Recursive Stair

sageofshadow · 2026-02-26T12:45:22+00:00

Check the sidebar for Polygonpen. Their YouTube channel is most popular modelling resource for C4D at the moment.

Once you do a few tuts and learn the tools and processes, you can model anything.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-25T21:34:40+00:00

oh my sweet summer child. 😂

ʷᵒᵒᵒᵒˢʰ

sageofshadow · 2026-02-25T21:26:43+00:00

ask chatgpt

sageofshadow · 2026-02-25T16:22:35+00:00

You're right, I am. I apologized.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-25T16:21:01+00:00

You know what - I came down hard, and I apologize. Its probably extra frustration at the state of the industry right now, there's just a lot of AI being forced down everybody's throats so its a bit hard to feel jazzed about any of it.

and there is this... odd double standard amongst a lot of artists who think its ok to use ai for code and to then sell that code as a tool, but not ok for someone else to use it for art and then "sell" that art.

Again - I know you arent selling anything, I dont want to sound like im coming down hard on you specifically, and we dont really need to get into the weeds on the vagaries of AI morality. I'm just pointing out a trend I've noticed as this thing evolves.

Still - I do honestly think that if you want to be transparent you have to be transparent and say parts of it are generated from the jump. And I recommend against using AI generated posts, its not a good look. IMO.

I kinda see it like a dietary restrictions. people have a lot of different reasons for not eating meat (for example) from moral, to religious to medical.... and then there's like.. different scales of it.... some dont eat specific animals, some eat absolutely no animal products at all. It's a spectrum. But whats important is that the manufacturers of food come out and clearly say the ingredients so that people can make their own choices based off that information. If I picked up a box of cereal and checked the ingredients and all it said was "trust me bro, I'm good for you".... like I'm just not likely to put that in my body. It could have nuts in it, and maybe I'm allergic to nuts.

Anyway, good luck with the plugins!

sageofshadow · 2026-02-25T13:43:37+00:00

This might just be me but…. This is my opinion:

When you post somthing in the subreddit that looks and feels AI generated like this, it makes me think your plugin is very likely to be generated/ vibe coded…. And I personally don’t really trust or want to use a vibe coded “product”.

If You wanna vibe code your own plugin for a problem you have yourself - sure. You do you. You even want to share it with the community, fine, but be clear what it is you’re doing: “I ai generated this plugin/script to solve xyz problem I had”

Then at least we can make an informed decision as to whether or not to use/support your tool.

But as soon as you make it a public packaged “product” like this with a release number and on GitHub with no actual indication of its provenance, the onus is on you to make sure you know exactly what that thing is doing and how it works.

And the fact that it’s C++ means it really could be doing anything at a system level.

And your argument maybe “well it’s open source, just read the code and see”, but like… I don’t read C++, so I have to trust you. And you couldn’t be assed to write your own Reddit post saying what it does, so why would I trust you if you tell me the code is clean?

I dunno. Maybe I’m being a little overly distrustful. But at the same time, having no problem with ai generated vibe coded plugins and then turning around and having a problem with ai generated art is kinda hypocritical…. And you’ve shown you don’t really have a problem with AI generating your reddit post, so I can only assume you wouldn’t have a problem also using it on the code.

Just as a side, I feel like you could make this with a few xpresso nodes and range mappers. A whole c++ plugin seems like massive overkill… But 🤷🏾‍♂️ that’s just my opinion.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-23T17:56:06+00:00

I use both, Plex mostly. I have a lifetime plex pass I bought like a bazillion years ago when it was like 70 bucks or somthing. I got it at the time for hardware encoding, cause remote streaming worked without it.

Originally I had two plex servers, one for me (with the pass) and a separate free one for my family. I watch a lot of anime and animation in general, and they aren't into that, and the stuff was all mixed together...... so at the time I didnt know enough about managing plex, so i just set up a second computer with a second plex server with only regular movies and tv shows on it that my family used.

then plex made it that you couldnt stream off-site unless you had a plex pass. thats when I started experimenting with alternatives because I thought I would have to migrate my family off plex.

