Reflective and Refractive Glass Block Tutorial Part 1 – Cinema 4D

April 16, 2010 - By Nick Campbell

In this tutorial, I show you how to make a spinning glass block animation with Cinema 4D, Mograph and refraction. It’s based on an animation by Lumiere Studios. Stay tuned for part 2 of the tutorial where we bring the final render in after effects and do the final composite.

Final Animation

Watch Part 2 of This Tutorial

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168 comments

168 Comments

Connor July 28, 2010 at 1:59 pm

Hey Gorilla!

Thanks so much for the tutorial. I would love it if you could see the promo that I made with it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0vPW-_QcQI

Its a combo of this one and your shattering text one.

Again, thank you so much for all the work you put into teaching us newbies!!!

Benjamin August 7, 2010 at 11:41 am

OMG I have been looking for this type of tut forever! Thanks Nick!

xxxxxxx August 10, 2010 at 11:28 am

excellent tut!

thnx again, nick!

based on this, i made a little flash website..

feel free to check that out!!

http://xzoz.tk

best regards

Sean October 11, 2010 at 7:59 am

Sick tut! Thanks Nick!

snuzas December 18, 2010 at 3:48 pm

this is my version http://www.vimeo.com/17956896

taratata January 4, 2011 at 11:21 am

Hi
Thnx for real cool tuttorial
this is my first use cinema 4d
it easy then 3d max
what you think about my work?
http://vimeo.com/18423565

i don’t know why on vimeo – looks so bad. (

and sorry for my english )))))))
Thnx thnx)))))

Nick January 14, 2011 at 11:11 pm

Hey Nick. Nick here,

Hey I am doing a project where I would like to implement this into but conclude the logo with everything shattering into thousands of pieces at the camera or in all directions? How would I use the particle system to break everything and make it fly? I need this by sunday would love if you could help me!!!

The Gorilla January 15, 2011 at 12:14 pm

I would look into a shattering system to break apart the glass. Then use rigid body tags to make them explode. Hope that helps. Good luck with the project.

Reply

Angel January 30, 2011 at 1:42 pm

I just made my own video with this effect and i just realized that you can see it in stereoscopic 3D because Pulfrich effect. If you putt a neutral filter (black) on the left eye you can see a subtle 3D effect.

That´s the glasses i mean but you can do with a sunglasses lens (just on one eye)

http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu/PulfrichMaterials/PulfrichGlasses.jpg

questionman February 12, 2011 at 7:06 am

my glass-cubes became cinda gray over all with less contrast and it’s a cinda boring look, so what can i do to make a better contrast??is there a default color on the cubes?

Vlad Tim February 19, 2011 at 8:33 am

Thank you Nick for your Tuts!!!
http://vimeo.com/20132785

haters_gonna_hate March 21, 2011 at 7:25 am

Look at this!
Someone took inspiration of you;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZCFMHLZ6w

Dzulhusne May 20, 2011 at 7:47 am

Hey Nick , Can u do this tutorial : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA0ehz1xoXE ?

M.V. Baks May 29, 2011 at 5:03 am

http://vimeo.com/24376055

assasinosilenzioso May 30, 2011 at 8:33 am

i gave this project a try and i did a 160 frame 3 seconds,animation.how to extend the animation to 10 secs without increasing the frames?????

celso marcelo June 10, 2011 at 11:29 am

do u think its possible to use video footage instead of text? that would be cool to be able to do with video footage to be seen through the glass only but not the camera…

L.HIDE77FX July 6, 2011 at 11:56 pm

Great tut!!
now Im rendering that!!
thankx for this page
God bless you
Regards from jap…

Vicky September 10, 2011 at 1:07 am

Hi,
Sir

Reflective and Refractive Glass Block Tutorial
How can we use footage inside of glass…

Please explain me sir

Thank you so much….

BdlFtbl September 18, 2011 at 12:54 pm

Think I’m going 2 use this 4 my next intro

Adam D. July 26, 2012 at 3:59 pm

My version of the tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQF1kCDowPA

Any feedback would be appreciated…ty

ArgGeo October 9, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Hey Nick, thank you for this amazing tutorial. I need some help… my light are being dispayed too bright and as a result the pieces of glass seem to be fake! What should I do?

The Gorilla October 10, 2012 at 12:10 am

Turn down your light or turn down the specular.

Reply
- ArgGeo October 12, 2012 at 3:07 pm
  
  Thanks for your time Nick! I tried what you’ ve told me but unfortunately I didn’t got the desired result. It is 100% a marerial problem. After using the exact same values as you are using for the glass material, my material is far away from yours. I’ am using R12 if this matters. If you would like to see the material, this is it then: http://tinyurl.com/9hy7tz4
  
  PS: Excuse me for my poor english.
  
  Reply

khaled March 26, 2014 at 12:28 pm

Hi
Great Tutorial .thank’s
Have you any idea of how to Make like this project …
http://www.n3design.com/83175/2119806/broadcast/tvc-ids-2013-stage-1
Thank’s

Nova October 6, 2014 at 4:14 am

where did the fillet feature go in R16. I see its there under your tab object tab of the cube, but It’s not there in my version. I found a bevel deformer, which is also seen in your R16 update , but what gets me is chris is doing the update for R16 and the feature is still there like in R15.

Rai October 16, 2014 at 1:20 pm

With the release of R16, you know that the concept of reflection and specular have changed. I couldn’t find the plastic either. Could you maybe post a short video showing how to create the same glass material with R16?

alex May 25, 2015 at 12:37 pm

So I’m surfing Vimeo and i come across this post…the dude is intruding invisible text…Really?? not even giving credit…may be I’m jumping the gun, but I’m tried of these type of so call designers.

https://vimeo.com/127623741