So what is new with this version of CINEMA 4D R11?
• Non-linear Animation – lets you move beyond the keyframe by making it easy to build, layer, and loop discreet motions containing hundreds of keyframes in complex hierarchies. Using Animation Layers you can build up complex movements from layers in the same way you would with an image. Motion Clips lets you group complex keyframe animations on an entire hierarchy into a single clip that can be easily moved, layered or looped. Pivots come in handy if you need to change the direction of a walking character, without changing the walk cycle itself.
• Ghosting - a.k.a., onion-skinning, lets you analyze the animation of an object so that you can fine-tune its motion.
• Render Speed – has been increased by as much as twice over the previous version R10.5. On my system the speed increase between R11 and R10.5 on the donkey render shown below is much more than twice. The speed increase is dependant on the project you are working on, but based on their tests, you should see increases between 1.3 to 9.5 times faster.
• Collada – is now supported in CINEMA 4D. This is the open standard XML-based format that facilitates the transfer of 3D assets between applications. This makes the exchanging of scenes with other 3D applications easier than ever.
• License Server – is a robust server that makes the management of numerous licenses and groups of licenses more manageable. Now network administrators can define groups and assign each party the correct configuration.
• Projection Man – now lets you leverage the same matte painting system that was developed by MAXON for Sony Pictures Imageworks and was used on Polar Express, Open Season, and Beowulf. It utilizes camera mapping to project detailed paintings onto simple geometry to create an environment that a 3D camera can move around and through. Tight integration with Adobe Photoshop and MAXON's own 3D-painting system BodyPaint 3D makes it easy to edit and manipulate extensive digital mattes so that long, wild camera rides are possible.
• 3D Painting – has been enhanced that allow you to paint rich, detailed textures directly on your 3D model. New Blur, Sharpen, and Colorize tools make it easier than ever before to tweak your textures, and all paint tools now retain their own independent settings.
Article comments
1 - Marcus
Contrary to the information in the review, Cinema 4D was available to the U.S. market several years before 1998. It was available for the Amiga platform (in the US) as early as 1994 (if not actually 1993).