Exploration 1: Network ID

So its time for our first exploration. The goal of this exploration is to create a 10 or 15 second network ID. The network can can be any one currently existing or one that is made up. So the first step in the process is to come up with the one that you want to work with. So for this exploration, I decided I wanted to got with a network that I made up. I decided on the name BE-OND TV.
The next step in the process, was to develop the logo. I spent numerous hours trying to figure out the perfect logo for the network here are some of the studies I did before deciding on a final composition:

But the amount of time I spent on this logo was definitely worth the effort. In the end I had created the desired logo. This logo to me really suited the kind of network I was going for. This is the result of the final logo:

The next step in the process was a little more difficult. Now we were asked to come out with a full storyboard. This would set our ideas in stone and allow to really get going with the animation. At first, I really wanted to test out some compositing with this first project. This was the original storyboard I had created:

The first storyboard I wanted to create was about these small spheres, that at first seemed like dust particles get blown away by a girl passing by. I then wanted here to hold one of them in her hand and have it morph and open to reveal the logo of the network. 

But, after a lot of thinking, I had come to the realization that this was my first time really working in Cinema 4D. Doing something inside the program would be rigorous enough. To add compositing as a factor of the animation would probably make the task close to impossible for the time limit we had on it. So I decided to go back and edit this storyboard one more time. This is the final storyboard result:

After some careful thought to this final storyboard, I felt that it needed more of a "wow" factor in it. So I decided to make this sphere into a time bomb and have it explode and form the logo in the end. I knew that this was the idea I really wanted to do.

The next step in the process was to create an animatic. This is where the really tricky stuff starts happening. This is the step in the process where you had to figure out exactly what timing you wanted on the piece for the animation to actually work. This is not an easy step. But after finishing my models in the program I created an animatic. This is the result:

Unfortunately for this animatic, I still didn't really grasp the timing and ending I wanted. It felt a little bland and at some points, really fast. So it was time to go back in and make major adjustments to the piece. This is where the first pass comes in. The first pass would finish off any timing issues and other major adjustments that needed to be fixed. For this first pass, here is what I had ended up with:

There were still a few things off about the piece that I wasn't quite satisfied with, but I knew that could all be changed with the final pass. I didn't enjoy how low the intensity of the button glow was and how the logo was a little off center. But these were minor adjustments that could be solved fairly easily. As a final pass, this is what I had created:

I am satisfied with this being my first piece in Cinema 4D. Of course there were mistakes and other problems that need another look at, but overall I feel accomplished for what I have done. The only thing I can hope for is that other people enjoy it and that I do better on the next project.

(1/27/12) 5 Second Study: Motion Transition / Camera Moves

During class, we were taught all the basic to using cameras in Cinema 4D. And to be honest, the basics are still somewhat confusing. It obviously will take a lot of time and practice to truly figure out the camera systems in the program. That is why the next three studies will really help us because they explore these camera systems.

The first of the three studies is centered around motion clips. The idea of a motion clip is to be able to shoot footage of one motion and add it to a separate composition as a single layer. This is an incredible tool because it allows for someone to be able to save a motion and be able to manipulate it, without destroying the original just in case you needed to go back. It also is a nice way to avoid clutter in a file. The goal of this project was to incorporate two of these motion clips in a single composition. For this, I decided to use two swinging torus' that have a rotating pyramid at center. The first clip explores the torus' simple rotating around the pyramid and the second clip is about the objects falling beneath a plane after completely stopping their movement. 

This is the result of this study:

The second of the three studies is one that relates to using target cameras. For this, we were to set up a simple camera that was targeted to an object and clearly show how the camera followed that object when moved in space. The focus would always be on the object no matter the position. This is the result of this study:

The last of the three studies dealt with experimenting with using more than one camera. To do this you would need obviously more than one camera and animate them within a composition and then use a stage object to animate the cuts between camera movements. This is the result of this project:

(1/20/12) 5 Second Study: Cycle

As a next 5 second study, we are exploring the ability of using F-curves. F-curves is a very powerful tool in Cinema 4D. Just like the Graph Editor in After Effects, it allows you to have full control over your movement in an animation. It allows you to speed up or slow down positioning, scaling and even rotation over time and other amazing things.
But for now, we are specifically concentrating on the idea of creating a cycle. This is an animation that can be played in a loop and be completely fluid, where there are no jumps or cuts. Mike in class had shown us an animation he had been working on, which happened to be a space craft that hovered in place. Seeing this idea of something cycling gave me inspiration to create a yoyo. The yoyo would continuously move up and down and that movement itself would be continuous.
So as far as the results go for this study, here they are:

In order to create this piece, I actually created a spline using the B-spline tool and a Lathe-nurb to create the body of the yoyo. I then created the sting using both a b-spline and a circle that were then made children of a sweep-nurb.
The modeling portion of this piece actually wasn't too difficult, but the animating portion was. Specifically the string was a little more difficult to animate. For some reason, it kept detaching itself from the body of the yoyo and actually had to be rotoscoped in order to feel right.
I'm a little disappointed with this piece mainly because of the forgetfulness when it came to textures. There is rotation on the body of the yoyo that can't be seen without the proper textures. But this is an easy fix. As far as the rest of this study goes, I'm happy with the look of the model and how it animates.

(1/14/12) 5 Second Study: Two Deformers

So for a first 5-second study, we were asked to develop an animation that uses two deformers. So what I chose to do was make my name using an extrude-nurb on a text spline for the "ALE" and then use an explosion deformer to break it apart and pull it together. Next I used a bunch of shear deformers to make the "X" and had it grow over time with the rest of my name. Then for extra fun, I used a particle emitter and had small pyramid shapes fly across the ground. Here is the result of this study.

This was in fact my first time using multiple deformers in C4D. It was a lot of fun trying to come up with a way to use multiple deformers and create a cool little animation out of it. There are a few things I didn't like. For instance, the pyramid shapes flying through the ground as if they were little ghosts and the fact that my name is breaking apart into very generic pieces. But seeing how this was the very first study, I really didn't take it too hard on myself for experimenting.