The Ultimate Cinema 4D Guide

Everything you need to know about getting started in Cinema 4D and a 6 Month Step By Step Plan – Plus Q & A and Resources.

What you get with membership.

COURSES

The Key Concepts.

Stop tutorial hopping and learn the most important concepts and techniques that will make the biggest impact and help you master Cinema 4D faster with step-by-step courses.

TUTORIALS

The Coolest Project Based Effects.

Learn advanced Cinema 4D effects that will make your portfolio pop, and help you stand out from the crowd. All effects have been requested by members – as a member you can request anything and see what we’re working on here.

PROJECT FILES

Time-Saving Assets You'll Actually Use.

Stop waisting time on R&D – we’ve created a huge library of 3D assets, effects, and scene files you’ll actually use in your day-to-day motion graphics work – use them all royalty free.

SUPPORT

One-On-One Help & Support.

Membership gives you a direct line to a Cinema 4D professional so you’ll never get stuck again! Post your questions and find answers in the Cinema 4D forum, or ask privately via direct email or live chat.

Support From a C4D Expert - Just A Click Away...

Meet Your New Cinema 4D Wingman.

As a member you get direct help and support from Dave. No matter what the question!

Learn Cinema 4D with Dave Bergin

Should You Learn Cinema 4D?

Let's Compare The Industry Leading 3D Packages

Cinema 4D

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  • Mainly Used For: Motion graphics, VFX, broadcast design.

  • Price: $839 USD /year.

  • Pros:
    • User-friendly interface and short learning curve.
    • Excellent integration with Adobe After Effects.
    • Fast rendering for motion design and VFX.
  • Cons:
    • Limited for complex character animation compared to Maya.
    • Expensive for hobbyists.

Used by: ManvsMachine, Imaginary Forces, The Mill, Territory Studio, Tendril, Buck, Prologue, NBCUniversal (broadcast design), Capacity Studios, Brand New School.

Maya

maya
  • Mainly Used For: Character animation, VFX, film, and game development.

  • Price: $1875 USD/year.

  • Pros:
    • Industry leader in character rigging, animation, and simulation.
    • Extensive toolset for VFX, used in major film production.
    • Large community and resources for learning.
  • Cons:
    • Steep learning curve for beginners.
    • Expensive.
    • Heavy on system resources.

Used by: Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), DreamWorks Animation, Weta Digital, Blue Sky Studios, Animal Logic, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Double Negative (DNEG), Framestore.

3ds Max

  • Mainly Used For: Game design, architectural visualization, VFX.

  • Price: $1875 USD/year.

  • Pros:
    • Excellent for modeling and texturing.
    • Strong integration with game engines like Unreal Engine.
    • Widely used for architectural visualization.
  • Cons:
    • Limited for character animation compared to Maya.
    • Less intuitive interface for beginners.

Used by: Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, Crytek, Blur Studio, Framestore, The Mill, HKS Architects, Foster + Partners, Naughty Dog, BioWare.

Blender

blender
  • Mainly Used For: General-purpose 3D modeling, animation, VFX, game design.

  • Price: Free (Open-source).

  • Pros:
    • Comprehensive toolset with modeling, animation, and rendering.
    • Open-source with no cost, rapidly growing in popularity.
    • Excellent for indie creators and small studios.
  • Cons:
    • Lacks the industry standard status of Maya and 3ds Max.
    • Steeper learning curve for advanced features.
    • Limited official support (but strong community support).

Used by: Embark Studios, Tangent Animation, Ubisoft, Barnstorm VFX, Theory Studios, Guru Studio, Blue Zoo Animation, Ian Hubert Studios, Crossfire Studios, CG Cookie.

Houdini

houdini
  • Mainly Used For: Procedural modeling, VFX, simulations.

  • Price: $269 USD /year.

  • Pros:
    • Best in class for procedural modeling and dynamic simulations.
    • Used extensively in Hollywood for complex VFX.
    • Excellent for large-scale particle simulations and destruction effects.
  • Cons:
    • Very steep learning curve, especially for beginners.
    • Expensive.
    • Less suited for simple modeling or animation tasks.

Used by: Pixar, Weta Digital, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Framestore, Double Negative (DNEG), Method Studios, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Blur Studio, Rising Sun Pictures, DreamWorks Animation.

Unreal Engine

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  • Mainly Used For: Real-time 3D, game development, virtual production. 

  • Price: Free (5% royalty on commercial products over $1M). 

