By Brady Betzel
Maxon has introduced its Cinema 4D Subscription Release 24, which includes placement tools, a new asset browser, animation workflow enhancements and scene manager/scene nodes. One of the largest updates is to the Maxon-acquired Redshift renderer, which now works with macOS, including the latest Apple M1-powered Macs.
Placement tools
Asset Browser
All of the updates are great, but the new asset browser sticks out as the most beneficial. If you’ve ever used Google Photos and searched for something by a specific word such as “photos with birds,” you can understand how powerful dynamic searching is. In the Cinema 4D S24 update, you no longer need to download a huge group of assets to your system.
The asset browser not only has a slick-looking search, but it also the ability to download only the individualized assets you need at that moment — taking moments instead of hours. There is a lot of searchable metadata that helps speed up accurate searches, including what plugins and textures were used in those specific assets. Once you find the asset you would like to use, you can then simply drag it into your scene, and Cinema 4D will dynamically place it, including textures, position and more.
Scene nodes
Animation Workflow
Maxon has enhanced the Cinema 4D S24 animation workflow with updates that include better curve evaluation when working with animation keyframes. The curve evaluation updates will allow for easier weighting movement toward beginning or ending keyframes. Maxon has also made the process of creating a looped animation easier. Previously, it proved to be a difficult task to create a seamless loop for renders such as NFTs. The latest update now makes it much easier to loop and adjust the beginning and ending animation.
The future of Cinema 4D appears to be node-based, and the Cinema 4D S24 Scene Manager/Scene Nodes continues to ease Cinema 4D users into the node-based workflow from the classic Object Manager. Maxon is slowly integrating this large workflow change, which is a really nice way to keep the old users in the know while showing them the advantages of a nodal-based workflow.
Placement tools
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of updates that I haven’t mentioned, including the Apple AR-Toolkit-based facial motion capture app (Moves by Maxon) and even a good-looking logo and identity overhaul. With the acquisition of Red Giant, there are many lines being blurred between plugins. Things that I previously thought were video/motion graphics-focused can be easily used in Cinema 4D, including Magic Bullet Looks 5. Maxon is making moves and listening to what users are requesting.
For more on the tool’s other updates, check out Maxon’s website, and keep an eye out for a more consolidated collection of tutorials from all of Maxon’s brands, including Redshift and Red Giant.
Brady Betzel is an Emmy-nominated online editor at Margarita Mix in Hollywood, working on shows like Life Below Zero and The Shop. He is also a member of the Producers Guild of America. You can email Brady at bradybetzel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @allbetzroff.
