Today I was working on a simple lower-third for a client who wanted “techy, maybe swirly things” in the background behind some text. This kind of vague direction from a client can sometimes be a blessing. I remembered a look/feel I’d seen a couple years ago in a web graphic and decided to make my own with Cinema4D. The idea was to make a simple flat colored background with these mysterious glass shapes, or “sweeps” flowing through it. In terms of modeling, it’s really very simple. It’s something that can be done very quickly and easily.
Keep in mind, this is assuming you have some basic knowledge of Cinema4D already
Here’s how I did it:
I first made a blob using the bezier curve tool
Then is used the bezier tool again to make a 3-dimensional spine. I knew I was going to use the Sweep NURBS, so I twisted the line a bit in 3D
After grouping both into the Sweep NURBS, and checking the “parallel” option
I then created the material for the shape. You can use a stock glass material or build your own by:
- Removing the color
- Adding reflection. Heighten the specular as much as possible, then add another reflection and set it to “reflective”. Increase reflection to 100%
- Adding transparency. I like to apply a Fresnel to it, then reversing the gradient knots so the center in transparent. It’s also a good idea to make sure the transparency is additive and the exit color is similar to the intended background
- I also add environment, and make it a similar color to the intended background
Add a couple area lights, and make sure to check “visible in reflection” in the details tab. This will give a bit more believablity to your glass
Your glass may look dark like this at this point
But if you change the Transparency’s Fresnel to “Add”, it should start looking like this
Checking it over in After Effects
I moved the camera a bit, and added an orange solid behind the C4D layer, but this gives the idea of the final composition.
Here I added a Glow effect, using Alpha channel, to the glass sweep layer. Also, to give the illusion of depth of field, I created a solid layer and used a radial Gradient Ramp (white to black), then the Camera Lens Blur effect on the glass layer
