70 Ultimate Cinema 4D Tutorials & Techniques

Today we share a very comprehensive round-up of Cinema 4D Tutorials. Cinema 4D is a modeling, animation and rendering application that is noted for its flexible interface and ease of use. It is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modeling, animating, lighting, texturing and rendering. Movies like Monster House, Spiderman 3, Chronicles of Narnia, Beowulf and Polar Express are all examples of Cinema 4D Graphics being in use.

Cinema 4D comes with an intuitive interface and a sound workflow that let the imagination and creativity of an artist flow freely. It also allows for a simple integration with compositing application pipelines making it a multi-purpose application that can be used in films and in motion graphics.

Cinema 4D Tutorials

Create an Abstract Armored Sphere Scene in Cinema 4D

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a complex abstract Armored Sphere scene in Cinema 4D. You will use structure tools (such as Extrude and Extrude Inner), HyperNURBS, and the Danel shader to create the scene, and then render it with Advanced Render.

Making Of: Primateran

In this tutorial artist creates a scene that showed a part of the world of the “Primaterans” – a civilization that prefers dark corners of the galaxy, hiding from their enemies until their armada is strong enough to destroy them.

Create a Jelly-like Text Animation in Cinema 4D and After Effects

Learn the tools necessary to create interesting and captivating motion graphics in this exciting look into modeling, rigging, animation, materials, lighting, rendering and compositing using Cinema 4D and After Effects.

Linear Workflow for Gamma Correct Lighting in Cinema 4D

One of the most critical elements involved in creating realistically lit interior environments is exposure control. In this tutorial you will be introduced to using the linear workflow for gamma correct lighting in Cinema 4D, allowing you produce more photorealistic renders, as well as improve specular highlights and anti-aliasing.

Create a Realistic Subway Station Scene using Cinema 4D and After Effects

This tutorial takes us underground to examine how to build a 3D model of a subway train and make it zip past a real subway platform.

Create a Detailed Zune HD MP3 Player in Cinema 4D – Day 2

Creating convincing product visualizations can sometimes be a daunting task, due to the high level of detail and fidelity the artist must achieve in order to make it believable. In this multi-part, intermediate to advanced level tutorial, you will learn the many techniques needed to model a Microsoft Zune HD.

Model a Venus-styled Robot in Cinema 4D

In this tutorial you’ll learn how to model and texture a small robot from scratch and place it in a lit scene. This is a comprehensive tutorial with 127 steps and will provide a complete introduction to making 3D art for the intermediate to advanced Cinema 4D user.

3D Text in Cinema 4D

In this tutorial, artist recorded 3D animated text tips that people want to see and he try to do it on the fly.

On/Off Switch

Enable or disable multiple objects at with one click Increase viewport speed and animation playback.

Shattering an Object in Cinema 4D

In this tutorial, Artist show you how to set up the textures and the lights in this scene to prepare it for render. We use the GI Sky Sampler and an HDRI image to light the scene without any actual lights.

Apple Pro Speaker Cinema4D Tutorial

Learn how to design an Apple Pro Speaker with some simple steps in C4D.

Making of: The Worm

This scene was created using Cinema 4D and was done as follows.

Making of Compsognathus

In this tutorial artist will show you briefly how he created this little dinosaurs. he created this one using Cinema 4D, Corel Photo-Paint and xNormal for the Normal Map generation. The Cinema 4D layout can be seen in Fig.01.

Making of Super Snail

This work is fully modeled and rendered in Cinema 4D. Artist have used BodyPaint and Photoshop for the textures.

How to Create Explosive Typographic Effects in Cinema 4D

In this tutorial artist will walk through the steps he used to create this illustration to bring alive the word “collide.”

3D Abstract Tentacle Tutorial

Tutorial on how to make tentacles like this in the image using cinema 4D 😉

DOOR TYPE

How to create a 3D type effect using Cinema 4d and Photoshop.