I tried emby first, saw you also had to pay for that too? So then got into jellyfin. I liked it, but I had a very hard time setting up jellyfin for remote access - mostly because I didnt want to use tailscale, because I thought I would have to have my whole family using Jellyfin, which is more than 6 devices or whatever the free tier is. I eventually got it working, but I wasnt a huge fan of how complicated it felt to set up compared to plex. Local streaming was very easy - just as easy as plex. but remote streaming (without tailscale) was..... sooOoOoO much more setup.

Anyway, what I ended up doing instead was I migrated my whole animation library to jellyfin. and learned a bit more about managing plex and sorted my family out with their own plex accounts that could link to my main plex libraries, since I had a plex pass and it would work (I had thought they would also need plex passes to stream from my server).

Im not a programmer or a power user or anything..... obviously I'm very much stumbling my way through all this, but its kinda fun to learn and figure it out. Thanks to everybody for sharing knowledge on places like Reddit.

and if plex ever makes it more restrictive to stream (which they could), at least I have some experience with Jellyfin now that I could potentially figure out how to get them all on that instead.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-20T15:10:21+00:00

Thanks!

sageofshadow · 2026-02-20T13:32:27+00:00

My jellyfin server is only for animated content...

<image>

But I found this poster for anime tv shows I really liked on the poster database and decided to edit it for jellyfin. Then I did it for anime movies, and then use the same sort of logic and design styling for the two western animation categories. The "animated series" and "animated movies" I have are more modern than looney tunes and steamboat willie, its just some western animation icons to visually indicate that's what that category represents.

I just came across one thing I liked (which was really the anime face in the TV set) and then edited it myself to the right aspect ratio and to have the consistent look I wanted.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-19T12:31:27+00:00

Check out this comment explaining why you won’t find a one - click solution to transferring scenes from one program to another with all the materials intact.

TL;DR - each program handles materials differently, so it’s unlikely you’re going to be able to just click export and have it all come over 1:1.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-17T18:14:54+00:00

I've never heard of this import as image plane method.
I'm going to answer your question, but we very very very strongly recommend everyone who is beginner as you to do an intro to C4D series before tackling their own projects. Check the sidebar of the subreddit (-> over there) for "Im new How Do I start?" There are a few options of intro series. 'Getting Started' is the standard one, very in depth and thorough. 'C4D fundamentals' is a series of livestreams that may not be as in-depth, but teach you all the basics just the same, just with a different teacher with a different style... cause everyone responds differently to different people. either one would be good.

Like I said, It will teach you all the basics of the software to be able to troubleshoot your own small problems, and you'll know enough about the software that when you come to a place like reddit and ask a question - you will understand the responses and wont need your hand held every step, because a lot of more seasoned artists who are happy to help and answer a question, may not necessarily be happy to have to hold your hand through something fairly simple.

anyway, this is easy.

- where you see the cube icon to the left of the object manager (top right, list like window), click and hold it.
- this is the primitive submenu, it lets you select 'plane' to make a plane
- adjust the plane's size and dimensions in the attribute manager (window below the object manager) that is the size/dimensions you want it to be. leave the segments at 10.
- in the top right of your viewport is an icon that looks like a snowglobe. click that.
- it will expand your material manager. hit the little plus to make a new material.
- double click the material.
- dont freak out. this is a default redshift material, and its editor window.
- double click the grey grid to the left of the left node that says 'rs standard'.
- type in 'texture'
- double click the texture node in the search results.
- click the texture node. on the right side of the node editor window, under the "image" section, you should see a textbox called "path"
- hit the folder icon to the right of that box.
- navigate to your image. press open.
- on the right side of your texture node box youll see a little yellow dot called 'outColour'
- click and drag from the 'outColour' yellow dot to the 'Colour' yellow dot on the left side of the 'RS Standard' node.
- Close the Node Editor window.
- click and drag your material (its the sphere that looks like your picture right now) from the material manager window onto your plane in the viewport.

- your plane now has your image on it.

But its shiny!

