TUTORIAL | Redshift First 10 Things To Do: My Workflow Revealed!

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on setting up and using Redshift in Cinema 4D, covering essential workflows and optimizations for rendering. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this step-by-step guide will help streamline your process and improve your efficiency.

Chapter 1: Turn It On

1. Enable Redshift Renderer

   • Open Edit > Preferences.
   • Navigate to the Renderer section.
   • Select Redshift.

2. Configure GPU Settings

   • Ensure both GPUs are enabled.
   • Disable the CPU version of Redshift if enabled.

3. Adjust Cache Settings

   • Increase the Maximum Texture Cache Amount for better performance.

4. Rendering Options

   • Disable Hybrid Rendering (not fully functional yet).
   • Leave Multi-threading and Scene Grid enabled.
   • Choose the new node system under Node Materials for Presets.

5. User Interface Preferences

   • Turn on Global Attribute Manager for Shader Nodes.
   • Enable Redshift Main Menu for easy access.
   • Set Material Previews to show when the renderer is idle.

6. Final Preferences Setup

   • Disable Start Automatically for IPR.
   • Confirm Lock Render to Camera is enabled.

Chapter 2: Make It Fast

1. Open Render Settings

   • Press Ctrl + B to access render settings.

2. Basic Render Setup

   • Set Bucket Quality to Low for faster render times.
   • Use Unified Sampling and set it to Low.
   • Set Progressive Passes to 128 for quick IPR sessions.

3. Enable Global Illumination

   • Keep Combined Depth and Tray Steps at default.
   • Turn on Hardware Ray Tracing if applicable.

4. System Settings Adjustments

   • Go to Advanced > System and set Bucket Size to 256.
   • Keep Color Management settings at default.

5. Save Render Preset

   • Right-click in the render settings and select Save Preset.
   • Name it Redshift Starter for quick access in future sessions.

Chapter 3: Get Comfy

1. Create a Comfortable Layout

   • Open Redshift and grab the Render View.
   • Drag and dock the Render View for easy access.

2. Customize Your Layout

   • Arrange panels (Perspective View, IPR, Object Manager, etc.) to suit your workflow.
   • Save the layout by going to Customization > Save Layout As.

3. Set as Startup Layout

   • Optionally save it as a startup layout for future sessions.

Chapter 4: Render View

1. Start IPR Session

   • Hit play in the Render View to begin an IPR session.

2. Understand Rendering Modes

   • Progressive Mode: For look development.
   • Bucket Mode: For final frame rendering.

3. Adjust Sampling for Interactivity

   • Under View, adjust Under Sampling as needed for better performance.

4. Render Settings Exploration

   • Use the Render View to output frames directly without opening the Picture Viewer.

Chapter 5: Cameras

1. Create a Redshift Camera

   • Ensure Redshift is set as your renderer.
   • Create an RS Camera.

2. Adjust Camera Settings

   • Set focal length (e.g., 100mm) and adjust the position.
   • Enable Depth of Field in the Optical Tab.

3. Use Focus Nulls

   • Create a null object for focus tracking and link it to the camera.

4. Save Camera Preset

   • Save camera settings as a preset for future use.

Chapter 6: Lights

1. Add a Dome Light

   • Start by using an HDRI for initial lighting.
   • Use HDRI Link for easy HDRI management.

2. Adjust Dome Light Settings

   • Rotate and adjust intensity and saturation as needed.

3. Introduce Area Lights

   • Add Quad Lights for directional lighting.
   • Group lights under nulls for easier manipulation.

4. Set Up Background Light

   • Add another dome light for background illumination, ensuring it does not contribute to the scene lighting.

Chapter 7: Bonus Organization

1. Create Nulls for Organization

   • Use nulls to categorize objects (lights, cameras, etc.).
   • Assign icons and colors for easy identification.

2. Utilize Layers

   • Assign objects to layers for better organization and future reference.

Chapter 8: Materials

1. Set Up Basic Materials

   • Use Grayscale Gorilla materials or create new ones from scratch.

2. Adjust Light Settings

   • Duplicate lights to create fill lights as needed.

3. Apply Redshift Object Tags

   • Add an RS Object tag to control displacement and tessellation settings.

4. Optimize Displacement Settings

   • Adjust tessellation levels and displacement scales for efficiency.

Chapter 9: LUTs

1. Apply LUTs for Final Touches

   • Access post effects and enable LUTs.
   • Use Advantix 200 for a basic color grade.

2. Adjust Bloom and Vignetting

   • Tweak bloom settings and add vignetting for depth.

Chapter 10: Light Quick Tip

1. Adjust Preview Intensity
   • Change light intensity under the preview settings to avoid blown-out lights in viewport.

Chapter 11: Tokens

1. Set Up Output Naming with Tokens
   • Access the Save File settings and utilize tokens for automated naming.
   • Create a structured output directory including project name and camera names.

Chapter 12: Flight Check

1. Verify Assets and Textures
   • Use the Asset Manager to check for any missing textures or assets.
   • Consolidate assets into project directories for better organization.

Conclusion

You have now set up and optimized your workflow in Redshift for Cinema 4D. From enabling the renderer to organizing your scene and applying materials, these steps provide a solid foundation for creating impressive renders. For further learning, consider exploring more advanced techniques and courses available online. Happy rendering!