Start modeling with Cinema 4D

Before we start with the modeling we first add a Polygon-, a Null-, a Symmetrie- and a HyperNURBS-Object. Sort these objects as shown in the screenshot on the right (IMAGE 1).

Any changes on the object attributes arent necessary. So what are all these objects for?
The HyperNURBS-Object devides the Polygon Object and gives its surface round organic forms. The Symmetry Object fastens your workflow. For symmetric objects its only necessary to model one side. The other side will be mirrored by the Symmetry Object. The Null-Object groups all the parts which will be modeled after and after. Every object which is grouped with the null object is mirrored by the Symmetry Object. The last item of the Objectstructure is the Polygon Object. It contains later our polygon points.

Now we add a Phong Tag to our Polygon Object. Select the Polygon Object, click on the right button of your mouse, select in the menue Cinema 4D Tags and then choose the Phong Tag. In the attributes of the Phong Tag select Angle limit, Phong Angle = 80° and select Use Edge Breaks.

Next we start with building the Polygons. Select the Move Tool and Use Point Tool in the menue and the the Polygon Object in the objectstructure.
Move Tool Use Point Tool

To make a new Polygon Point keep the STRG key on your keyboard pushed and click with the mouse in the Editor Window. After the new point is build, select 0 for the coordinates of the X-axis. Because the
X-axis is the middle of our Symmetry Object its important to keep the points on 0 otherwise your mesh will mess up in the middle.

IMAGE 1: Objectstructure and elements

IMAGE 2: Add and clone Polygon Points

All new points will now build with the Clone function. For that select the Front view in the Editor Window and select the Polygon Point. Select Clone in the menue (right mouseclick). Then change the setting in the attributes window as shown in IMAGE 2. Click on apply.

Now you made a second Polygon Point which is positioned exactly over the first one. Move it some metres in the Y-axis direction, then select both Polygon Points and move them some metres to the right in X-axis direction.

This 4 new Polygon Points are now the base to build the first Polygon. See image 3.

IMAGE 3: Connecting Polygon Points

To build a Polygon there are two possibilities:
Either the Create Polygon tool or the Bridge tool. Both functions can be selected with a right mouseclick on the Editor window.

We start with the Create Polygon tool. Select Create Polygon and click on Polygon Point 1. Now click on point 2, 3 and 4. At last click on point 1 again. Now a new Polygon with a surface is build.

You can also use the Bridge tool to connect the Polygon Points. For that select Bridge in the menue. Then select point 1, keep the mouse button pushed and move to point 4. Next select point 2, keep the mouse button pushed and move to point 3. Now a new Polygon with a surface is build. If you select the points in the wrong order your surface will mess up. If so you can reset the Bridge tool with ESC.

The new Polygon Surface is now automatically mirrored at the Y-axis (s. IMAGE 3 on the right).

Please try always to build Polygon's based on four points. Polygon's based on only three points are always possible, but causes very often problems with the surface of the object ( dints and buckles). Further try to model your object with as little as possible Polygon Points. The less points you need the less you have to clone and connect (better workflow). Based on the renderings you can decide if your Polgon Mesh has to be more detailed. For this you can devide your mesh later on with using the Knife Tool. For example for curves you need more points respective a higher division of your mesh than for large straight surfaces.

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