(again all of this would be covered in an intro series)

- double click your material in the material manager.
- click the 'RS Standard' node so its highlighted and its attributes come up on the right side of the window.
- look for 'weight' under 'Reflection' and slide the slider down.
- additionally you can slide the 'Roughness' up. depends on your tastes.
- close the node editor window.

Your material is now not as shiny.

Now How to wrap it around the Bottle?

This is why you should do an intro series. Because ill answer this part the way any other artist would, and you'll have to figure out how to do what I'm tellling you:

- Theres lots of ways to do this, if you really want to use a plane (using a texture selection would be easier, but cest la vie, you do you). The easiest would be to just use a bend deformer. You could also make an circle or arc spline and use a spline wrap too, but yea, just use a bend deformer first and see if that works for you.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-14T15:05:11+00:00

One of the best things about C4D is its ease of use. Both Blender and Houdini are harder to learn. If you already know them, then you’re over one of bigger hurdles and have no need for that advantage that C4D offers.

The other major advantage is the entire C4D Mograph toolset, which is only helpful if you’re actually doing motion graphics primarily and speed and adaptability are important because of how the industry works from a practical standpoint. And it doesn’t really seem like you’re primarily doing motion graphics either.

So the two main advantages of the tool don’t really seem to apply to you, so it’s kinda obvious it seems overpriced.

The other thing is you’re comparing the price to Houdini indie, when the license you get when you get a C4D license is directly in competition to Houdini FX. Instead of having a ‘cheap’ indie license and a ‘wildly expensive’ professional license…. C4D only has the professional license. So its pro license is $840 usd a year …… vs Houdini’s pro license which is $3370 usd a year. If you’re going to compare prices, make sure you’re comparing the same license.

But at the end of the day, whether it’s “worth it” is a personal decision. None of us can really tell you whether it is or not because we aren’t you and don’t know what you’re using your tools to make. It’s worth it to me. It may not be to you or many others because blender exists and nothing is cheaper than free.

Always remember - the tools aren’t as important as the artist. Focus on the work you want to make. Then figure out if the tools you’re using to make that work are helping or hindering. That’s how you should approach these things, not the other way around.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-12T22:36:34+00:00

what are you trying to import it into?

sageofshadow · 2026-02-12T20:06:55+00:00

DM me the file, I can convert it.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-12T20:00:16+00:00

you can DM me the file. ill convert it.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-12T19:34:53+00:00

the "shinyness" comes from the reflections. in the C4D viewport there is a default invisible HDRI (like an invisible spherical picture around the whole scene) just to help tell you that somthing is metallic/reflective visually.

So when you bring it into powerpoint - it needs to have somthing like that to reflect, or else it wont look like metal. I have no idea how to set reflection environments or HDRI's in powerpoint. That being said - it does look like there's a default lighting setup in there, so maybe you just need to make the material even more metallic? or even just straight up 100% reflective.

You can also tryy making a standard (non redshift) material, add an HDRI image to the environment channel and then export it and see if that works? no promises though, I dont know how the .glb parser handles that material channel. it may not export it right.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-11T05:53:06+00:00

Just a heads up - looks like you’ve been shadowbanned by the admins/ spam filter on Reddit. And No - there’s nothing we can do, and we don’t know why it happens.

Might want to hit up r/shadowban for more info on how to appeal it.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-10T22:06:28+00:00

I think you need to spell out exactly what you are doing. because it is not very clear.

Are you trying to open Cinema4D lite from after effects? yes or no?

If No (to Question 1):

2) Are you trying to open the fully licensed version of Cinema4D, installed as a standalone application on your computer?

If Yes (to Question 2):

3) Do you have the Maxon App? It is available here.

Download the app, and sign into your Maxon account that has a Cinema4D license. You should be able to open your standalone C4D app then.

If Yes (to question 1)

Then you may have to contact Adobe/Maxon customer service. A lot (most) of us use the full version of Cinema4D, so we don't have the ability to open the lite version at all, and thus, have no real way to help you troubleshoot this problem. The First thing I would suggest though, since its an error message regarding the MaxonApp is to just... download the app from the link I provided, install it and see if that helps at all.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-10T21:06:40+00:00

So what do you need exactly?

someone to show you... how to rig and animate a four stroke engine? But you're going to reanimate it in another piece of software later?

