In nuce: Maxon has now announced many new features as part of its Maxon One autumn update. Among other things, Cinema 4D 2023 will be expanded to include functions that have been requested by many users – including Improvements to simulation and asset management, symmetry modelling and native OCIO support. The other products in Maxon’s product range will also be expanded in terms of functionality. Stacked material is being added to Redshift. Forger now supports new workflows – underpinned by the polygonal modelling engine from Cinema 4D. Red Giant now has text effects for Universe, new sprites for Trapcode and performance updates. Maxon is also being expanded with new assets for Cinema 4D as part of the Capsules initiative. According to Maxon’s self-promotion, the autumn update is set to further enhance the value of its product range – especially for Maxon One subscribers. Below are the announced innovations, sorted by software solution.
And for those wondering about the name: Yes, C4D now has the year in its title – that’s not a typo.
Cinema 4D 2023
- Unified Simulation System: Now includes soft bodies and new options for stickiness and mixed animation
- Field-controlled vertex maps and vertex colour tags: Work with most generators. This should enable artists to incorporate procedurally generated elements into their effects
- Modelling with symmetries: now possible with mirrored changes to the model. Users define the symmetry via world grid, object axis, a custom workplane or the topology of the model
- ACEScg colour space thanks to OpenColorIO: This is complemented by a uniform colour pipeline for all Maxon tools. Redshift OCIO support can be integrated into Cinema 4D
- Watch Folders: Located in the Asset Browser, they allow users to store assets anywhere in the folder system
- Improved GoZ-Bridge: Simplifies the exchange of assets between Cinema 4D and ZBrush
Redshift
- Rounded corners for Redshift CPU: Previously only available for Redshift GPU
- Random walk mode: Provides more valuable details, colours and scattering. Ideal for skin, wax and jade
- Improved volume technology: new controls for blackbody shading – for realistic looking fire-and-smoke VDBs. Plus emissions in colours that adapt to the temperature. Also introduced: Volumetric anisotropy – allowing users to control the reaction of volumes to incident light
- Material Stacking: For decals, material blending and texture remapping
Forger
- Polygonal modelling tools: Users use these to extrude points, edges or polygons – to bevel edges, create insets on surfaces and bridge model parts with each other
- On-screen 3D gizmo: Enables actions such as moving along an axis, rotating, scaling and transforming
- Sharing feature: Allows users to share their work between Forger and Cinema 4D
Red Giant: According to the press release, the autumn update includes new features for almost all tools – as well as 100 new presets for generators and shiny text effects.
- Trapcode: Over 75 new animated sprites for 2D shapes and bursts. The loading time for Particular Designer has also been improved
- Magic Bullet: The Halation and Diffusion tools have been added. There is also an improved Looks C4D workflow in OCIO mode. Looks integration in Unreal Engine 5 has also been significantly advanced, according to the press release. The Denoiser is now available for Final Cut Pro and is compatible with Apple M1
- Red Giant VFX: Maxon promises more performance and stability – in addition to bug fixes for Supercomp, Primatte and Real Lens Flares
- Universe: Support for alpha layers in Avid Media Composer. Users will be able to generate text effects and track mattes. There are also over 100 new presets for generators
- Maxon Capsules: All coffee tables from the classic Cinema 4D asset library have been optimised and provided with new textures – with the ulterior motive of aligning them better for handling in Redshift. Another new feature relates to Maxon Capsules: Maxone One and Cinema 4D subscribers now have access to licence-free assets
