After Effects and Cinema 4D Lite

After Effects and Cinema 4D Lite

by Chris Jackson
Released September 2014
Publisher(s): Routledge
ISBN: 9781317678045

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Book description

One of the most exciting new features in After Effects is the integration of Cinema 4D using the CINEWARE plug-in and a free version of Cinema 4D Lite. Both provide a wide assortment of new 3D tools and options that are difficult or nearly impossible to achieve in After Effects alone. This book clearly demonstrates how the new 3D workflow bridges the two applications together to raise the design bar for motion graphics and broadcast design.

Hands-on exercises teach you essential production skills including:

    • Modeling in CINEMA 4D Lite

    • Importing 3D models in After Effects

    • Tracking 3D motion in After Effects

    • Compositing with CINEWARE

    • Using MoGraph features in CINEMA 4D

    • Rendering and optimization techniques

Additional online materials include project files and videos showcasing the techniques covered in the book. To access these materials, please see the 'eResources' tab.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Table of Contents
  6. Introduction
  7. Chapter 1: Getting Started in CINEMA 4D
    1. What is CINEMA 4D Lite and CINEWARE?
    2. Creating a CINEMA 4D File
    3. Modeling in CINEMA 4D Lite
    4. Applying Materials in CINEMA 4D Lite
    5. Moving Around in CINEMA 4D Lite
    6. Adding Lights in CINEMA 4D Lite
    7. Animating in CINEMA 4D Lite
    8. Rendering in After Effects
  8. Chapter 2: Modeling in CINEMA 4D
    1. The CINEMA 4D Workflow
    2. Modeling with Primitives
    3. Generating Objects with NURBS
    4. Defining Surface Properties
    5. Lighting a Scene
    6. Working with Cameras
    7. Adding Visual Effects and Rendering
  9. Chapter 3: 3D Camera Tracking and Compositing with CINEWARE
    1. CINEWARE Render Settings
    2. Using the 3D Camera Tracker in After Effects
    3. Compositing a 3D Object with CINEWARE
    4. Exporting a CINEMA 4D file from After Effects
    5. Using Null and Camera Objects in CINEMA 4D
  10. Chapter 4: Casting Shadows Using Layers with CINEWARE
    1. Lights and Shadows in CINEMA 4D
    2. Creating a Shadow Catcher in After Effects
    3. Adding Shadows in CINEMA 4D
    4. Setting Up Layers and Compositing Tags
    5. Compositing Layers with CINEWARE
  11. Chapter 5: Lighting Effects
    1. Seeing the Light
    2. Adding Volumetric Lighting
    3. Mixing Color with Lights
    4. Combining 2D and 3D Effects
  12. Chapter 6: Materials and Shaders in Motion
    1. What are Shaders?
    2. Using Volumetric Shaders
    3. Product Placement with Alpha Channels
    4. Animating Materials with Noise Shaders
    5. Optimizing a CINEMA 4D Scene
  13. Chapter 7: Working with Cameras in CINEMA 4D and CINEWARE
    1. Cameras in CINEMA 4D and CINEWARE
    2. Using Camera Layers in After Effects
    3. Attaching a Target Camera to a Spline
    4. Controlling Multiple Cameras in CINEWARE
    5. Adding a Stage Object to Change Cameras
  14. Chapter 8: Multi-Pass Rendering with CINEWARE
    1. Rendering in CINEMA 4D Lite
    2. Creating Shadows with Ambient Occlusion
    3. Setting Up Multi-Pass Rendering
    4. Adding an Object Buffer
    5. Compositing Multi-Pass Layers in CINEWARE
  15. Chapter 9: Beyond CINEMA 4D Lite
    1. Upgrading from CINEMA 4D Lite
    2. Modeling with Points. Edges, and Polygons
    3. Exploring MoGraph Objects in CINEMA 4D
    4. Animating with Sound Effectors
    5. Adding Dynamics to a Scene
  16. Index

Product information

  • Title: After Effects and Cinema 4D Lite
  • Author(s): Chris Jackson
  • Release date: September 2014
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781317678045