  • Pros:
    • Industry leader in real-time rendering, especially for games.
    • Advanced visual scripting and real-time ray tracing.
    • Free for most small-scale projects and creators.
  • Cons:
    • Requires powerful hardware for optimal performance.
    • Steeper learning curve for non-programmers.
    • Royalty fees for larger commercial projects.

Used by: Epic Games, The Mill, Weta Digital, Digital Domain, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Bad Robot, Ford Motor Company (real-time visualization), ZOAN (VR and AR development), Quixel, Ninja Theory.

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Why Choose Cinema 4D?

Cinema 4D is a versatile and user-friendly 3D software known for its intuitive interface, making it ideal for artists across various industries. It’s widely used for motion graphics, animation, product visualization, and architectural rendering. With powerful tools and reliable performance, it’s a top choice for creative professionals looking to produce high-quality 3D content fast.

How Much Do C4D Artists Get Paid?

Motion graphics can be a high-paying career, depending on your location &skill level.

United States

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Fulltime:

Beginner: $45,000 – $55,000
Intermediate: $60,000 – $75,000
Advanced: $85,000 – $100,000+

Freelance:

Intermediate: $78,000 – $156,000 (daily rate: $300 – $600)
Advanced: $182,000 – $312,000+ (daily rate: $700 – $1,200)​

United Kingdom

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Fulltime:

Beginner: £30,000 – £35,000
Intermediate: £40,000 – £50,000
Advanced: £55,000 – £70,000

Freelance:

Intermediate: £52,000 – £91,000 (daily rate: £200 – £350)
Advanced: £104,000 – £156,000+ (daily rate: £400 – £600)​

Europe

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Fulltime:

Beginner: €30,000 – €40,000
Intermediate: €45,000 – €60,000
Advanced: €65,000 – €85,000

Freelance:

Intermediate: €65,000 – €104,000 (daily rate: €250 – €400)
Advanced: €130,000 – €208,000+ (daily rate: €500 – €800)​

Australia

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Fulltime:

Beginner: A$50,000 – A$65,000
Intermediate: A$70,000 – A$85,000
Advanced: A$90,000 – A$110,000+

Freelance:

Intermediate: A$91,000 – A$156,000 (daily rate: A$350 – A$600)
Advanced: A$182,000 – A$260,000+ (daily rate: A$700 – A$1,000)​

South Korea

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Fulltime:

Beginner: â‚©35K – â‚©45K
Intermediate: â‚©50K – â‚©65K
Advanced: â‚©70K – â‚©85K+

Freelance:

Intermediate: â‚©60K – â‚©96K (daily rate: â‚©250K – â‚©400K)
Advanced: â‚©120K – â‚©168K+ (daily rate: â‚©500K – â‚©700K)​

Guide Only. Based on 2023 data. Sources: Freelance Informer, Creators’ Rights Alliance, Motion Design Industry Servey. Freelance yearly income estimate based on daily rates.

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Questions...

Blender is a powerful, free 3D program that excels at versatility but lacks a specific focus. Cinema 4D, though paid, is tailored for motion graphics artists, with regular updates designed for their needs. While Cinema 4D is expensive and lacks a free learning edition, its specialized tools make it ideal for motion graphics. Blender is a great starting point for beginners on a budget, with the option to switch to Cinema 4D for more specialized work later.

Lifetime membership is a one-off fee that gives you access to everything on our site – all courses, all tutorials, all downloads and support – FOR LIFE.

Lifetime members also have the ability to request content and vote for what topics we cover next.

Unlike the Monthly or Yearly membership, Lifetime is yours forever so you also get unlimited access to anything we add in the future (we upload new stuff every week).

Lifetime membership is only available a few times per year, we send out an email to members and newsletter subscribers when it can be purchased.

You will have access until the renewal date, if you have chosen to cancel prior to renewal you will not be charged, but you will lose access to all member benefits (courses, files etc). NOTE: Lifetime Memberships are not charged a renewal.

Yearly & Lifetime membership includes access to all courses. Monthly membership gives you access to blog tutorials and downloadable assets only – no courses.

Membership here on our website is a more complete package because Patreon has several limitations. Here’s the key advantages on each platform:

Membership here

  • Includes Full Courses (Yearly + Lifetime)
  • Includes Redshift Material Library
  • Includes more digital assets (Due to Patreon file size limits)
  • Is better organised into categories and sections
  • Better search options
  • Better quality subtitles (Directly from script)

Membership Patreon

  • More convenient if you already use Patreon
  • Videos can be viewed offline via Patreon App

Aside from that, both memberships include new content every week, the ability to request content, and support.

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