1st Edition

After Effects and Cinema 4D Lite 3D Motion Graphics and Visual Effects Using CINEWARE

By Chris Jackson Copyright 2015
    316 Pages
    by Routledge

    316 Pages
    by Routledge

    One of the most exciting new features in After Effects is the integration of Cinema 4D using the CINEWARE plug-in and a free version of Cinema 4D Lite. Both provide a wide assortment of new 3D tools and options that are difficult or nearly impossible to achieve in After Effects alone. This book clearly demonstrates how the new 3D workflow bridges the two applications together to raise the design bar for motion graphics and broadcast design.

    Hands-on exercises teach you essential production skills including:

      • Modeling in CINEMA 4D Lite
      • Importing 3D models in After Effects
      • Tracking 3D motion in After Effects
      • Compositing with CINEWARE
      • Using MoGraph features in CINEMA 4D
      • Rendering and optimization techniques

    Additional online materials include project files and videos showcasing the techniques covered in the book. To access these materials, please see the 'eResources' tab.

    Introduction

    Chapter 1: Getting Started in CINEMA 4D

    What is CINEMA 4D Lite and CINEWARE?

    Creating a CINEMA 4D File

    Modeling in CINEMA 4D Lite

    Applying Materials in CINEMA 4D Lite

    Moving Around in CINEMA 4D Lite

    Adding Lights in CINEMA 4D Lite

    Animating in CINEMA 4D Lite

    Rendering in After Effects

    Chapter 2: Modeling in CINEMA 4D

    The CINEMA 4D Workflow

    Modeling with Primitives

    Generating Objects with NURBS

    Defining Surface Properties

    Lighting a Scene

    Working with Cameras

    Adding Visual Effects and Rendering

    Chapter 3: 3D Camera Tracking and Compositing with CINEWARE

    CINEWARE Render Settings

    Using the 3D Camera Tracker in After Effects

    Compositing a 3D Object with CINEWARE

    Exporting a CINEMA 4D file from After Effects

    Using a Null and Camera Objects in CINEMA 4D

    Chapter 4: Casting Shadows Using Layers with CINEWARE

    Lights and Shadows in CINEMA 4D

    Creating a Shadow Catcher in After Effects

    Adding Shadows in CINEMA 4D

    Setting Up Layers and Compositing Tags

    Compositing Layers with CINEWARE

    Chapter 5: Lighting Effects

    Seeing the Light

    Adding Volumetric Lighting

    Mixing Color with Lights

    Combining 2D and 3D Effects

    Chapter 6: Materials and Shaders in Motion

    What are Shaders?

    Using Volumetric Shaders

    Product Placement with Alpha Channels

    Animating Materials with Noise Shaders

    Optimizing a CINEMA 4D Scene

    Chapter 7: Working with Cameras in CINEMA 4D and CINEWARE

    Cameras in CINEMA 4D and CINEWARE

    Using Camera Layers in After Effects

    Attaching a Target Camera to a Spline

    Controlling Multiple Cameras in CINEWARE

    Adding a Stage Object to Change Cameras

    Chapter 8: Multi-Pass Rendering with CINEWARE

    Rendering in CINEMA 4D Lite

    Creating Shadows with Ambient Occlusion

    Setting Up Multi-Pass Rendering

    Adding an Object Buffer

    Combining Multi-Pass Layers in CINEWARE

    Chapter 9: Beyond CINEMA 4D Lite

    Upgrading from CINEMA 4D Lite

    Modeling with Points. Edges, and Polygons

    Exploring MoGraph Objects in CINEMA 4D

    Animating with Sound Effectors

    Adding Dynamics to a Scene

    Index

    Biography

    Chris Jackson is an author, designer, and professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He lectures and conducts workshops relating to interaction design and motion graphics, and his professional work has received over 25 distinguished national and international awards for online communication. He continues to publish and present his research and professional work at Adobe MAX Creativity Conference, ACM SIGGRAPH, and the Society for Technical Communication (STC). Chris is also the author of Flash + After Effects, Second Edition (Focal Press, 2010), Flash Cinematic Techniques (Focal Press, 2010), and co-author of Flash 3D: Animation, Interactivity, and Games (Focal Press 2006).