Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/756468
92 CINEMONTAGE / Q4 2016 92 CINEMONTAGE / Q4 2016 that occurs when generating lots of clones. As the name implies, you can use it to force clones to push away from each other (on all axes or just one). You can also hide overlapping clones or scale them down to eliminate overlaps. There is another nice new feature to MoGraph that might not seem like such a big deal at first glance, but provides a simple solution to a problem that in the past could cause tremendous frustration. R18 now allows you to generate clones in a honeycomb array. Previously, clones could only be generated in linear radial or grid array alignments. This was a problem when it came to things like the offset alignment of bricks. While that might sound simple and straightforward, it was actually a surprisingly tricky thing to set up. With the addition of the honeycomb array, not only are hexagonal honeycomb patterns easy to construct but so are things like bricks, cinderblocks, cobblestones, rows of seats in movie theatres and other staggered arrangements of objects. The ReEffector is another new effector that can be used to modify a group of effectors that have all been applied to a MoGraph cloner. You can use it to reset all effectors at once, as well as to limit all effects to one axis. New in R18 is the ability to store MoGraph caches externally. Suppose you have a complex MoGraph setup involving lots of clones and have animated them with a bunch of effectors. With the new and improved MoGraph Cache Tag, you can cache the movement of all of those clones and save the cached data separately from the main C4D file. Previously, the cached data was saved inside of the main C4D file, which could increase its size by hundreds of megabytes. That made it a lot harder when it came time to do something like emailing your file to a colleague. In addition, you can now use multiple saved MoGraph Caches and blend them together with a few keyframes. MODELING ENHANCEMENTS The all-important Knife Tool has also been given an upgrade in R18 and is now divided into three parts. The Line Cut Tool now allows you to interactively draw a shape that will define the cuts on your object and freely edit it before committing it. That's pretty handy. There are also new slice modes. In addition to Cut, Split now splits out the new polygons. There's also Remove Part A and Remove Part B, which effectively lets you remove or preserve sections of your geometry. Next, the Plane Cut Tool allows for planar cuts of your model as well as the ability to define the number and spacing of parallel cuts. Finally, the third mode of the Knife Tool is the Loop/Path Cut tool, which cuts loops or paths onto objects. OTHER ENHANCEMENTS There are other interesting new features in R18, including a Thin Film Shader, which can give the effect of those colorful rainbow-like patterns that appear on the surface of things like soap bubbles or oil slicks. Parallax bump mapping has also been included in C4D R18 and, in many cases, it provides better results than plain bump mapping. R18 also has Inverse Ambient Occlusion, which can let you achieve a fake sub-surface scattering effect as well as simulate wear and tear on the edges of an object. In addition, there is a new Shadow Catcher option for easy shadow extraction for use in compositing. Interactive real-time rendering has also been enhanced, and C4D's viewport now supports screenspace ambient occlusion, approximate reflections and displacement. In addition, Quaternion rotations have now been added to Cinema 4D. There are many other substantial enhancements to Cinema 4D R18. For a complete list of all of the new features in Cinema 4D R18, see www.maxon.net/en/ products/new-in-release-18/r18-complete-feature-list/. THE BOTTOM LINE Cinema 4D R18 is a very compelling release that contains substantial new features every C4D user will want to have. Voronoi Fracturing and object tracking are at the top of the list, but there is much more to like, making this an essential upgrade. f TECH TIPS The Thin Film Shader, new in C4D R18, can help you achieve the multi-colored surface effects that are sometimes apparent on lenses, oil slicks and soap bubbles.