How to Use Cinema 4D Lite in After Effects CC

• Maxon Cinema 4D Lite is an industry standard 3D and Animation Creation Software.
• Comes free with Adobe After Effects CC.
• Can only be activated from within After Effects.
• (Note: After Effects is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription)
• One heck of a learning curve for a newbie.
• Maxon has 4 Cinema 4D products: http://www.maxon.net/products.html
• Cinema 4D Studio (about US$3,700)
• Cinema 4D Broadcast  (about US$1,700)
• Cinema 4D Prime  (about US$1,000)
• Cinema 4D Visualize  (about US$2,300) - for Architects
• Cinema 4D Lite is very similar to Cinema 4D Prime, but with some features missing and 2 features extra:
• Fracture - break objects into parts.
• Effectors - add effects to the above broken parts.
• (Note: Must register online to get the 2 extra features)l
• HoEw to add and edit an existing Cinema 4D file?
• Import a Cinema 4D file.
• Make a comp with the file.
• Use Effects Control panel to tweak effects.
• Note: On the timeline, the Cinema 4D file is not a 3D file, but a 2D file.
• To edit the Cinema 4D file, go to main menu > Edit > Edit Original.
• Whatever changes you make in Cinema 4D Lite will show up in After Effects.
• How to create a new Cinema 4D file from scratch?
• Go to main menu > File > New > MAXON CINEMA 4D File...
• Name your file and select folder to save in.
• The Cinema 4D edit panel will open up.
• Try to add a shape, reposition it, colour it...
• Click Save.
• Go back to After Effects and find the 3D file in the Project panel.
• Projects are saved as .c4d files.