Someone's just asked me to do something that requires using Vue with Cinema 4D. Specifically, they create models, texture them with BodyPaint and then want me to render them in Vue 6 Infinite.

Does any one have any experience, gotchas or a proven workflow for importing models from Cinema 4D, please?

Cheers,
Mark

You will run into material problems if your materials are not bitmaps, but procedural bodypaint shaders. These won't import in Vue. Also, you'll need to export the models in a format Vue can read, and c4d isn't one of them.

Ho hum, I sort of knew it wasn't going to be easy. ;-)

Thanks for the heads up on materials.

From experience with getting models from Carrara, AutoCAD, SketchUp and a couple of weird architect packages into Vue, I'm prepared for a lot of experimentation to find a workflow that, er, works. Just thought I'd try to save some pain and anguish by asking if anyone has any wisdom to impart.

Cheers,
Mark

Is there a way to bake the proceedurals in C4d? Also, C4d should be able to export obj format, which would be fine for Vue.

The obj and 3ds formats were my first thought for export / import. I discovered the Riptide obj export plugin for C4D which apparently "preserves Groups, Materials and even UVMapper Regions".

Not sure about baking yet. Actually, I've no clear idea what C4D's capable of as I've only just got the demo from the UK distributor which, like most demos of this ilk, won't save anything.

I suspect that a C4D -> Vue workflow is rare so I'm not expecting much response but don't ask, don't get!

Cheers,
Mark

I use xStream with Cinema... it's not that rare :)

You can export C4D files to 3D Studio max... I've never tried it but the option is there.

The 3D Studio export mentioned is actually the 3ds file format. The best option is of course to get the Vue6 xStream plugin for Cinam, this would allow you to merge your C4D scenes and Vue scenes in the C4D viewport. No export needed, no material conversions problems, (virtually) no hassle.
The riptide plugin seems great, but I haven't tried it yet, and I don't think it will translate C4D shaders to Vue anyway.

xStream is the ideal solution but the person with C4D doesn't want to spend money on it. And, as much as I'd like to have them, I certainly can't afford C4D and xStream. :-(

We'll try it the hard way (C4D export / Vue 6 Inf import) and see what happens! Thanks to everyone for your help.

Cheers,
Mark

What about export from Vue and render everything in Cinema4D?

The C4D user with whom I'm liaising is a modeller only and does not have the advanced render module so can't achieve effects that they've seen me produce in Vue.

Once I showed someone output from MatchMover Vue 4 that's what they wanted. Also Vue Infinite produces excellent animated outdoor scenes.

This isn't part of my commerical work (yet) so the major block is we're trying to do this on the cheap and not spend any money. Although I've been considering C4D for while.

I might dust off Carrara 5 Pro and try that route into Vue.

Cheers,
Mark