RW and C4D FAQ_FINAL

Frequently Asked Questions: Renderworks and CINEMA 4D
1.
Do I need to purchase CINEMA 4D in order to run Renderworks?
a. No. You simply need to buy Renderworks with your Vectorworks product
purchase in order to run Renderworks. The CINEMA 4D render engine is the
core technology Renderworks is using to produce renderings directly from
your Vectorworks model.
2.
What is CINEMA 4D?
a. CINEMA 4D is a state-of-the-art rendering software that is used to create the
highest quality renderings and animations. It is an ideal solution for the
professional 3D visualization professional.
3.
Do I still need CINEMA 4D now that Renderworks is based on the CINEMA 4D render
engine?
a. In all likelihood, yes. The CINEMA 4D render engine provides Renderworks
users with a substantial improvement in ease of use, speed, and overall
quality of still rendering. However, CINEMA 4D provides additional high-end
functionality such as fine-tuning material and light settings, huge libraries of
interior and exterior objects and the ability to create impressive images and
dynamic animations.
4.
What is CINEMA 4D Visualize?
a. CINEMA 4D Visualize is the Professional Solution from MAXON Computer
for Architects and Designers. It leverages CINEMA 4D functionality to deliver
a professional solution for architects and designers. CINEMA 4D Visualize
includes all features of the previous Architecture and Engineering Editions,
i.e. the former Advanced Render, Sketch and Toon and NET Render 3
modules plus extensive object and material libraries.
5.
What is the difference between Renderworks and CINEMA 4D?
a. Both products offer you the ability to create high quality rendering capability.
The advantage of Renderworks is that the rendering is integrated into the
Vectorworks interface, which means you can process your rendering at the
push of a button. With CINEMA 4D you’ll be able to take your Vectorworks
model to the next level with a vast amount of lighting and material resources,
and animation capabilities in a separate rendering application.
6.
Is it worth it to own both Renderworks and CINEMA 4D?
a. Yes! In addition to the high quality push button rendering you get in
Renderworks, adding CINEMA 4D gives you the advantage of rendering files
offline, and network rendering capabilities, enabling you to simultaneously
design in Vectorworks.
7.
Is there a special offer to purchase both?
a. Yes! Nemetschek Vectorworks and MAXON Computer are pleased to offer
customers a bundle deal for owning both Renderworks 2011, and CINEMA
4D Visualize. Details of the offer vary by region. For availability of the bundle
deal and details of the offer, please visit the website of your local
Vectorworks and CINEMA 4D distributor.
8.
With Renderworks 2011, how do I send my files from Vectorworks to CINEMA 4D?
Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc.
7150 Riverwood Drive
Columbia, MD 21046 USA
T 410-290-5114
F 410-290-8050
www.vectorworks.net
a.
9.
It’s very easy with version 2011. Simply use the Send to CINEMA 4D
command or the Export to CINEMA 4D command from the file menu. It’s that
simple.
Is there a difference between the Send to CINEMA 4D command and the Export
CINEMA 4D from the Export menu?
a. Yes, there is. The Send to CINEMA 4D command will send a temporary file
from Vectorworks, and immediately launch and open the file in CINEMA 4D.
The Export to CINEMA 4D command will export your Vectorworks model as
a CINEMA 4D file.
10. Can CINEMA 4D files be imported into Vectorworks?
a. At this point we have a direct compatibility for sending files from Vectorworks
to CINEMA 4D. Importing from CINEMA 4D to Vectorworks is not presently
an available featue, but it is being worked on. As an alternative, you can
always import information from CINEMA 4D via DXF or 3DS into
Vectorworks.
11. Are there differences with how the educational version of Renderworks interacts with
CINEMA 4D?
a. No. The educational version of Renderworks has the same interaction with
CINEMA 4D as the professional version. You can use the Send to CINEMA
4D or Export to CINEMA 4D commands from the file menu.
12. Will the rendering look the same in both applications?
a. The rendering you see in Renderworks 2011 will have the same view and
same rendering options as when it was exported. You will then have the
ability to customize your rendering further in CINEMA 4D using materials,
lighting and render effects to achieve a stunning results.
13. I have the old plug-ins for getting my files from Vectorworks to CINEMA 4D. Do you
still support this?
a. The old plug-ins are still being made and will continue to be supported for the
current release. The plug-ins have not yet been updated to work with the
latest versions. Please check http://www.maxon.net/en/downloads/updatesco/updates/plugins.html
for further details.
14. Is Renderworks now 64-bit?
a. Yes! Thanks to the new CINEMA 4D Engine your renderings with
Renderworks will now take advantage of 64-bit technology. Renderworks will
utilize all the available cores in you machine, making isolated calculations to
process your rendering.
15. Are textures with Renderworks compatible with CINEMA 4D?
a. Renderworks textures export to CINEMA 4D with the same exact
appearance. No texture information is lost when exported.
16. Does Renderworks support Sketch & Toon from CINEMA 4D?
a. Yes. Sketch & Toon is integrated into the Artistic Renderworks options.
17. Does Renderworks support Render Instances?
a. No. However, your Vectorworks symbol instances will become CINEMA 4D
instances on export.
18. Which rendering features of CINEMA 4D Visualize are not parts of Renderworks?
a. You will find many of the same aspects of Advance Render integrated in
Renderworks. The integration is done in a simple interface that makes it
easy to configure a scene, and take advantage of the speed and global
illumination lighting. However, there are a number of additional features in
CINEMA 4D Visualize that are not integrated in Renderworks, such as;
Ambient Occlusion, Sky Shader and Subpolygon Displacement, Caustics,
and Subsurface scattering.
19. Does CINEMA 4D support Image Props exported by Vectorworks?
a. Yes, they are supported as Textures and Geometry.
20. Does Renderworks 2011 support export to Epix to support Piranesi?
a. No. The Epix export was provided by the LightWorks rendering library and
CINEMA 4D doesn’t presently support this format.
21. Do the Send to or Export to CINEMA 4D commands maintain my drawing
organization?
a. Yes. Vectorworks layers are shown as CINEMA 4D container objects.
Vectorworks classes are shown as CINEMA 4D layers, so you have the same
control over the hierarchy as you do in Vectorworks.
22. What are the recommended System Requirements for Renderworks 2011?
a. Please refer to the system recommendations located at the Vectorworks
knowledgebase.
23. Does Renderworks include a new Animation module?
a. No. The integration of the CINEMA 4D render engine in Renderworks 2011
does not include an Animation module. However, these capabilities are
available in the CINEMA 4D products.
24. Will my existing scenes in Renderworks come into 2011 unchanged?
a. Existing Renderworks scenes that are opened in version 2011 will likely
need some adjustment. Renderworks 2011 will make automatically map your
existing textures to a similar texture in version 2011. However, you will likely
have to make some modifications to the scene in 2011 to make it look
identical to the older version.
25. Are the artistic rendering modes still the same? Will my existing artistic renders look
the same in 2011?
a. The artistic rendering modes in Renderworks 2011 are new as part of the
implementation of the CINEMA 4D render engine. Your existing models will
automatically be mapped to a similar artistic style in 2011.
26. Will the Send to CINEMA 4D command work with my CINEMA 4D R11 version?
a. No. The integration of this command in Renderworks coincides with
additional functionality included in CINEMA 4D R12.