Feather?

[demon-stroke]

What would be the best way to create a feather?

[cutwrk]

If you have got the Hair module, the task is simple - as the module offers the Feather Object among other functions. The procedure is described in the Hair Manual (or in the Help - Modules - Hair, if you're on R10).

If you don't have the Hair module, you can start by creating a rachis using a profile spline and the Lathe NURBs object. Then you can create the feather surface out of a single, elongated plane that you convert to a quadrangle by using Make Editable. The final step is to create two textures. One b/w, is intended for the alpha channel of the material and is used to create the feather shape, irregular spacings in its structure, half-transparency etc. The other is optional, for the Colour channel. Use the Flat projection to project the material to the quadrangle, go to Texture Tool, rotate the projection so that Z faces the surface and then use the Fit to Object function. Finally join the quadrangle to the rachis by "childing" it in the Object Manager.

I hope it helps - if you have got additional questions, feel free to ask.

[demon-stroke]

hmm..do you know if they have a Hair Module for 9.5?

edit: ouch....thats a large ammount of money..ill have to pass on this.

[cutwrk]

As far as I remember, you have to update from version 9.5 to 9.521 (the update is free) or later in order to use the Hair module.

If the software is outside your price range, and depending of the country you live in and your eventual student status, you might get student's version of C4D and various modules. Unfortunately I don't know much about that. If you're interested I suggest you contact the Maxon representatives in your country.

Depending of what you need the feathers for, you might be as well happy with the manual procedure, described above. Even though it might sound complicated due to such a basic explanation (people usually don't write step by step tutorials in forums), it is fairly simple - even if your knowledge of the program is basic, if you tried it, you might ask here when (if) you get caught up in the middle...

[demon-stroke]

QUOTE(Lovas @ 01/06/07, 12:59 AM) [snapback]256504[/snapback]
As far as I remember, you have to update from version 9.5 to 9.521 (the update is free) or later in order to use the Hair module.

If the software is outside your price range, and depending of the country you live in and your eventual student status, you might get student's version of C4D and various modules. Unfortunately I don't know much about that. If you're interested I suggest you contact the Maxon representatives in your country.

Depending of what you need the feathers for, you might be as well happy with the manual procedure, described above. Even though it might sound complicated due to such a basic explanation (people usually don't write step by step tutorials in forums), it is fairly simple - even if your knowledge of the program is basic, if you tried it, you might ask here when (if) you get caught up in the middle...

Yeah its out of my price range at the momment, but ill try to work out something with maxon and see what i can do... but illl still give feathers a try without the module. If i can do it without im sure i can manage.

[demon-stroke]

ok i tried making a rachis using profile spline and sweep nurbs but im having an extremely hard time getting Sweep nurbs to work the way i want it. Could you post a more detailed explanation of creating a rachis.

Whenever i drop sweep nurbs onto it it creates a very odd result...

Edit: i figured it out not using the Profile spline but using a simple freehand spline. although there is a flat circular top on it and not a cone that i need....

note:i didnt want to post but i found no other way of getting this topic up back to noticement.

[cutwrk]

Sorry my mistake - the explanation should say "Lathe NURBS" instead of "Sweep NURBS" (I guess I was too tired...). So to compensate ;], here's a short tut:

1. Create a spline (using any type of spline that suits you; I suggest using a Bezier one with only three points) in your Front view.
2. Select the Point Tool from the left toolbox
3. Select all the vertices of the spline
4. Select Structure - Edit Spline - Soft Interpolation. Now deselect the vertices.
5. Move the vertices and adjust the tangents of the spline in order to get the vertical shape of one side of the rachis (that was meant as "profile") as you want it. IMPORTANT: make sure the X-coordinates of both the starting and ending spline vertex have the same value - so you won't get the circular top or bottom.
6. Select the Object Tool from the left toolbox
7. Press the ALT key and while holding it, select Objects - NURBS - Lathe NURBS from the main menu. The Lathe NURBS container will appear in the Object Manager and the spline will be childed to its hierarchy.

If you get a strange 3D lathe or a circular top or bottom instead of the rachis, here're the two additional steps:

1. Select the spline in the Object Manager.
2. Select Structure - Axis Center - Center Parent To from the main menu. (If you have an older version of the program, select the Lathe NURBS and then the Object Axis Tool instead, turn on snapping to Points and then move the axis of the Lathe NURBS till it snaps to the starting or ending point of the spline.)

