This documentation describes how to develop C++ plugins for Cinema 4D. For latest changes of the API see Changes in S26.
Resources and Examples
- The Cinema 4D SDK is included in every distribution of Cinema 4D.
- The Project Tool is available on developers.maxon.net.
- General information on how to use Cinema 4D can be found in the Cinema 4D User Manual.
The sdk.zip file contains these example projects:
- cinema4dsdk: Contains various example plugins based on classic API hooks.
- maxonsdk: Contains various example plugins based on MAXON API interfaces.
- microsdk: Is a minimal example project combining classic API with elements of the MAXON API.
- example.nodes: Contains various examples about using the node framework.
- example.assets: Contains various examples about using the asset framework.
The example projects are also available on GitHub.
| Setting up a new project | Plugin Development | Best Practices |
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| Introduction | Foundations | Data & Algorithms |
Basic information to start plugin development
| Basic building blocks of the API
| Generic and reusable data structures and algorithms
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| Application Development | 3D Concepts | Handbooks |
Elements for generic application development
| Handling 3D scenes and elements
| Development Handbooks
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