Blender vs C4d | Which Should You Choose?
9.5/10
Free
Price
Open Source
4
Pros
While this software may have fewer pros, be sure to check out what it offers.
I 100% recommend using Blender. If you are a beginner, or a indie game artist/film maker. It is the tool for you. But if you are looking at large scale industry level jobs, it isn't as widely used as other software, such as Maya, 3DS Max or Houdini, though this is changing.
8.5/10
$81.91
Price
C4D + Redshift Bundle (Yearly)
5
Pros
This software has more pros than the other software
What do these software offer?
Blender Pros
Modelling
Blender has a very powerful and flexible modelling toolset, with a wide range of tools and modifiers to help you create the perfect model. With a reliance on shortcuts, modelling in Blender can be faster and more efficient than other software. Due to the large suite of interconnected tools, you can easily use other parts of the 3D process to help you model, such as using the sculpting tools to create a base mesh for a model.
Sculpting
Blenders sculpting has improved ten fold over the last year, and while it isn't as powerful as ZBrush, mostly as the software can only handle around 5-8 million polygons (Which is a pretty big limitation) before it starts to chug, I would consider it the 2nd or 3rd best sculpting software out there.
Open Source
Being open source, Blender has a large community of developers and users who are constantly working to improve the software. This means that Blender is constantly being updated with new features and improvements, and there is a wealth of tutorials and resources available to help you learn how to use it.
Cross Platform
Blender is available on Windows, Mac and Linux, which means that you can use it on any computer, regardless of the operating system. This is great for people who work on multiple computers, or who want to be able to work on their projects wherever they are.
Cinema 4D Pros
Ease of Use
Cinema 4D is known for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to both beginners and professionals. Its straightforward workflow and extensive documentation facilitate quick learning and efficient production.
Motion Graphics
Cinema 4D excels in motion graphics and visual effects, offering a wide range of tools for creating dynamic animations, particle effects, and procedural motion graphics. Its MoGraph module is particularly popular for motion design projects.
Integration
Cinema 4D seamlessly integrates with other software and plugins, allowing users to enhance their workflow and expand their capabilities. It supports various file formats and third-party plugins, enabling interoperability with industry-standard tools. Also now that Maxon has acquired Redshift, it is now included in the bundle, providing a powerful rendering solution.
Rendering
Cinema 4D provides powerful rendering capabilities, including its native renderer, Physical Renderer, and third-party render engines like Redshift and Octane. Users can achieve high-quality visuals and realistic lighting effects for their projects.
Versatility
Cinema 4D offers a wide range of features for modeling, texturing, lighting, animation, and simulation, making it a versatile tool for various creative projects. Its procedural workflow and Python scripting support further enhance its flexibility and customization options.
And what are they bad at?
Blender Cons
Performance
Blender can only handle around 5-8 million polygons in sculpting and modelling before it starts to chug, which is a pretty big limitation. Especially when compared to Z-Brush's performance.
Industry Support
While Blender is used in the industry, it is mostly used for previz or indie game companies, it is not as widely used as other software, such as Maya or 3DS Max. This means that it can be harder to find work if you are only proficient in Blender. However, this is slowly changing.
Learning Curve
Blender has a steep learning curve, and can be difficult to learn for beginners. However, there are a wealth of tutorials and resources available to help you learn how to use it, so with some time and effort, you can become proficient in Blender.
Cinema 4D Cons
High Price
C4D is expensive, particularly for full-featured versions or multi-seat licenses.
Advanced Features
Some advanced features in Cinema 4D may require additional plugins or modules, increasing the overall cost of the software. Additionally, certain complex tasks may be better suited for specialized software.
Bad Buisness Practices
Maxon has changed their pricing model. They no longer sell C4D without Redshift. The price listed is for the C4D + Redshift bundle. Increasing the price. They have removed the perpetual license option. This ethos has been applied across the board on Maxon products. I am not a fan of their buisness practices, and would reconmend looking elsewhere at a hobby level. That said, I feel they provide more value than Autodesk at this time. And the software is more stable than Blender. So if you are a professional and you really need a specfic tool it offers, it may be worth the investment. But if you are a hobbyist, I would look elsewhere.