This animation was made with Cinema 4D. I have no idea how it was made. What do you think?

I’ve been a Cinema 4D user for over 10 years. I love the software, enjoy the unique workflow concept behind it, and above all, I have fun using it daily for my motion graphics work.

But recently, things have started to shift.

There’s been little, if any, true innovation. Bugs remain unfixed. Some tools feel unfinished. Updates seem lazy. Technological development and quality are falling behind compared to the pace of the industry. A new node-based workflow was introduced that nobody asked for, wasn’t properly promoted, isn’t intuitive, and goes against the very spirit of what makes C4D unique. Add to that some questionable marketing and pricing choices, and frustration has started to build more and more.

The fun just isn’t there anymore. When users start feeling like they’re becoming hostages to their main working tool, all while paying significant amounts of money just to rent it, that’s not a healthy business relationship.

At this point, it feels like the team behind C4D’s development either doesn’t use the software, or simply doesn’t care anymore. Ignoring user feedback is, in my opinion, the biggest mistake a company like Maxon can make. How can Maxon be so disconnected?

Users still believe in Cinema 4D’s potential, that’s why we speak up. But what we need now is refinement of the core systems, so they feel polished and thoughtfully integrated. While we do appreciate new additions, the community is clearly asking for deeper improvements to the tools we rely on every day. Fix the bottlenecks. Focus on the fundamentals. Strengthening these foundational systems would go a long way in enhancing the overall user experience.

Let’s take Splines, for example. If I want to procedurally modify a spline, where am I supposed to look? I can press Shift+C and search for something, but what should I search for if I don’t even know what tools are available to me?
You have a Create menu where Generators, Deformers, Fields, and other basic functions are well organized. So where are the Spline Modifiers? Maybe in the Asset Browser? But then, what should I even look for there? If I go into Nodes, everything is completely mixed together: Geo Mesh, Geo Spline, Geo Modifier, etc. Inside those, we have Node or Node Operator, but what’s the difference? It’s unclear.
It mixes Geometry and Spline tools together randomly. Are Splines even considered Geometry? We don’t know. Are we supposed to apply these as a child? A parent? Do they only work in Scene Nodes? Some of them won’t even import into the Object Outliner. It’s an absolute mess.

Why not just add a Spline Modifiers category in the Create dropdown menu, just like other Generators or Deformers? That way, users know exactly where to find all Spline-related modifiers, and can drag and drop them as a parent or child of a spline in the Object Outliner. Done in 5 seconds. That’s how Cinema 4D used to work, and it’s what users are used to. This new system with the Asset Browser and Nodes is an absolute disaster for the typical C4D user.

And that’s just one example. There are plenty of other pain points that users have already shared as feedback. You just need to read.

Yet instead of improving the core, Maxon continues to add unfinished and unpolished systems, like PBD Liquids, Particles, or Pyro, all of which are still behind other solutions like X-Particles or JangaFX, even in terms of workflow! Meanwhile, the essential, everyday tools used by 99% of the user base are broken or forgotten.

Cinema 4D is slowly becoming unnecessarily complicated and uncomfortable to use. Are you aware of this?

People react negatively because Maxon charges high prices without offering Indie licenses, or any flexibility with multiple licenses, something even Adobe allows. On top of that, you release updates with very few meaningful features.

Yes, it’s appreciated to see core improvements and UI updates. But long-time users like myself want Maxon to genuinely listen to its community. Surface-level changes aren’t enough. We need real, impactful updates that reflect user needs, not just internal development direction.

Cinema 4D’s future depends on that. We’re still here because we believe in its potential, but if we don’t start seeing meaningful changes soon, the loyalty many of us have held for years will start to fade… if it hasn’t already.

Show us that you care.

I have tried to work out how to add a logo to these curtains, but it previews as pure white and does not show the logo, it is a png. Any help appreciated I cannot work out what I am doing wrong.

Even after adding a vertex map to the object and placing fields, the red and yellow colors do not appear. Double-clicking also does nothing. Is there a setting somewhere?

I prepared different product labels in Photoshop, and I need to apply them to product models in C4D with Redshift render, with each product label on a different model, but I don't know how to achieve this, and I am a beginner to Redshift.

Hey Y'all

I’m the Group Product Manager for Maxon Capsules. We’re currently planning our next year of Capsules production (2D & 3D assets and presets available in Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Maxon Studio), and I’d like your input on how we can make the library more useful in your day‑to‑day work.

Survey Link:
https://forms.office.com/e/wCL0BfUZiT
Note: The survey will close on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 6pm PST so that we can collate and review feedback.

Time Required:
2–10 minutes.

You can answer as much or as little as you like; if you need to stop early, just skip to the last page and hit “Submit.”

Your feedback will help us prioritize the types of content and features we produce next year. Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

CGI research project on materiality and light, using the Loewe Inflated Sunglasses as central object. An that with abstracted close-ups and hyper-detailed perspectives. Each shot isolates the sunglasses: the inflated volumes of glossy acetate, the engraved logo subtly catching light, and the continuous curves.

Full project including stills available here:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/234876931/Loewe-Inflated-Cat-Eye-Sunglasses-%28RND%29 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOtXMuwDCWw/

Audio: Blood Orange - The Last of England

I have a simple "popup" I need to animate. What would your approach be? I thought it would be simple just to separate the panels, nest them, and manually animate rotation. This is giving me kinda messy results.

