I already have a logo I decided to take the type from the logo to use it for this. First we needed to set up the document, this involved using the rulers to put the '0' point in the right place. The standard place is set to the left corner but when you are working in 3D space you need to align the '0' to the centre of the page. To achieve this you drag the plus from the left corner into the centre of the page; you will be told when you have got the centre. When making objects in cinema 4d you have to make sure that the object has a closed path; this reason for this is so that it doesn't look like a sheet of paper once you have transferred the file into cinema 4d. For text you need to convert them in to outlines as it won't work as a text box format.
The next stage is saving the artwork, you have to save the file to a lower version of illustrator (illustrator 8) so that it would work in c4d. It doesn't matter that the illustrator is a lower version as Cinema 4D is a virtual studios with unlimited potential so I can make the artwork better in the software later.
When opening up C4D we changed the page settings by using the edit render settings button, then selecting for print A4 Landscape and changed the metrics to mm (millimetres). As this was the first time using the software I was taught a little bit about the layout and the rest I would learn a long the way when creating things; but the most important was that the object list window is in the top right and beneath that is the attributes window. The next step was editing the mode which was achieved by going to mode > view settings > go to view menu > tick action safe > 95% - this creates a guide line to tell you where the edge is, so you know where your artwork can be placed. The border can be tinted so you can see it easily, but change the opacity to 50% so that its not too over facing. This file was then saved before bringing in any artwork so that we had a template to use in the future if needed. When working the logo we then saved this as a different version so that we had a separate template.
It was finally time to insert the artwork; to do this you go to File > merge > select logo > open > then a dialog box appears, you select > scale - 1 cm > and press okay > it will then appear on the screen. So that the artwork was in the centre of the 3D space I set the coords. to '0' on all axis (xyz); although this can be changed easily at any point. At this stage we opened the drop down menu of the logo in the object window; this allows you to see the different elements that make up the logo. So in this case there was a 'j' 's' i' 'd' 'e' 's' 'i' 'g' 'n'; you can select these individually to edit them separately or you can select the logo to edit it as a whole. Next we went to the subdivision button > extrude; to apply the extrude to the letters you drag them over the extrude layer. Before editing the extrude settings we changed the display settings to Gouraud shading (lines) so that you could see the polygons in the objects clearer. The letters were edited further as the edges were quite sharp; to reduce this you go to caps tab > fillet cap and edited the settings of this until satisfied. Instead of repeating this process for each letter, you select the extrudelayer we had just created and clicked Cmd on our keyboards and dragged the extrude to below the layers pile, deleting the path in it and then dragged another letter into this duplicated layer and repeated until all the letters had this effect on them. Then drag all the paths out from the extrude > select them all > right click > connect objects + delete > then drag the connected paths into one of the extrudes and delete the other two. Instead of bringing in text from illustrator you can use the text tool within C4D by going to mograph > motext; then change the writing to what you want in the editing panel, change the size, depth etc. Also you can add shapes within C4D by going to pen > selecting any of the shapes > extrude > change settings > objects > then edit the settings; although I didn't as I didn't want a shape within my design as it didn't look right with the text.
The next step is add materials which you could say is adding the colour to objects but its more than that when you go further with it. To create a material you double click at the bottom timeline and then click on colour tab > change colour. To add to your objects drag and drop it on the objects; I added them to my floor and background as well. It's now time to add a camera to the scene; you need to set up the shot by using the view points tool, then click on the camera button to add the camera. The final step is adding light to the left shoulder of the camera and putting a blue tint on it by editing it in the attributes box. This light is then duplicated and moved to the other side of the camera and a yellow tint is adding to this. The reason for adding these is to allow shadows from the objects to be smoother and therefore more realistic. It was rendered at this stage with the final output being a Jpeg.
Overall I am pleased with the outcome, considering this is my first attempt at using Cinema 4D as a design tool. It is quite easy to pick up which I was surprised with which is an encouraging notion. If something is hard it can be off putting and although I admit it got confusing in stages, as a whole I understood the basics. When you have the basic you can expand on this, you have to start somewhere. I never saw Cinema 4D as a design tool until now and I will start to develop my skills so I can use the software to a higher level in the future whether it be for a project or in industry. By learning this software it will give me another direction I can take my designs therefore more space to explore and create which is exciting.
