Video-Based Tutorial: Page (1) of 1 - 06/20/09

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KILLING LIGHTS in CINEMA4D Quick Tip: Cleaning up for export to After Effects By Ko Maruyama If you're familiar with CINEMA 4D's ability to export to Adobe After Effects, you know that all of the camera and light data can be saved in a single file - for use within a 3D composition in AE.  However, sometimes unnecessary light animation and 3D data makes that AEC file heavy.  Here's how to clean up your export file.

You're probably aware by now that you can export any CINEMA 4D file as an AEC - - which means that you can open it directly from within Adobe's After Effects, capturing all of the 3D data that is attached to the cameras, lights, and external compositing tags.




This makes C4D a great companion to After Effects because you can utilize all of the C4D keyframes in your 3D AE comp.  If you use parenting, expressions, or layer replacements, you can achieve some really effective compositing solutions very easily.

However, if your C4D scene contains many animated lights, exporting the AEC file can take a while.  This is great if you need all of that data, but if you don't, there's an easy way to clean up all of the lights in your C4D scene so you only extract the camera and external compositing data into your aec file.

Here's how:



Don't have CINEMA 4D YET?  You can download a demo copy to try out all of the modules for 42 days free! See more (and possible discount opportunities) at http://www.maxon.net

For rants, ramblings and general announcements - check out a chaotic blog in the BlogZone:
http://www.ninjacrayon.com/

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Ko Maruyama is a freelance animator in Los Angeles.  In addition to working on film and broadcast animations, Ko teaches at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design - focusing on motion design.  When working, writing or testing software allows, you can find him lending a hand in the After Effects board and lurking among the Cinema4D, Visual Effects and Photoshop posts within the DMNForums.

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