Creating a Line Object Render

In this tutorial you will learn how to create great looking Line Renders using extruding and deformers, line renders are amazing looking renders that are often used on wallpapers or photo manipulations.

How to Make A Glossy Candy Stripe Texture in Cinema 4D

In this quick tutorial, Artist show you how to make a glossy candy stripe texture. Artist have used this texture a ton lately when playing with the new physics engine. The stripes help show when spheres start to rotate, so you may want to head back and do that one first. Enjoy!

Modeling a Car using Blueprints

In this massive tutorial you will learn how to model a car using blueprints, points and the bridge tool. Basic Cinema 4D knowledge is required for this tutorial!

Modeling a Zebra

Here’s the Zebra 3D modeling tutorial by Pupi for Cinema 4D. And the Great thing is, you can download his 3D model for FREE!

Bulb Modelling Tutorial

A very detailed and step by step tutorial on how to create electric bulb.

Armor plates C4D tutorial

A great step by step tutorial on Armor plates.

Cinema 4D + Poser tutorial

Beautiful tutorial and its mixture of Cinema 4D and Poser.

Font Explode

In this tutorial you will learn how to create an explosive type effect!

Dotted-Lines

In this tutorial you will learn How to create an animated dotted line stroke.

The “UV-Map Dirtmap Baker” Tutorial

Cinema 4D veteran Peter Hofmann aka peXel presents us with this handy tutorial covering the following topics: How to get a “clean” UV – Map, How to calculate a Dirt – Map, How to work with Baker.

Little Planet

In this tutorial we’re going to use Cinema 4d to create the 3d text like in the image above. Feel free to use the software of your choice, this is a technique that can be easily duplicated in other 3D apps.

WORKING WITH PROCEDURALS

In this tutorial we will learn how much powerful procedurals are, and also some basics regarding shading/lighting.

Making an Hourglass

This tutorial will teach you to make a great sandglass, which you can use for plenty of purposes. You can find the finished model and other stuff from there.

Peanut Can BASIC Tutorial

Just a quick, easy dirty way to create a peanut can (or most types of cans with lids for that matter) in cinema 4D. Again its more about how easy the actual model and geometry is compared to the actual texturing.

Daylight tutorial

This amazing 3d scene, entitled Daylight, was created by Carles Piles. Read how the scene was created in the tutorial below.

Creating Car Tires

This tutorial will teach you how to make beautiful car tires step by step.

Texturing Objects and Lights in Cinema 4D

In this tutorial, artist will go though the steps in texturing objects in Cinema 4D. He also play with using textures to actually light the scene.

Shattering Glass

In this tutorial we’ll look at how to build a glass shatter effect, based on a recent project for Damages 2, using Illustrator, After Effects and Cinema 4D. This section includes capturing the template in After Effects, paths in Illustrator and setting up imported splines as polygons in Cinema 4D.

Modeling a Piano

This tutorial will show you how to make awesome model of piano.

Create 3D objects in Cinema 4D from vector art

This is a video tutorial on taking vector art and importing it into Cinema 4D to create a 3D object that can be animated, textured, and manipulated in 3D space. In this tutorial, written by David from filmmakingcentral.com he shows you exactly how to do this.

How i do my Materials

In this tutorial you will learn how to create awesome matterial, that can be very useful for your upcoming tasks.

Create a UFO in C4D

In this tutorial artist will show you how to create a basic textured disc shape and then drop it into an Array Object where you can create an epic looking UFO.

Skyline R34 Starter Tutorial

Although in this tutorial does not cover entire car, only the bonnet, fender and door, hope that you will learn lots of techniques in this tutorial.

3D E-Book-Cover

In this tutorial you will learn how to make E Book Cover step by step.

Simple UFO Tutorial

Nothing fancy, but it could help someone, somewhere, somehow, this tutorial iGrass Tutorial Cinema 4Ds written for Cinema 4D, but could easily be adapted for any other 3D app out there.