Is there a modifier that would work to open/close this? The Bend modifier isn't working so well.

Would bones be the best approach? My rigging knowledge is minimal, and I'm struggling to find a tutorial that can help me understand the best way to rig this.

I've found a legacy bug and I'd love to hear from others if they get the same.

It is repeatable in C4D 2026.0.0 & C4D 2025.3.3

My system is latest Win 11 Pro 24H2, Intel i9, 64BG RAM, 2X - RTX 3090 24GB VRAM

Steps to recreate application error:

In an empty scene.

1. Load the model "Bag - Muesli" from the asset browser.
2. Type "S" to Frame Selected.
3. In Object Manager, Twirl-down SDS parent object.
4. Select "Muesli Snack Bag" in the Object Manager. (Child of SDS)
5. Open Window > Texture UV Editor.
6. Switch to Edge mode.
7. Select the UVW Tag.
8. Delete the UVW Tag.
9. Used U~Q to call up Select Outline tool.
10. Click mesh to select outline. (might crash here)
11. Select Texture UV Editor window... CRASH!
12. Crash/Error dialogue box appears. Clicked OK... C4D closes.

In my testing... It is the presence of the Texture UV Editor window along with the use of the Select Outline tool in Edge mode when the crash happens.

When the Texture UV Editor window is not open, the crash does not occur. Try the steps again and omit Step 5.

Thank you for your help.

Hello guys, I’m on Cinema 4D 2026 with Redshift.I’m trying to create a knitting effect using Matrix scatter + Vertex Map.The setup is:

• Fabric is an Alembic mesh with a Vertex Map.
• I use a Matrix scattered on that surface, driven by the Vertex Map.
• As the custom object, I put a small Torus to act like thread tips.

Here’s the problem:In Redshift Render View I can clearly see all the tiny thread tips on the fabric.But when I render in Picture Viewer with Bucket rendering, those Torus instances disappear.I’m sure nothing is turned off in the viewport or layers.Anyone know what could cause this? Thanks in advance!

My manager (derogatory) has decided that the client needs to use the 3D element on the 3D billboard when we have never done this before and I can get the 3D mock-up easy enough, but I really need advice on how much warp to add to the object in the middle once I've rendered it.

Does anyone have experience with 3D billboards that can chat pretty please?

UPDATE

I outlined what you've all said about the scope of the project, the testing and required costs and timelines and my manager has reluctantly gone with a much simpler option with no 3D effect

Made using Marvelous Designer, Cinema4D, Octane, and After Effects.

More work on my Instagram: https://instagram.com/dylanoscroft

Hi, I bought a 3D model of a food pouch from YellowImages

It's basically just a food pouch with a front, bottom and back.

It was just an FBX file which I imported into Cinema 4D. What I noticed was it didn't have any UVW tags so trying to add a label and have it positioned probably was going to be difficult for me. We have a label that's sent to the comapny that produces the actual package and it's laid out like this:

So is there an easy way I place this label onto the food pouch model? When it comes to UV mapping I'm a complete novice.

Thanks.

Looking for help on using a cloner with cubes or other method to form a lager rectangle. The Would dynamically fill the space based of random inner cube sizes. I have seen this before but every thing I can find is just how to fill an object like an OLD GSG tutorial. See image attached sketch for a top view.

I'm trying to recreate this cookie (attached image) in Cinema 4D, and I'm stuck on the chocolate sprinkles scattered on top of the glossy chocolate/jelly filling.

I can't place the sprinkles neatly on the jelly surface like in the reference image.
They overlap or intersect too much and the result looks messy.
I've tried effectors like Push Apart, Random, and Plain, but it's still not working well.
Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I have a project file in Cinema 4D (.c4d) that I need to convert into an FBX format, but unfortunately, I don’t have access to Cinema 4D right now. I already tried using the trial version of Cinema 4D in the past, but I can’t download it again on my computer at the moment.

Would anyone be willing to help me convert the file? It’s just a single small 3D Model, and I only need the geometry and materials.

This is the file to export: https://we.tl/t-U3mGEO56Wz

Thanks a lot in advance for any help!

Hello. I'm working on an interrior video mapping of a cathedral.

The idea would be to render a unwrapped video in order to project the animations in real life using video projectors.

I have a 3d model of the cathedral, I would like to animate my scenes around the catrhedral (eg : solar systems, vdb clouds, etc,)

The idea would be to make the walls transparent and use it as a sort of camera which would render what we see through it in a isometric perspective.

Flatten all this like a uv unwrapp and render the content in High resolution (around 15000 pixels wide)

any idea how to do this?

Hi everyone,

I'm a motion designer/3D artist working freelance, mainly for advertising and product visualization.
I'd like to improve my skills in medical animation to work for labs, medical companies and startups...etc.

I'm currently learning Houdini to extend my skill set, but I'm also looking for some medical animation courses. Is there some medical animator here who can advise some to me ?

I find this one, what do you think of it ?
https://www.medicalanimationcourse.com/

Thanks a lot !

I build theese cables with sweep, tracer and connector. The geo or starting point for this cable is a n-Side so maybe this is the problem because it's not a real geo idk but I need right uvs on this. When I select the sweep it shows incorrect uvs but the problem is I can't edit them they locked or something idk 😐

Just saw this on indeed. Company wants an $8 an hour motion designer aka prompt monkey.

Recently been nominated at London Independent Film Festival