Cineversity

Hi guys,

I am a new Cinema 4 D user coming from Rhino.

In Rhino there is a nifty feature that lets you draw on a flat surface and then project that to a non planar surface. This command is called “FlowAlongSrf” and a short video description is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WNNsJRot-Y

Does cinema have something similar? If not what would an equivalent workflow be in C4D?

Please note this is a not a question of merely aligning geometry to the normal of the target surface (which I know you can do via Constraint tag) but rather deforming the shape to conform to the target surface. 

To achieve something similar in Modo, one would align the object onto target surface then use the target surface as a background constraint mesh and just move the object.

How does one go about that in C4D?

Thanks,
Numan

Hi Numan,

This would be Surface Deformer, to a certain degree. It can’t be the same, as both apps work on a different underlaying technology.

The big difference is the way both applications work to create surface in the first place. This needs to be understood to get good results.
Rhino is working based on a mathematical description of the “word”, it has no polygons until you turn the model into it, and then it is based on the “intermediate” points to take a C4D term. The engine in Rhino is based on a siliar engine to ACIS (AFAIK) and C4D as an animation tool is based on polygons (and segments).
In Cinema 4D you work in polygons (and segments) and there is no option to work like in Rhino 3D. Two different concepts and both are great on their own. Both have pros and cons.
If that is clear, then the Surface Deformer is the answer.

I have attached a scene file how to get it in C4D.

Please let me know if there are any questions.

All the best

Scene file (Plane above the object in Object Manager. Hierarchy!)
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/Bu7OycPo6tOvRY2Xms3alOE4pSnuIwcVvfO9WK6lPIc?ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy
Or something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/X9AFxd2VoAbs6g9GQEZjYY6wdBWACrQB9gFXYs9YOOz?ref_=cd_ph_share_link_copy