I just ordered my copy of Vue 4 and Mover from E-On and they should be here next week, but I currently have many objects and buildings that I modeled in C4d 7 and textured using Bodypaint. Can I import these models and their textures into Vue? Any input will greatly appreciated...

You can export your C4d models as 3ds and import it then to Vue. But not to say any thing wrong (I don't have C4), I will ask to another user, specialist in both softs to answer here. Guitta

Well I use Bodypaint I and I know if I export it out as a 3ds it keeps it's textures fine. Sharen

Thanks Gebe and Sharon, I really think I'm going to like this forum! According to the UPS website, I should have my copies of Mover and Vue by next Tuesday. Until then, I guess I'll just keep playing with P4 and C4D.

Attached Link: http://www.sams3d.com

Hi Techyman !

For the geometry :

Use the Wavefront or 3D Studio exchange formats.

You can export directly every Cinema 4D object (primitives, hypernurbs, loftnurbs, etc...) in the Wavefront or 3D Studio formats. Cinema 4D will convert them automatically in polygon meshes.

But before, be sure that the polygon count is not too hight. Nurbs objects can generate thousands of polygons when converted in OBJ or 3DS formats. For example, an HyperNurbs object (subdivision: 3) of 1000 polygons creates a 200 000 polygons mesh. This amount of polygons can already slow down the display shading of VUE considerably. Try to stay below 500 000 polygons otherwise VUE could "freeze".

I would advise you to make all your object "editable" and run a "PolyReduction" before exporting the object. Reduce the amount polygons as much as you can. If polygon edges are noticeable in VUE, double-click on the object and increase the "max smoothing angle".

For the texture :

Don't expect miracles.

Cinema 4D and VUE have totally different material editors.

You won't be able to export the 13 material channels of your C4D object. Many material settings are not compatible with VUE (illumination model, diffusion, displacement, environment, anisotrophy, etc...) and procedural shaders can't be exported.

Some material settings will be included in the 3DS format : color/texture, reflection, transparency and specular. But you'll surely need to adjust them manually in VUE to get satisfactory results. VUE will recognize 5 C4D material channels : color texture, transparency/alpha texture, bump texture, reflection texture and specular color texture.

Here some indications :

• the color channel texture goes VUE's color channel - mapped value.
• the bump channel texture goes in VUE's "bump function" - mapped value.
• the reflection channel texture goes in VUE's "reflection amount function" - mapped value.
• the specular color channel texture goes in VUE's "HighLights Size and Intensity function" - mapped value.
• the alpha or the transparency texture goes in VUE's "transparency amount function" - mapped value.

Once you have VUE 4, spend some time in its material and function editors and try to learn how each setting works. It's the only way to create good texture.

Good luck

:) Eric

Ok, i was never so lucky to get any texture information from C4D to Vue via 3DS! I'm on a Mac and Vue always tells me that the 3DS specifications are old and it can't read the information. So i think it's better to use obj (wavefront). But for the rest i think Eric is right! Good luck from me too, Walther