Classy Glassy Balls

Tutorial made for Cinema 4d but can be applied to almost any 3d rendering program.

Area Light and Ambient Light

In this Cinema 4D tutorial, he get into lighting a scene with the Ambient Light and Area Light CS Tools.

Creating a Ball Bearing using Arrays

In this tutorial you will learn how to create a ball bearing using an Array Object. You will also learn about the use of the Taper object, Fillet option and Bevel function.

Egg Modeling Tutorial

Tutorial made for Cinema 4d but can be applied to almost any 3d rendering program.

Trash Can Tutorial

This tutorial shows how to make a simple modern trash can or “abstract” form you can use in your scenery, it also serves as practice for extrude tools and getting familiar with them.

Cinema 4d Low Poly Gun Tutorial

Wanna make something like this in Cinema 4D R8 and Unwrap 3D? so this tutorial is best for this.

Making 3D Bullet Case

This week, artist will show you how to make your own geometry easily. Although almost every 3D application can perform the same task, he will use Maxon’s Cinema 4D.

Interior Part 2

A detailed and very comprehensive tutorial about Interior.

Grass Tutorial Cinema 4D

This tutorial will show you how to make beautiful grass.

City tutorial

A very useful Tutorial that how you can make a city buildings.

Bart Simpson

A detailed and step by step tutorial that will teach you lots of techniques.

A Recipe for Skin

In this tutorial Artist will examine a few different strategies for achieving a realistic skin shader in Cinema 4D. Skin has a particular quality that sets it apart from ordinary surfaces: it is luminously translucent.

Create Mac OSX Intro Video with C4D

In this tutorial Satya Meka will walk us through Cinema 4D and how to create the 3d text in this effect.

Cinema 4D Diamonds Tutorial

Not for complete beginners as artist made it pretty quick, but those of you that know the basics should understand.

Arq02 – Lamps

Mindblwoing tutorial and you will learn in this how to make a beautiful Lamp.

Renault Clio in Cinema 4D

In the following tutorial we would like to show how you can map decals and sponsor stickers in Cinema 4D R8.5

Ipod Video-Tutorial

Great tutorial on Ipod Making.

Dvd Player Tutorial Part 1

Part 1 of 3 video tutorials for Cinema 4D showing how to model a Dvd Player.

Green Abstract Tutorial

Create this abstract with the easiest way!

Making a glass and a wine bottle with C4D

This tutorial demonstrates ways to make a glass, its materials and the content inside the glass. Artist made the model in c4d r9, but It can be done with lower versions.

Create an Amazing Liquid Apple Effect in RealFlow, Cinema 4D, and After Effects

Learn the animation basics and looping in Cinema 4D.

Model, Texture, and Render an Interior Scene With Cinema 4D and VRay

In this beginner/ intermediate level tutorial, you will learn how to create and render a realistic interior scene in Cinema 4D and Vray. In this tutorial you will focus on modeling the room and all of the furniture, and the second on materials, lights, rendering, and post production.

How to Export 3d Camera Data from Cinema 4D into After Effects

When it comes to motion graphics, exporting camera data from a 3D program to a 2D compositing program is one of the most important techniques you could know. In this tutorial, you will learn the basics behind getting Cinema 4D and After Effects to talk to one another, including using exporting tags, using the camera data in After Effects within 3D layers and effects, and how to set up and tweak your render for the best results.

Making of Portrait of a Silent Man

In this tutorial Patrick Eischen is going to show you how he created his image “Portrait of a silent man” using Cinema 4D and ZBrush.

Rolling Red Carpet

How to a rolling carpet and text effect in Cinema 4d.

3D Toys Animation

Learn the animation basics and looping in Cinema 4D.

3D Toys Animation

Cinema4D – Full Guide

Further resources

• 30 Realistic Cinema 4D Tutorials

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash