Cinema 4D is a 3D software suite developed by the German company Maxon.
Overview
As of R21, only a single version of Cinema 4D is available. It replaces all previous variants, including BodyPaint 3D, and includes all features of the past 'Studio' variant. With R21, all binaries were unified. There is no technical difference between commercial, educational, or demo versions. The difference is now only in licensing.
2014 saw the release of Cinema 4D Lite, which came packaged with Adobe After Effects Creative Cloud 2014. "Lite" acts as an introductory version, with many features withheld. This is part of a partnership between the two companies, where a Maxon-produced plug-in, called Cineware, allows any variant to create a seamless workflow with After Effects. The "Lite" variant is dependent on After Effects CC, needing the latter application running to launch, and is only sold as a package component included with AE CS through Adobe.
Initially, Cinema 4D was developed for Amiga computers in the early 1990s, and the first three versions of the program were available exclusively for that platform. With v4, however, Maxon began to develop the application for Windows and Macintosh computers as well, citing the wish to reach a wider audience and the growing instability of the Amiga market following Commodore's bankruptcy. It was also released for BeOS.[2]
On Linux, Cinema 4D is available as a commandline rendering version.
Modules and older variants
From R12 to R20, Cinema 4D was available in four variants. A core Cinema 4D 'Prime' application, a 'Broadcast' version with additional motion-graphics features, 'Visualize,' which adds functions for architectural design and 'Studio,' which includes all modules.
From Release 8 until Release 11.5, Cinema 4D had a modular approach to the application, with the ability to expand upon the core application with various modules. This ended with Release 12, though the functionality of these modules remains in the different flavors of Cinema 4D (Prime, Broadcast, Visualize, Studio)
BodyPaint 3D (direct painting on UVW meshes; now included in the core. In essence Cinema 4D Core/Prime and the BodyPaint 3D products are identical. The only difference between the two is the splash screen that is shown at startup and the default user interface.)
PyroCluster (simulation of smoke and fire effects)
Prime (the core application)
Broadcast (adds MoGraph2)
Visualize (adds Virtual Walkthrough, Advanced Render, Sky, Sketch and Toon, data exchange, camera matching)
Studio (the complete package)
Version history
1990
Christian and Philip Losch enter their ray-tracer into Kickstart magazine's monthly programming contest, and win the competition.
1991
FastRay (Cinema 4D's first name) is released for the Amiga.
1993
Cinema 4D V1 is released for Amiga.
1994
Release of Cinema 4D V1.5 and V2 for Amiga.
1995
Release of Cinema 4D V2.1 and V3.0 for Amiga.
Plans are made for porting Cinema 4D to the PC platform.
New programmer team begins development of a completely new, operating-system-independent architecture.
1996
Cinema 4D V4 for Windows, Alpha NT, Macintosh and Amiga is released.
The first multi-processor version of Cinema 4D is made available.
1997
The development of a production-level version begins, integrating the latest technologies.
The last version of Cinema 4D for Amiga, V4.2, is released.
The first production-worthy version is released — Cinema 4D XL V5.
1998
Cinema 4D SE V5 is released.
1999
Cinema 4D GO V5 and Cinema 4D NET are introduced.
2000
Cinema 4D XL V6 is released.
BodyPaint 3D is made available as an integrated version for Cinema 4D, and as a standalone version for other 3D packages.
2001
Cinema 4D ART is introduced.
PyroCluster and Dynamics modules are introduced.
Cinema 4D XL R7 is shipped worldwide.
MAXON integrates the shader set Smells like Almonds from bhodiNUT.
2002
Cinema 4D R8 is released with a modular system. The new modules are Advanced Render, PyroCluster, MOCCA and Thinking Particles.
2003
Cinema 4D R8.5 is released.
BodyPaint 3D R2 is introduced.
Sketch and Toon module is introduced.
2004
Cinema 4D R9 is released.
2005
Cinema 4D R9.5 is released.
HAIR module is introduced.
2006
Cinema 4D R9.6 is released.
MoGraph module is introduced.
Cinema 4D R10 with integrated BodyPaint 3D is released.
2007
Cinema 4D becomes the first professional 3-D graphics application released as a Universal Binary for Apple's new Intel-powered Macs (even before Apple Universal Binary versions of its own software are released).
