This is my first Cinema 4D plug-in. Originally I made it for Xpresso heavy users. This plug-in makes changing node’s color easy. Just select nodes and click what color you want to use. You can also load and save custom color palettes. You can also colorise objects and add objects to layers. Plug-in works also with Redshift shader graph editor’s nodes.

When you are chaning Xpresso node colors, Xpresso tag has to be selected, otherwise plug-in wont colorise nodes. And when you are changing Redshift nodes, the Redshift material has to be selected. Also make sure that you have enabled these in the options (File > Options)!

Installation:
Place Colorise plug-in to your appdata plug-in folder to make it work properly (avoid permission errors), since plug-in has to write and read presets and options files.

Win: “C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Roaming\MAXON\Cinema 4D R[VERSION]\plugins\”
Mac: “/Users/[USER]/Library/Preferences/MAXON/CINEMA 4D R[VERSION]/plugins”

Commands: (Keymofidier, Button)
Alt + [Color]: Select items with this color
Alt + Shift + [Color]: Add to selection items with this color
Alt + Ctrl + [Color]: Remove from selection items with this color
Ctrl + [Color]: Group selected objects under null and assign layer for selected objects
Shift + [Color]: Set objects layer to this colored layer
Shift + [X]: Remove selected objects’ layer
Alt + [X]: Sequence colors to selected items
Ctrl + [X]: Random colors to selected items

Thanks to @BachtellDesign and @_james_owen_ for new feature ideas.

N.B. Known bug in R25, color picker in Color Chooser doesn’t work at the moment. Use color picker in main layout. Hopefully Maxon will fix this bug.

Updated 08/09/2019 (v0.5)
> R21 version – completely rewritten plug-in with new features and bug fixes

Updated 11/09/2019 (v0.5.1)
> Added option to colorise lights
> Improved Redshift node handling

Updated 12/10/2019 (v0.5.2)
> Added support to make polygon selections
> Fixed Redshift node-editor bug

Updated 14/03/2021 (v0.5.3)
> Cinema 4D R23 support

Updated 31/10/2021 (v0.5.5)
> Cinema 4D R25 support
> Horizontal layout is back
> Option to hide and show color pickers
> Support to import colors from coolors.co and colorhunt.co urls
> Support to colorise Redshift lights
> Added option to ignore black color

Updated 04/11/2021 (v0.5.6)
> Fixed bug that broked the plug-in older than C4D R25 versions

colorise_v0.4.6_r20.zip (Depricated)
colorise_v0.5.6.zip (R21-R25)

This is simple Python Effector that piles clones top of each other. It supports random effectors scale y parameter. It uses clone’s original object’s bounding box to get correct height. It needs primitive or polygon object to work. You should use it only with cloner. Pile Up Effector does not support rotation.

Updated 19/04/2018
> Now it works if object is scaled in coordinates tab.

Updated 02/05/2019
> Now you can change axis.

pile_up_effector.c4d

Take Control Effector takes control over selected clone. Select clone ID and then clone is linked to the Effector. When you move the Effector, clone moves with it in Effector’s coordinate space.

Besides changing PSR, you can also modify clone (works only with Cloner object), set custom clone weight, or change clone color. Take Control Effector works properly with Cloner object when ‘Fix Clone’ checkbox is ticked. There is also checkboxes to activate/deactivate position, scale and rotation linking in ‘Matrix’ group.

There is handy ‘Go To Origin’ button that moves effector to clone’s original position (before this effector is calculated).

Warning! There is a bug in C4D (at least in R20.059) with Fracture Object. You can fix this putting Plain Effector before Take Control Effector to Fracture Object and then adjusting ‘Weight Transform’ parameter (just drag it around). After that you can delete Plain Effector.

Updated 26/04/2019
> Complete rebuild

Updated 30/05/2019
> Changed ‘Visible’ option

Updated 06/09/2021
> Added ‘Solo’ option

take_control_effector.c4d

I’m currently working with one project where I mess with OBJ sequences (recorded with Brekel Pro PointCloud), so I created a script that loads OBJ files from a folder and a Python Tag that plays through objects making them visible and invisible depending the current frame.

