Installing the Cinema 4D plugin

Evolphin Zoom is a cross-platform Version Control and Digital Asset Management (DAM) System with a built-in Workflow engine. This user guide illustrates and explains how to install and use the Evolphin Zoom plug-in for Maxon CINEMA 4D.

Steps to install

Navigate to the Zoom plug-ins folder on your computer:

OSPath
Mac/Applications/Evolphin/zoom/Resources/plug-ins/
WindowsC:\Program Files (x86)\Evolphin\DAM\plug-ins\

Locate ZmCinema4DPlugin.zip and extract it in the Cinema 4D plugins folder in your machine

OSPath
Mac/Applications/MAXON/Cinema 4D R16/plugins/
WindowsC:\Program Files\MAXON\CINEMA 4D R16\plugins\

Restart Cinema 4D. The Evolphin Zoom plugin should appear under the Plugins menu in Cinema 4D.

Cinema4D_plugin
Cinema 4D plugin menu
Click on Evolphin Zoom to load the plugin panel.
Cinema 4D plugin panel
Cinema 4D plugin panel

Cinema 4d plugin setup for batch renderer

Evolphin Zoom plugin ships with an import service for the Maxon Cinema 4D batch rendered files. This can be done by the Render and Import button in the Evolphin Zoom plugin panel.

Render_import_button

Batch render Settings

  • Make sure that the default server is set in Z-settings-> Server/WC Settings.
    Z-Settings_default_server
  • Before launching Render and Import, ensure the CINEMA 4D (C4D) Batch Render settings are specified in the Zoom Settings panel (launched from the desktop via the Z icon context menu):
    Batch_Render_Settings
FieldDescription
Poll IntervalThis specifies how frequently the Zoom plugin will poll the CINEMA4D batch render queue
Import SourceThis is the folder where C4D renders the image sequences. This should match the output path in the Cinema 4D render queue
Import DestinationImport destination points to the project root folder or sub-folder under which rendered files will be saved automatically.
Zoom ServerThis is automatically selected when you browse the import destination on the Zoom repository
  • If mandatory metadata is enabled in the server, ensure that a default Metadata Preset saved. Click here to know how to save default Metadata Preset.
  • If you make any change in any of the above settings, close the plugin panel and reload it for the changes to refresh. For reloading the plugin panel, click on Plugins -> Reload Python Plugins in Cinema 4D and then re-open the plugin panel from the the Plugins menu.
    Reload_plugin
  • Set up the C4D batch render queue by adding items to the render queue along with output image prefix. Output image prefix should match the c4d file name.
  • Click Render and Import button in the plugin panel to start the rendering. Do not use the “Start Rendering” option in the Render Queue directly.
  • Once rendering is finished, Zoom will trigger an import, and you will see the import dialog pop up and execute automatically. Once import is finished, notifications will pop up in the system tray or Mac menu bar.
    Render_import_progress
  • Note:

    • During import, if an output file does not exists, it will cause the entire batch of import to be aborted, as the C4D plug-in ensures the entire batch of rendered items are imported all at once.
    • Zoom will create a sub-folder based on the C4D file name. The image sequences being rendered will show up under a sub-folder within the C4D folder.Batch render VAB

    Cinema 4d plugin setup for team renderer

    Zoom Team Render Import Queue
    Zoom ships with an automatic import service for Maxon CINEMA 4D Team Server renderer. The service starts automatically when a CINEMA 4D Team Server job is added to the Zoom import queue manager. There is no plug-in to install. This Zoom service monitors the CINEMA 4D Team render Server queue by polling at a configured time interval.
    Configuring the Cinema 4D Team Render Settings in the Z->Settings panel

    • Make sure that the default server is set in Z-settings-> Server/WC Settings.
      Z-Settings_default_server
    • If mandatory metadata is enabled in the server, ensure that a default Metadata Preset saved. Click here to know how to save default Metadata Preset.
    • Before using import service for Team renderer, ensure the CINEMA 4D (C4D) Team Render settings are specified in the Zoom Settings panel (launched from the desktop via the Z icon context menu):
      C4D_team_render_settings
    FieldDescription
    Team Render Server URLThe URL for the team render server
    Team Render UsernameThe username of the Team Render user having access to the jobs.
    Team Render PasswordThe Password for the above-mentioned username.
    Import SourceThe path where the results of the team render server are stored and from where you want to import the final results to the Zoom Server. Import source should be the same as the Repository Path specified in the team render server preferences.
    Poll IntervalSpecifies how frequently does the Zoom import queue manager polls CINEMA4D Team Render Server queue for completion of the registered jobs.
    Import DestinationPoints to the project root folder or sub-folder under which the rendered files will be saved automatically.
    Zoom ServerThis is automatically selected when you browse the import destination on the Zoom repository.
    Team_Render_Server_Path
  • Validate button validates all the fields like whether cinema 4D server is running, whether connection with the Cinema 4D server is possible, whether username or password are correct, whether a required field is empty and gives alerts as required.
  • Manage Zoom Import Queue

    • Set up the C4D Team Render Queue by adding jobs to the render queue by logging into the Cinema 4D Team Render Server. Output image sequence prefix should match the C4D file name uploaded to the job. Zoom Team Render Queue Manager will look for all the C4D files in the results folder of the job. It will use the file-name prefix of the C4D files to locate image sequences in the results folder.
    • You can navigate to Zoom Import Queue Manager by clicking Yes on the successful validation alert or by clicking the Manage Import Queue button. You can also open the Zoom Import Queue Manager by opening the following URL in your web browser: http://127.0.0.1:7770/webmin/jsp/client/c4d-netrender/jobs.jsp
      Zoom_Import_Queue_Manager
    • Click on plus (+) icon to add a Team Render job for monitoring. This will add the job to Zoom import queue. Zoom will from then on keep polling the Team Render Server to check if the job has finished rendering.
      Job_queued
    • If you want to remove a job before it starts importing, click on the red cross (x) button. The job will no longer be monitored by Zoom for completion.
    • If there is an error during import, an alert icon will show up next to the job status. Mouse over the icon, to see the detailed error message.
      Job_Failed_import
    • Once the rendering is finished, Zoom will trigger an import, and you will see the import dialog popup execute automatically. Once the import is finished, notifications will pop up in the system tray or Mac menu bar.Job_importedRender_import_progress
    • As soon as the Zoom import queue manager detects there are no jobs in the queue, it will automatically stop polling the Team render server and deactivate the monitoring thread from consuming any system resources.
    • During an import, if an output file does not exist, it will cause the entire batch of import to be aborted as the C4D plug-in ensures the entire batch of rendered items is imported at once.
    • Zoom will create a subfolder based on the C4D file name. The image sequences being rendered would show up under a sub-folder within the C4D folder.

    Uninstalling the plugin

    To uninstall the Evolphin Zoom C4D plug-in, delete the ZmCinema4DPlugin folder from the Cinema 4D plugins folder in your machine:

    OSPath
    Mac/Applications/MAXON/Cinema 4D R16/plugins/
    WindowsC:\Program Files\MAXON\CINEMA 4D R16\plugins\

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