Service update R10.1 is released in March, in response to bug feedback provided to Maxon by users and testers.
Service update R10.111 released to address several reported problems, such as stability.
Cinema 4D R10.5 is released, and features updates to MOCCA and MoGraph, as well as an optimization of the HAIR module.
2008
Cinema 4D R11 released.
Cinema 4D supports 64-bit architecture on Apple G5 and Intel-powered Macs.
A new implementation of Global Illumination (included in the Advanced Render module) offers a higher quality than that of the old version, and much improved animation support.
Non-Linear Animation has been completely reworked.
The Renderman support (CINEMAN) is now included in AR.
2009
Cinema 4D R11.5 released.
Introduces MoGraph 2 (which includes MoDynamics [Uses the Bullet Engine], PolyFX, and MoSplines)
Bucket rendering reduces render times and manages clone instancing and memory management much more efficiently. Anti-Aliasing methods to choose from are Scanline, Ray-Tracing, and Hybrid (which uses both to best optimize quality vs. speed). Also greatly improved Subpolygon Displacement and Area Shadows efficiency and speed using Multi-Threading.
An enhanced Picture Viewer that will allow a history of renders, RAM previews, and A/B swiping. Also, manages post filtering and Multi-Pass Layers.
Full 3D support for Apple Motion, and improved support with Adobe After Effects. Also, exports clones and XRefs to Motion and After Effects, as well as the ability to bring in solids for mapping video onto 3D surfaces. It can also export multiple cameras at once.
Fully compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) and Windows 7.
Other new features include a new Camera Shader which will map any camera view onto any surface, improved MoGraph Effectors, and other general improvements and refinements.
2010
Cinema 4D R12 released.
Dynamics has been improved (complex physics engine)
Menu has been cleaned up.
Many minor improvements like the Shaders and Materials.
Linear workflow introduced with correct display in OGL.
Double precision calculation introduced and true units.
Support for IES lights and physically correct lighting.
New Physical Render engine (More photorealistic: Physical Camera with ISO, f-stop and shutter speed or angle, true depth of field, true motion blurring, lens distortion, vignetting, and chromatic aberration.)
Stereoscopy. New Stereoscopic Camera and Rendering with real-time display. Supports Anaglyph, Side-by-Side, Interlaced, or Active Shutter mode for 3D Monitors, projectors and glasses.
New Character tools, allowing the user to set up complex rigs quickly and easily. CMotion Walk Cycle editor; Character Components for TDs to define rig hierarchies, and new Muscle Object & MSkin Deformer.
Animation refinements. Rotation Order and Gimbaling Rotation Axis to detect and correct gimbal lock. Better timeline markers. Finely tuned F-Curves. Colored animation paths.
Optimized Modeling workflow. (Enhanced cloning and extrusions; Advanced selection tools; new optimized HyperNURBS weighting algorithm for cleaner topology and sharper but smooth creases; Axis toggle; Auto Tweaking; Easy, intuitive Snapping; Variable Speed Scaling; Better ClothNURBS Extrusion)
Improved Interface and Workflow. Enhanced Picture Viewer. All-new External Referencing System for XRefs.
New Import/Export features (After Effects Integration; FBX Import/Export supports 2010, 2011, and 2012; Multi-Channel OpenEXR; Enhanced Sound Format support including AIF, MP3, and AAC; Collada 1.5; BodyPaint 3D support for Maya UVs)
2012
Cinema 4D R14 released (September 4, 2012)
Sculpting Tools.
Enhanced Dynamics (Aerodynamics)
Plastic Deformations & Breakable Springs.
Enhanced Xpresso UI.
Camera Calibrator. Integrate 3D element into photographs.
Morph camera and motion camera. Blend between different cameras. Create natural dynamic camera motion.
New Shaders: Wood shader, weathering shader, normalizer
Cinebench is a cross-platform test suite which tests a computer's hardware capabilities. It can be used as a test for Cinema 4D's 3D modeling, animation, motion graphic and rendering performance on multiple CPU cores. The program "target[s] a certain niche and [is] better suited for high-end desktop and workstation platforms".[13]
Cinebench is commonly used to demonstrate hardware capabilities at tech shows to show a CPU performance,[14] especially by Tech YouTubers and review sites.[15][16]
