1st Edition

Cinema 4D Apprentice Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics Artist

By Kent McQuilkin Copyright 2015
    422 Pages
    by Routledge

    422 Pages
    by Routledge

    New to CINEMA 4D and looking for an accessible way to get up to speed quickly? Do you already know the basics of the software but need to know the new features or take your skills and understanding a little deeper? If so, look no further than CINEMA 4D Apprentice, your one-stop shop for learning this powerful application. With guidance that takes you beyond just the button-pushing, author Kent McQuilkin guides you through 10 core lessons, starting with the basics before moving onto more complex techniques and concepts and then tying it all together with a final project.

    CINEMA 4D Apprentice walks you through the software with a project-based approach, allowing you to put lessons learned into immediate practice. Best practices and workflows for motion graphics artists that can be applied to any software application are included. A companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/mcquilkin) features project files and videos of the techniques in action.

    Topics covered include:

    • creating basic scenes,
    • modeling, texture mapping
    • mograph in-depth
    • integration with After Effects via CINEWARE
    • lighting, animation, rendering and more
    • motion tracking with the new tools included in R16

    Getting Around in C4D; Basic Cameras and Scenes; Modeling 101: Beginners Guide to Building Objects in C4D; Modeling 102 Advanced; Working with Materials; Advanced Materials and Texture Mapping; BodyPaint UV Basics; Painting in 3D via BodyPaint; Light it Up; Animation Basics; Character Animation; Simulation Driven Animation; MoGraph; Destruction Techniques in Cinema 4D; Rendering with Cinema 4D's Native Render Engine; The Physical Renderer; The Stereoscopic Workflow; Setting up Cinema 4D Scenes for Post Production; C4D Lite: Maxon Cineware in After Effects; Time to Plug-In; Final Project

    Biography

    Kent McQuilkin is an award-winning animation producer, college instructor, 3D designer and consultant for broadcast studios. Kent has been a user of CINEMA 4D for over a decade and has used it to produce films, television spots, product labels, product previsualizations as well as theme park and holographic theatrical productions. Much of his work and information can be found at www.mcq3d.com.

    “If you’re an aspiring 3D motion graphics artist, Cinema 4D Apprentice should be your first resource to get started. Kent does an incredibly thorough job of covering the essentials in a clear and concise manner. Inside this book is the knowledge motion designers need to succeed in a production environment.”-Paul Babb, President/CEO at MAXON Computer, Inc.

    CINEMA 4D Apprentice gets you up and running quickly. Having a resource that is easy to reference is important when tackling a program that has the breadth and scope of MAXON CINEMA 4D’s R16. Kent McQuilkin does an excellent job of keeping you on track with enough to help you find your footing as you begin to design and animate in 3D.” -Ko Maruyama, CreativeMac

    "This book is a very comprehensive teaching aid for any 3D Motion Graphics Artist about to use, or is struggling with, the Maxon Cinema 4D combined with Adobe After Effects software packages... I don't earn my living as a Graphics Artist - but the book explains each step so clearly and I was so thoroughly intrigued that I couldn't put it down, flicking back and forth to check explanations in previous lessons which I'd skipped over but really needed to understand - I was thoroughly hooked! Definitely a 'must-have' for everyone who works in this area of production." - Wendy Laybourn FBKS - Network Nine