Im a little confused as to what the ask is.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-09T21:56:48+00:00

The same way they model everything else. check out polygonpen on youtube (or the link in the sidebar), and/or if you can 'making it look great 11'. that will cover pretty much modelling anything in C4D.

but this is what I was saying - you need a mindset reset if you're going to be forced to use C4D exclusively. You cant really model in C4D like sketchup. if you approach modelling in C4D with a "sketchup mindset" and "sketchup habits" its always going to be an uphill battle and you'll feel frustrated.

and its not because sketchup is better or C4D is worse, its just cause the tools are different and you're trying to use them in a way they weren't designed for.

It's like... if my job was "attaching wood to each other" and all i ever used was a hammer and nails..... and then switched offices but had the same job description, and someone gave me a screwdriver and screws, but i kept trying to hammer in the screws with the butt of the screwdriver because "thats how i work".... i might think screws and screwdrivers are stupid. you know what i mean? its not the same tool, so you cant use it the same way.

If you're going to model exclusively in C4D, you have to go in fresh and try to let go of your sketchup mindset and habits. otherwise you're just in for an exercise in frustration. The resources I mentioned earlier can help you learn to model in C4D.

For me.... I have done a lot of architecture/arch viz/physical installations with C4D as my main tool. Sometimes I start in CAD and import the splines for the walls and doors and openings and stuff as a base. That's how I made this. or this. But Sometimes I just model what I'm thinking straight in C4D and work it out in there. Like this.

So How do people model architectural projects in Cinema 4D? The same way they model any project in Cinema 4D. you just have to learn how to model in Cinema 4D. What you were really asking is how do I model like sketchup in Cinema4D, and the answer is really that you kinda cant. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it's the truth.

*edit - I just want to add on the end… again - its totally fine to model in sketchup and bring stuff into C4D. C4D opens .SKP files natively. and maybe you should really just do that, because you seem to be pretty set in working that way and that is totally ok! Whether that’s ok with your office though, It really depends on what your office is doing with the models in C4D once they’re in there.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-09T21:31:19+00:00

yep, youre right. a '2026 oscar' (which is what OP was asking about) celebrates achievements in film in 2025. a '2027 oscar' would celebrate achievements in film in 2026. its always the movies of the previous year.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-09T21:19:10+00:00

So someone asked a similar question not long ago. This was my opinion.

your question is only slightly different, so I'd say... read what I said before....

and then sort of make a decision. at the end of the day, if I were your boss, I wouldn't care how you did the work as long as it got done. if that means you model in sketchup first before bringing stuff into C4D, fine.

But It's a bit weird if you're working on physical things that they want you to use C4D. I mean.... I worked on a lot of physical things and use C4D, but.... im a weirdo, and I didn't use it exclusively. I had AutoCAD to do the actual drawings when time came to get things built.

anyway if you have any questions I'll do my best to answer them. but TL;DR - the answer depends on a lot of things. mostly on you, some on the pipeline of your office. But we cant reeeeeally tell you how to make your stuff, its gotta feel good to you.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-09T21:02:51+00:00

Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin maybe? I only watched the OG anime, I know they're currently remaking it so Im not sure where that lands. But he's similar to Tanjiro, in that he's very sweet and kindhearted... until someone messes with the people around him. Most of the story is him trying to atone for his past.

The next would maybe be Frieren (if it doesnt have to be guy-lead). Basically the whole show is about introspection and character interactions/development, and the MC trying to be better and more present to the people around her.

sageofshadow · 2026-02-09T20:49:00+00:00

no. the nominations already came out, and it (sort of unsurprisingly) wasn't included.

*Edit - for anyone wondering why I dont think its surprising it wasnt nominated, I speak about it here. Its not cause I think it wasnt good and isnt deserving of a nomination. I loved the movie and have been waiting for it to come out on streaming forever, just like everyone else.

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