Polygonal selections and optimizations in Cinema 4D

When working with 3D objects, targeted selection and optimization of polygons are essential skills. In this guide, you will learn how to effectively select polygons in Cinema 4D and remove unnecessary points after deletion. This is particularly important when working with high-resolution objects, as it can be easy to lose track.

Key Takeaways

• Selecting polygons in Cinema 4D is easier than in many other programs.
• There are various selection tools suitable for different use cases.
• After deleting polygons, an optimization should be performed to remove unused points.

Step-by-Step Guide

Converting Objects

Before you start selecting, you need to convert an object into a polygon object. To do this, click the small button or use the shortcut C. This allows you to edit the object's polygons.

Switching to Polygon Editing Mode

After converting your object, switch to polygon editing mode. In this mode, you can work with tools like the Live Selection. This allows you to quickly select individual segments by simply hovering over them.

Working with High-Resolution Objects

When working with high-resolution objects like a capsule, you can also use the Live Selection. However, selecting can be tedious if the number of segments is very high. Here, it's important to choose efficient selection methods to save time.

Using Other Selection Methods

In addition to the Live Selection, there are rectangle, lasso, and polygon selections. These tools are particularly useful when you want to select a larger number of polygons at once. They work best in isometric views.

Rectangle Selection in the Correct View

To optimize selection, switch to the front or right view to use rectangle selection. Just draw a frame around the lower curvature to select it.

Considering Element Visibility

Make sure that the options for "select visible elements" are not activated so that the backsides of the polygons are included in the selection as well. This is important for editing the correct surfaces.

Deleting the Selected Polygons

After making your desired selection, you can easily delete the selected polygons using the Delete key. Your object should now have the desired shape.

Performing Optimization

After deleting the polygons, you need to perform the optimization to remove all remaining unused points. Go to Mesh > Commands > Optimize. This is an important step, as points that are no longer bound to faces or edges can cause problems in future edits.

Checking the Points

Switch back to point mode to ensure that all unnecessary points have been removed. It is advisable to always run this command after a deletion.

Summary – Guide to Selecting and Optimizing in Cinema 4D

In this guide, you learned how to efficiently select polygons in Cinema 4D and perform an optimization after deletion to remove unused points. These steps are particularly important to improve the quality of your 3D objects and prevent unwanted elements.