Import obj folder

import c4d, os
from c4d import storage as s
def main():
    extensions = ["obj"] # File extensions that will be imported
    folder = s.LoadDialog(c4d.FILESELECTTYPE_ANYTHING,'Select folder to import',c4d.FILESELECT_DIRECTORY,'') # Load folder
    if not folder: return # If there is no folder, stop the script
    files = os.listdir(folder) # Get files
    for f in files: # Loop through files
        ext = f.rsplit(".",1) # Get file extension
        if ext[1] in extensions: # If extension matches
            c4d.documents.MergeDocument(doc, folder+'\\'+f, 1) # Merge file to current project
    c4d.EventAdd() # Update Cinema 4D
if __name__=='__main__':
    main()

OBJ Sequence Player

This is Python Tag with some custom constrols on it. You can change starting frame, reverse sequence and animate manually with custom mode. Controls are in Python Tag.

import c4d

def main():
    frame = doc[c4d.DOCUMENT_TIME].GetFrame(doc[c4d.DOCUMENT_FPS]) # Get current frame
    obj = op.GetObject() # Get object
    children = obj.GetChildren() # Get children
    index = 0 # Initialize index variable
    run = 0 # Initialize run variable

    rev = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,2] # User data: Reverse sequence
    start = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,3] # User data: Starting frame
    holdf = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,4] # User data: Hold first frame
    holdl = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,5] # User data: Hold last frame
    manon = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,7] # User data: Activate manual mode
    manfr = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,8] # User data: Set manual frame

    if manon == False: # If manual mode is off
        if rev == False: # If reverse mode is off
            for child in children: # Loop through children
                if frame == index+start: # If index maches with current frame
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2 # Default
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2 # Default
                    run = 1 # Sequence is running
                else: # Otherwise
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 1 # Off
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 1 # Off
                index = index + 1 # Increase index
        else: # Otherwise
            for child in reversed(children): # Loop through reversed children
                if frame == index+start:
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2
                    run = 1
                else: # Otherwise
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 1
                    child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 1
                index = index + 1

        if holdf == True and run == 0: # If hold start frame is on
            if frame < len(children)+start: if rev == True: children[-1][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2 children[-1][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2 else: children[0][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2 children[0][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2 if holdl == True and run == 0: # If hold last frame is on if frame >= len(children)+start:
                if rev == True:
                    children[0][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2
                    children[0][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2
                else:
                    children[-1][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2
                    children[-1][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2
    else: # Manual mode is on
        for i, child in enumerate(children): # Loop through children
            if i == manfr: # If index is same as custom frame
                children[manfr][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 2
                children[manfr][c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 2
            else: # Otherwise
                child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_RENDER] = 1
                child[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_VISIBILITY_EDITOR] = 1

Updated 31/03/2019

obj_sequence_player.c4d

I use a lot of custom assets in every single project. Those assets can be very big MoGraph setups, Xpresso rigs, Python Generators or whatever. That’s why I had an idea to make a little script that merges your asset from absolute file path to your existing project.

Instead searching your asset every time in folders or content browser, you can simply create custom asset with this script and place it to Cinema 4D’s layout.

import c4d

def main():
    doc.StartUndo() # Start recording undos
    path = "C:\\c4d-assets\\my-asset.c4d" # Your asset file path, change this
    flags = c4d.SCENEFILTER_OBJECTS | c4d.SCENEFILTER_MATERIALS | c4d.SCENEFILTER_MERGESCENE # Merge objects and materials
    c4d.documents.MergeDocument(doc, path, flags) # Merge asset to active project
    c4d.EventAdd() # Refresh Cinema 4D
    doc.EndUndo() # Stop recording undos
if __name__=='__main__':
    main()

You can also use this to load models (obj, abc, fbx) or different c4d projects into your active document.
If you use Mac, use “/” instead “\\” (line 5)

Updated 26/03/2019

Nowadays many clients wants to burn subtitles straight into video so they can put video to social media etc. so I made two scripts that makes working with After Effects and subtitles a little bit easier.

With the first script you can import srt files and the script makes automatically text layers from that subtitle file. I wanted to make text layers instead of keyframed sourceText since individual layers gives better control and are sometimes also lighter to process.

ar_importsrt.jsx

With second script you can export text layers to srt file. Your text layers should look something like in the image: use ascending layer stacking.

ar_exportsrt.jsx

FolderLink is asset made with Xpresso and Python that allows you to select folder which includes specific file types. You can decide which kind of file types you are looking for by typing file extensions (separated with comma). FolderLink will scan selected folder (top level) and collects approved files to dropdown menu.

