Exporting in Cinema 4D format
3D objects can be exported to the .c4d format, for use in Cinema 4D. A “scene” is created within the Cinema 4D project; you can choose whether to organize the exported scene the same way the Vectorworks file is organized or to sort it by texture, class, fill color, or line color to facilitate your Cinema 4D workflow. It is also possible to choose which objects to export and how to handle symbol definitions and instances. Layer names, object names, and object types are preserved.
Exporting a file to Cinema 4D
|
Command |
Path |
|
Export Cinema 4D (3D only) |
File > Export |
To export a Cinema 4D file:
Select the command.
The Export Cinema 4D options dialog box opens; set the parameters.
Specify the export file name and destination.
Sending a file directly to Cinema 4D
|
Command |
Path |
|
Send to Cinema 4D (3D only) |
File |
An additional command allows you to send a file to Cinema 4D directly, when Cinema 4D is installed. This command allows you to merge changes made separately to files in Vectorworks and Cinema 4D.
To send a file to Cinema 4D:
Select the command.
The first time you use this command in a session, the Choose Cinema 4D Application browser may open. Select the version of Cinema 4D to use, and click Open.
For Cinema 4D version 12 or later, this exports the file to .c4d format (3D objects only), launches the Cinema 4D application, and opens the file. During export, the Update Merge Options dialog box opens. Specify whether to create a new project or merge into the current one. By default, the options are set so that the geometry from the Vectorworks program is merged, but material and sky objects in Cinema 4D are unaffected.
The Export Cinema 4D options dialog box opens. Set the parameters.
Once the file has been sent to Cinema 4D, select the Save Project with Assets command in Cinema 4D. This keeps the texture assets with the .c4d file, and prevents them from becoming disconnected in Cinema 4D.
Export Cinema 4D options
When exporting to send files to Cinema 4D, you can specify which objects to include, the scene organization, and the export resolution.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
|
Parameter |
Description |
|
Render Mode |
Select which render mode to export; for Custom Renderworks, Artistic Renderworks, and Renderworks Styles, click Options to open the appropriate options dialog box and select the settings |
|
Export |
|
|
All Visible Objects on All Layers |
Exports all visible 3D objects from all layers in the Vectorworks file (including objects in design layer viewports). Exclude or include specific types of objects using the check boxes; for example, export geometry but not lights. |
|
All Visible Objects on Active Layer |
Exports all visible 3D objects from the current layer (including objects in design layer viewports). Exclude or include specific types of objects using the check boxes; for example, export geometry but not lights. |
|
Selected Objects on Active Layer |
Exports only selected 3D objects from the current layer; if no objects are selected, all 3D objects from the active layer are exported |
|
Scene Organization |
Select how to organize the scene in the exported model. Native Vectorworks Organization maintains the scene organization as it exists in Vectorworks file; sorting by texture, class, fill color, or line color facilitates different Cinema 4D workflows. If the scene is not sorted by class, Vectorworks classes become Cinema 4D layers, allowing visibility to be controlled across the scene. |
|
Export Symbols as Render Instances |
When selected, symbol definitions in Vectorworks are exported as symbols and grouped under a symbols tab; they are not visible in the Cinema 4D scene. Instances of each symbol reside on the layer where created and are linked to the definitions. When deselected, turns off Cinema 4D’s render instancing feature and all symbols and instances are treated as regular objects. When this option is selected and the Scene Organization is sorted by texture, Cinema 4D’s render instances are grouped under an “Instances” tab because render instances do not have texture information. |
|
Include |
Select which kinds of objects to include in the export |