Primitive and Spline Modeling in Cinema 4D

Take a reference photograph and create a model from its shapes and pieces with the primitive and spline modeling tools in CINEMA 4D and C4D Lite.

The primitive and spline modeling tools are universal across all levels of CINEMA 4D (including C4D Lite) and they're some of the best ways to model mechanical objects and other complex objects made of simpler parts. In this course, Donovan Keith shows you how to take a reference photograph and create a model from its shapes and pieces. You'll learn to prep your primitive components and move them into position with the snapping tools. Then you'll deform and combine shapes, duplicating and reusing elements to increase your efficiency, and create a more consistent model. Last, you'll work with splines—extruding objects to give them depth, creating models around an axis with lathes, and stretching surfaces over splines with lofts.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Modeling Concepts

• Complex objects are made of pieces and shapes
• Mesh resolution
• Model only what you see

2. Preparing Components for Placement

• Getting more out of your primitives
• Grouping objects into components
• Adjusting the axes of objects for easier assembly
• Ensuring components have the proper scale

3. Accurately Assembling Components

• Using the four-way view to place objects
• Align and space objects with the Arrange tool
• Quantizing movement
• Snapping

4. Deforming and Combining 3D Shapes

• Modifying basic shapes with deformers
• Additive and subtractive modeling with Booleans
• Creating complex shapes with nested Booleans

5. Duplicating and Reusing Elements

• Creating live copies with the Instance object
• Using the Duplicate command

6. Primary Object Types

• Understanding spline types
• An overview of Sweep, Loft, and Lathe

7. Working with Reference Imagery

• Collecting reference material
• Guidelines for shooting reference images
• Processing reference images in Photoshop
• Adding references to your viewports in CINEMA 4D

8. Working with Splines

• Drawing bezier splines
• Combining splines with Spline Mask
• Rounding corners with Chamfer
• Outlining curves

9. Extrude Modeling

• Creating a simple extrusion
• Creating extrusions with holes using Connect
• Solving common issues with extrusions
• Preparing Illustrator files for import
• Importing and extruding AI files

10. Sweep Modeling

• Creating a simple sweep
• Create a complex sweep
• Solving common issues with sweeps

11. Lathe Modeling

• Creating a simple lathe
• Creating a complex lathe
• Creating partial outlines
• Solving common issues with lathes

12. Loft Modeling

• Creating a simple loft
• Creating a loft from a reference

Conclusion

• Next steps