Maxon releases Cinema 4D 2024.4
Maxon has released Cinema 4D 2024.4, the new version of its 3D design and animation software.
The release introduces Cinema 4D Particles, a complete new GPU-accelerated particle toolset, integrated with the software’s Unified Simulation System.
There are also improvements to other simulation types, including rigid body and cloth simulations, plus smaller workflow updates to the 3D modeling tools and Asset Browser.
The update is part of Maxon’s Spring 2024 releases, along with Redshift 3.6, a major update to the renderer, and Red Giant 2024.2.
New GPU-accelerated particle toolset, integrated with the Unified Simulation System
The major new feature in Cinema 2024.4 is Cinema 4D Particles, the new particle toolset.
Unlike the previous particle tools, it is integrated into Cinema 4D’s Unified Simulation System, so particles can interact with the other simulation types that it supports, including rigid bodies, soft bodies, cloth and Pyro, the new smoke and fire simulation toolset.
Cinema 4D Particles is GPU-accelerated, and can process higher numbers of particles – and generate more detailed results – than the previous tools.
New workflows for emitting, controlling and caching particles
Particle systems can be created via a “simple logic tree set-up” in the Object Manager, combinining particle emitters, conditions, forces and modifiers.
Particles can be emitted from shapes, meshes and splines, or generated from existing particles, with the option to group the particles created to make it easier to manage simulations.
For motion graphics, there are new options in the MoGraph Cloner object for using particles.
As well as forces like wind, turbulence and gravity, particle systems can be controlled with proximity-based modifiers, making it possible to set up flocking and predator-prey behaviors.
Particle simulations can be rendered in Cinema 4D’s Redshift renderer, or cached in Alembic format, making it possible to export them to other DCC applications.
Updates to rigid body and cloth simulation
Other simulation types, including rigid bodies, cloth and ropes, can also now be cached in Alembic format.
The Connector Object, for creating linkages like hinges and pivots, has been updated, and now supports dynamic objects of rigid body simulations, with the option to automatically generate multiple connections on several objects from a single instance.
Rigid bodies and cloth can now react to aerodynamic effects like Drag and Lift.
Updates to 3D modeling, the Asset Browser and file import
Updates to the 3D modeling tools include a new Keep Spacing option for the Smooth Edges tool, and support for Live Property Transfer on Tags from from one object to another.
The Asset Browser now automatically triggers the Place tool while dragging assets to a scene, and automatically creates a dome light when dragging a HDRI to a scene.
And building on the changes to glTF export in Cinema 4D 2024.3, it is now possible to import pose morph animations in glTF format.
Price and system requirements
Cinema 4D 2024.4 is available for Windows 10+ and macOS 11.7.7+. The update is available rental-only, with single-product subscriptions costing $94/month or $719/year.
To subscribe to Cinema 4D alone, you now have to click the Buy Now button for the ‘C4D + Redshift’ subscription in Maxon’s online store, then select Cinema 4D as an alternate option.
Read a list of new features in Cinema 4D 2024.4 in the online release notes
Read more about the new features in Cinema 4D 2024.4 in the online manual
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