Just received Cinema 4D 2012

[Raw Habitz]

I just received Cinema 4D 2012. I would like to know is there a way to transfers my images that I made in Xara Xtreme or is there a program that complements Cinema 4D. I'm thinking I might have to start over from scratch

[Soquili]

With any 3D application you will need to learn the tools in order to create things.

There is no way to open Xara Xtreme or any other 2D package files and have them instantly become 3D objects using any 3D package.

You can export a path (curved line) as an Adobe Illustrator .ai file and use that as the profile and create a shape. In Cinema 4D this would be a Sweep Nurb. Good for making a vase or wine glass type of object.

[Soquili]

The first attachment is a png representation of a path I exported from Xara Designer Pro 6 as an Adobe Illustrator .ai file. I made the .png so it can be displayed by a web browser simply to show the shape.

The .ai file was opened in Cinema 4D and dropped into a Sweep Nurb to form the shape of a vase.

I applied one of the preset textures available in Cinema 4D to give the vase a transparent plastic look. I put a Floor object in the scene and gave it a present checkered texture. I rendered the scene and saved it as a .jpg so a web browser can display the image.

This is a very simple example of what you would need to do to use output from Xara Xtreme within Cinema 4D.

[Mike Bailey]

Start with a low poly sphere and build it up from there.

[gray]

You 3D guys always amaze me. Mike, that's hilarious.

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Bill gives good advice.

It is often MUCH easier to create objects (at least their beginning) in Xara and then import than to create from scratch. (depends on object geometry)

In the image below, I just made a pointed star in Xara and saved as SVG format and then imported into Blender. Once inside Blender, it was EASY to extrude the object into 3 dimensions, to bevel it(!), and to set the materials for the object. The front face (on standing object, bottom face on lying object) is blue, the beveled trim is mirrored, and the sides are red. The backside (top of lying object) is a wooden texture.

After I made it, I decided to RIP open the star shape and tear some of the side off and when I did, all these mirrored balls came rolling out.

The objects and image were made in about 20 mins (including Xara time AND Blender time AND rendering)





And (for the heck of it) a view from inside the shape on the floor, looking out. (light added)



Peace

James

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Here is another scene, playing around with a similar idea... (made in Xara, finished in Blender)



And a closer look... with (possibly) annoying red/green checkerboarding added...



Peace

James

[Soquili]

An updated version of the above vase.

Once you have the .ai vector within Cinema 4D you can edit it using nodes or lines mode. This version was edited to by moving the nodes for the narrow portion of the shape. A different custom texture for the vase was created using the internal texture editor.

[ODdOnLifeItself]

Here is some more goofin'

Changed the track to veiny marble-like...



Tried more of a brushed metal...


This one is to show that one is not limited to shapes made with lines.... curves and also text....anything vector-shaped will work... The shape at the bottom was a closed, curvy shape that then had text punched out of the middle...



Peace

James

[pauland]

I think if I were picking up Cinema for the first time and was totally new to 3D, I might feel a little overwhelmed by skilled practitioners showing off their skills with stuff that looks nothing like a grenade.