#5 in Cinema 4DUdemyCinema 4dPaid courseBeginner level

Cinema 4D - The Fundamentals (Udemy.com)

An Introductory course of Cinema 4D

4.1

52 reviews

Created by: Sam Rao

Last updated September 2021

Our take

Based on the ratings of 52 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2021. No course pays to be reviewed.

A free, 54 minute introduction to Cinema 4D from Sam Rao, a former TV graphics freelancer who now teaches 2D and 3D animation part time at a university. Nine short lectures cover the basics of modeling, and that is the whole scope. The description is upfront that materials, lighting, rendering and animation are planned as separate modules, so this is a first taste of the software, not a route to finished work. It suits people who have never opened a 3D program.

Reviews are mostly positive, with 39 of 52 ratings at four or five stars and no one-star ratings at all. One reviewer calls it nice for anyone with zero modeling experience, and the description promises a recap at the top of each lecture plus highlighted keyboard shortcuts. The complaints are consistent. Some lectures are explained more carefully than others, nothing shows how to render what gets built, and anyone who has used another 3D program will find it too easy. The one two-star review in our sample comes from someone who expected to learn animation and didn't.

It costs nothing, so the honest question is whether an hour is worth it. For a total beginner deciding whether Cinema 4D is for them, yes. The material dates from September 2021 and hasn't been refreshed, so expect an older interface, and the section list is just lettered headings with no projects. Treat this as a free preview before committing to one of the other Cinema 4D courses on this page.

Best forAbsolute beginners who want a free hour with Cinema 4D before paying for a longer course.

Skip it ifYou have used any 3D software before, or you want lighting, rendering or animation covered.

Pros

Free and under an hour, so there is nothing to lose in finding out if Cinema 4D suits you.
Pitched at zero modeling experience, and a reviewer says it is nice for anyone starting from there.
Nine short lectures in sequence, each opening with a recap and highlighting the keyboard shortcuts used.
No one-star reviews out of 52, and three quarters of ratings are four or five stars.

Cons

Stops at modeling: rendering, materials, lighting and animation are not covered, and reviewers miss them.
Last updated in September 2021, so the interface shown will be older than the current release.
Explanations are uneven, with some lectures walked through more carefully than others, and there are no projects.

The course is nice for anyone that have 0 modeling experience, but if you at least used some 3D programs before, it will be too easy for you :)

Tzu-wen Chiang, a student

Genuinely beginner: no prerequisites beyond basic computer use, but too easy for anyone who has touched another 3D app.

What you will learn

Learn to creative designs for print, web and film
Secure for themeselves a good and bright future as a 3D animator
Help those with already basic skills to hone those skills
Learn to execute creative tasks in a given time frame

Course content

9 sections · 9 lectures · 54 min of video

1Introduction 1 free preview1 lecture · 2 min
2Section 1-B1 lecture · 4 min
3Section 1-C1 lecture · 2 min
4Section 1-D1 lecture · 8 min
5Section 1-E1 lecture · 10 min
6Section 1-F1 lecture · 3 min
7Section 1-G1 lecture · 6 min
8Section 1-H1 lecture · 4 min
9Section 1-I1 lecture · 14 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

For students of Design, Multimedia, Graphics and Animation

What you need before you start

None. Except a basic knowledge of computers. Some experience with basic graphic software preferred

Course Description

Hi. I am Sam Rao and welcome to my C4-D fundamentals course.

This course takes you through, step by step into the fine art of becoming a proficient 3D animator. The software of choice is Cinema 4D, a software becoming increasingly popular in the Broadcast and Motion Graphics industry. Each and every topic is generously interspersed with explanatory graphics which complement the material being taught. Care has been taken that keyboard shortcuts are highlighted where they have been used, and also there is a brief recap of the start of each new session of what was covered earlier. The course consists of primarily video lectures, as this was deemed the format most easily absorbed by new learners. The course does not need advanced knowledge of computers or knowledge of 2D animation or even animation principles. Each new lecture may contain some portions of the earlier lecture, so it is advised that the lectures or sessions be followed in sequence. And some topics have projects also include, but the introductory series does not. The first few chapters deal with topics that are relevant to modeling while the following series covers materials, lighting, render settings and Animation. I hope you enjoy this relevant and practical course and do the projects that are given at the end of some chapters of this exciting and industry relevant course.

I will be doing all the other parts of Cinema 4D, namely lighting, Materials, Textures, Rendering and animation in later modules. Watch out for those!

Beginner Level

Time: 54 mins

Udemy Discount

The discount is applied through our link. Open the course from here and Udemy's current promotional price is applied at checkout on most courses, no code to type.

Get the Udemy discount

Some courses are excluded from Udemy's promotions. If the price does not drop, clear your browser cookies and use the button again.

Instructor Details

Sam Rao

4.1 Rating
52 Reviews

Worked for TV channels for nine years and after that about 8 years as a free lancer, doing mainly video editing, graphics and animation. For the last six years been in academics as a part time teacher teaching 2D and 3D animation in a well known university. Very very familiar with most video editing software like Final Cut Pro (older ones like 7.0, 7.1) as well as FCP - X. Also with Adobe Premiere Pro and Da Vinci Resolve Studio (ver 16). Also very very familiar with motion graphic software like After Effects and Cinema 4D which I use quite a bit for motion graphics. Also know 3DS Max and am now learning Houdini. Love teaching students, doing productions (when free) and constantly trying to hone my skills in new and upcoming software (like Blender, for instance)