Introduction

Release

2024.2.0

Date

Dec 05, 2023

About this Documentation

The Cinema 4D Python SDK documentation is a publicly available development reference. As such, it is a growing document that is designed to help developers understand how to create Python plugins and scripts for MAXON Cinema 4D.

See also

For more resources, please read Python Resources.

Developer Support

Plugin developers find all resources on the Development Support blog. Additional example code is presented on GitHub.

Additional developer support is provided on the Plugin Café support forum. This forum is also used to report feedbacks and issues about the documentation.

For more information about developer support see How to get Support.

If your project is under NDA or you need to address the support team directly, please email sdk_support@maxon.net for further assistance.

About Python in Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D has a builtin Python interpreter which can be accessed via the Cinema 4D and c4dpy executable.

Our Python interpreter is based on a vanilla CPython interpreter but not fully identical to it. Using a standard CPython interpreter which is installed on a machine as the Python interpreter of Cinema 4D is therefore not possible. Most third party Python libraries are compatible with our interpreter, but especially C-based libraries can cause problems. The modules of the Cinema 4D Python API are overwhelmingly implemented in C++, the native Cinema 4D C++ API. We strive for feature parity where it is possible, but high-performance and back-end features are usually reserved for the C++ API.

See Python Resources for an overview of external Cinema 4D Python tutorials and learning material.

See also

Python in Cinema 4D Manual manual.

Contact

For further questions about MAXON Computer or our applications Cinema 4D and BodyPaint 3D, please contact MAXON at any of the following locations:

Headquarters Germany: info_de@maxon.net

USA, Canada, Americas: info_us@maxon.net

United Kingdom & Ireland: info_uk@maxon.net

Japan: info_jp@maxon.net

France: info_fr@maxon.net

Singapore / ASEAN: info_sg@maxon.net

Disclaimer

MAXON cannot be held responsible for any damages to your code or project-schedule as a result of your study and use of this documentation or correspondence with our SDK-support team. MAXON is not obliged to make any changes to the SDK at your request.

When using this reference or inquiring for support you do so at your own risk.