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Matthew Sorrels
Participating Frequently
June 12, 2014
Question

Does Cinema 4D Lite support importing FBX files?

  • June 12, 2014
  • 12 replies
  • 30338 views

I've tried every FBX file I could, I've exported FBX files using every version of FBX available to me (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) but every time I try to import an FBX file into Cinema 4D Lite (launched from AE CC, everything updated and current) I get a dialog with some options, then a second dialog with information about the available takes and animation length (which is must get from the file) and then I get an error message "Unable to read file <filename>".  Doesn't seem to matter what FBX I choose.  Every FBX file is readable by Autodesk's FBX Review app so I don't think it's the file(s).  Maxon's website seems to indicate that importing FBX was supported by the Lite version of Cinema 4D included with AE CC, but near as I can tell that's not true.  Am I missing something?  Is there some option I need to check or a specific way I should create an FBX file?  I'm running on Windows 7 64bit with current drivers and everything is updated.  I get the feeling this just doesn't work at all by design.

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    dustinwilson80
    Known Participant
    December 3, 2014

    Has anyone else come across any solutions to this? I'm trying to export some animation from Blender and thought FBX would be the way to go, but it errors upon importing into Cinema 4D Lite.

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    June 12, 2014

    ANd export from where? You left out the most important info. That aside FBX handling sucks in Cinema 4D in either direction. Tons of bugs and not adhering to specs and instead using custom data types. A major nightmare. It may take a lot of experimentation to actually get it to work, if at all....

    Mylenium

    M
    Matthew SorrelsAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    June 14, 2014

    I've tried FBX files created from Motionbuilder 7, DAZ Studio, Lightwave 11.6 and some purchased FBX files (that I think were made in 3DS Max).  If the FBX file has anything complex Cinema 4D Lite will give the cryptic read error.  It definitely seems to come down to what is in the file.  If I put almost nothing into the file (simple textured obj) I have gotten it to read into Cinema 4D.  But some even fairly simple primitives will cause the error.  It's not so much the version of FBX file format but what is in it.  Having the ability to use FBX as a 3D file format in After Effects is very appealing, but Cinema 4D Lite doesn't appear to be a solution to that.  Perhaps the full version of Cinema 4D can read a wider range of FBX files, since the read error is definitely related to the content and not just the FBX version, but the Lite version errors out on pretty much anything worth reading.

    agmotionpictures
    agmotionpictures
    Participant
    November 28, 2014

    Hi Matt, did you find a solution for this issue?

    I'm facing the same problems. I want to export an animated subject from DAZ3D to Cinema4D Lite.

    Thanks.

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