Then you can link easily and quickly browse between different files with dropdown menu and link selected file’s file path to whatever you like, for example to textures or HDRIs.

import c4d, os # Import necessary libraries

def main():
    global path # Output file path
    string = search # Get extensions string
    string = search.replace(" ","") # Remove spaces
    extensions = string.split(",") # Split to list
    c = 0 # Initialize iteration variable
    names = [] # Initialize list for file names
    obj = doc.SearchObject("FolderLink")
    cycle = c4d.BaseContainer() # Initialize base container
    bc = c4d.GetCustomDatatypeDefault(c4d.DTYPE_LONG) # Integer
    bc.SetString(c4d.DESC_NAME, "File") # Set user data name
    bc.SetInt32(c4d.DESC_CUSTOMGUI, c4d.CUSTOMGUI_CYCLE) # Set user data gui
    try: # Try to execute following code
        if folder != "": # If there is folder
            files = os.listdir(folder) # Get files from folder
            for f in files: # Iterate through files
                ext = f.rsplit(".",1) # Get file extension
                if ext[1] in extensions: # If file extension matches
                    c += 1 # Increase iteration
                    cycle.SetString(c, f) # Add item to user data cycle
                    names.append(f) # Add file name to list
            bc.SetContainer(c4d.DESC_CYCLE, cycle) # Set container
            obj.SetUserDataContainer([c4d.ID_USERDATA, 5], bc) # Update user data
            path = folder+"\\"+names[select-1] # Return file path
        else: # Else
            path = "" # Return empty string
    except IndexError: # If something went wrong
        path = "" # Return empty string

If you use Mac OS X you might have to change line 26 “\\” to “/”.
I updated the file so now it’s possible to filter files by filename extension. Thanks to @lasse_lauch for this suggestion.

folderlink.c4d

I wanted to make distributed slices with Voronoi Fracture generator so I made this simple Xpresso rig. This setup requires that the pivot is in the middle of the object and it calculates bounding box automatically. You can change count and angle of slices.

slicer.c4d

I made some experiments with Processing to send data to Cinema 4D with OSC (Open Sound Control) protocol.

Tools you need

Processing OSC template
Here is basic Processing example that sends OSC data. In this example sketch generates a window where mouse position is captured and then remapped to more nice values for Cinema 4D (y-axis is flipped and sketch middle point is the origin) and then data is send with OSC.

import oscP5.*; // Import oscP5 library
import netP5.*; // Import oscP5's net library

OscP5 osc; // Declare oscP5 object
NetAddress net; // Declare net address object

void setup() { // Sketch basic settings
  size(640, 640); // Set sketch window size (width, height)
  osc = new OscP5(this, 6449); // Set new OscP5 object
  net = new NetAddress("127.0.0.1", 32000); // Set new net address
}

void draw() { // Processing will run this function constantly
  clear(); // Clear window every frame
  float posX = mouseX; // Get mouse x-position
  float posY = mouseY; // Get mouse y-position
  circle(posX, posY, 25); // Draw circle to mouse position
  float x = map(posX, 0, width, (width/2.0)*-1, width/2.0); // Remap x value
  float y = map(posY, 0, height, height/2.0, (height/2.0)*-1); // Remap y value
  send(x, y); // Run send function
}

void send(float value_a, float value_b) {
    OscMessage message_1 = new OscMessage("Mouse Position"); // Initialize new OSC message
    message_1.add(value_a); // 1st x-position
    message_1.add(value_b); // 2nd y-position
    osc.send(message_1, net); // Send OSC message
}

With fOSC plug-in you want to listen to port 32000.

fOSC makes null object for every individual OSC message and you can assign position and rotation parameters to message using add() method. Then you can use Xpresso to remap those values to whatever you want to.

Cheat sheet

Example sketch:
Track brightest pixel from webcam and send that via OSC

Updated 14/04/2019

Super simple setup to count beats per minute in Xpresso with Python node. Counting starts immediately when time is running. You can easily modify code  for your needs e.g. starting time.

import c4d

def main():
    global out # Output port: 'Out'

    bpm = 128 # Beats per minute
    spb = 60.0 / int(bpm) # Seconds per beat

    if time != 0: # If current frame is not first frame
        out = int(time/spb) # Hits count
    else: # Otherwise
        out = 0 # Hits count is 0

bpm_in_xpresso.c4d