That's all - you should see the 3D rachis in your views now. Here's a C4D R10 file with the example (if the server is down try later) :

http://impact.homelinux.net/dlovas/highend3d/rachis.c4d

If you do not want your feather straight but slightly curved - simply use the Bend deformer on the whole feather once it is finished (don't forget to use the Make Editable option on all used vector object before that, since the Bend deformer influences only polygonal geometry).

That is only one of many possible ways to achieve the same form in Cinema 4D.

If you still can not do it right or need additional explanations regarding the above - feel free to post here and ask!

Have fun.

[demon-stroke]

Yay i did it!!! Thanks for the small walkthrough. That makes it alot easier.

But i still have an opening on top, not a point. but anyway.

does this same method work for grass as well?

[cutwrk]

If you have a small opening on only top or bottom, then I dare guess that your starting and ending vertices of the profile spline have slightly different x (and/or z, if all the vertices are not in the xy plane) values. OR that your Lathe NURBS pivot is slightly off the spline... Use the snap to point function in both cases, as described in my previous post.

As for the grass, you don't need a rachis for it, so I don't understand your question. You can make a blade of grass out of a single polygon, but it is much better to have at least four or five polys arranged vertically and then slightly curve the whole surface, as the blades of grass are rarely straight. You can use the same alpha mapping technique as described above for the feather surface, to define the shape of the blade of grass - if that is what you meant.

[demon-stroke]

Mistake on my part, it doesnt require a rachis.

And you lost me at alpha channels... hmm.... Maybe i should take a slight step back. Is there anything you remember when you were first starting in C4d that you practiced modeling?

i really want r10. but not for 3,500$. Not sure how anyone who is just interested in learning can afford that.....i mean...i enjoy it for just recreation.

[cutwrk]

An "alpha" is a grayscale image (texture), loaded in the alpha channel of a C4D material. When such material is used on an object, the part of object, covered with black parts of the alpha texture will become transparent. Using that technique you can make a blade of grass or any other shape, even complex one, out of a single polygon.

Use of alpha channels is basic stuff and I doubt you'll find tutorials on the web - as it is well explained in the Cinema 4D Manual/Help.

I don't intend to copy the basic stuff from the Manual/Help here - I suggest you take a look there, into the explanation of using the Alpha channel when creating materials. There's also a short tutorial there, about how to create a complex tree out of a single polygon using the alpha channel technique. If you read it and try it, I bet you'll have no problems with creating a blade of grass or even a feather using the same technique.

In Cinema 4 10 Help System it is located here:

Manual - Reference - Material Manager - Material Editor - Alpha

In Cinema 4 9 pdf Manual, it is located in chapter 18, page 772.

When you get into a problem that you can not resolve by using the manual/help in Cinema 4D, I'll be glad to help you here on the forum.

As for the pricing - I agree. My personal opinion is that all the software companies should at least give away older versions at affordable prices or even for free, strictly for non-commercial use - for young people, who are not students (enrolled in a colege or university) but are interested to learn the program. Why they don't do it, that's out of my scope...

There are other options, though: check the Maxon online shop (http://shop.maxon.net) - you'll find the basic R10 package for only 815 EUR - and you can then buy only the additional modules you need.

There's also a free 3D program, called Blender. It is a very good program (considering the price).

QUOTE
Is there anything you remember when you were first starting in C4d that you practiced modeling?

My first project in C4D involved creating a Pepsi can. It was in version 2 of the program, on an Amiga platform, about a decade ago. Before using Cinema 4D I used Imagine and Real 3D, and before that Sculpt Animate 4D. Unfortunately back then there was no Internet and forums like this to ask others when stuck or to get tutorials. We learned mostly from printed CG magazines, manuals and by trial and error

[demon-stroke]

Yeah im going to refer to the manual that came with mine. The main issue i have with pricing on newer versions is im 16 and jobless. The only one i have to thank for this version is an old family member. I see a student edition of 9.6 for about 235$, but does this apply to High School education? or college only?

[cutwrk]

Sorry I don't know much about the student version distribution policy, So I can't be of much help there.

If you don't get answer here from someone else, I suggest you contact Maxon about that - either the local reseller in your country or directly Maxon, a mail or even better a phone call to the German or the US office.

You will have no problems to find all the contact info on the Maxon site ( http://www.maxon.net or, if you live in a German-speaking country, http://www.maxon.de)