Create an Animated Bar Graph with Cinema 4D and Xpresso

on Dec 22nd 2009 with 26 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Software: Maxon Cinema 4D
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Estimated Completion Time: 2 Hours

Use the power of Xpresso and Mograph to create a 3D bar graph that automatically updates based on settings that you specify. In this tutorial you will learn how to set up Xpresso, which allows you to link the different parameters together, so that the graph can be easily animated and adjusted to fit any set of data.

If you are someone who makes corporate style videos frequently, this will provide you with a much quicker and more exciting way to visually represent data, instead of a plain Powerpoint-style slide. If you are not, then you will be able to learn some of the powerful things that you can do with animation using Xpresso and Mograph in conjunction with Cinema 4d.

Final Effect Preview

Video 1

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

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By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

Michael Szabo is a 24 year old motion designer and editor from Florida. He strives to learn something new about design every day. Check out www.bigmikedesign.com to see his work.  

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  • http://www.maxdiamondhead.com maxdiamond

    Nice one and timely. :)

  • aihaozhe

    您的留言…很酷 喜欢

  • Ghost Digital

    Cool…. another re-hash. Where is originality these days?

    • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth

      Since this tutorial teaches a completely different technique, and uses completely different tools to get there, it can hardly be called a re-hash. The only thing similar about the two tutorials is the subject of a bar graph.

      • Ghost Digital

        Glad to see you didn’t attempt to rebutt me on the originality factor though.

      • http://kaleb-3d.com Kaleb Aylsworth

        Well…I actually think it was an original concept in this case too, and since the author had not seen the other tut before creating this one, most likely more of a coincidence than anything else:) Also, I hope you don’t feel that I was trying to rebut your comment just for the sake of being contrary. In fact, all I am trying to do is defend our authors hard work from criticisms that may not be entirely accurate. Cheers.

  • xsid

    just watch something like this on andew kramer site..
    but very good effort.

  • http://www.dnb-film.fr Nobru

    Me too….watch it on Videocopilot.com two days ago…

    • kaleb aylsworth

      Just to clear things up here, the Videocopilot/ Andrew Kramer tut teaches a completely different technique that uses AfterEffects, while this tutorial is primarily designed to teach you Mograph and Xpresso. In fact, the only thing in common between the two tutorials is the subject of the bargraph.

  • Benjamin Weiss

    Oooo, me, me!

  • kamran

    hey mate which system are u using for C4D i mean configuration,
    nice tut mate learn alot and looking forward more from you

  • http://www.bigmikedesign.com Michael Szabo
    Author

    Wow bad timing, I didn’t even see the tutorial until the commenters put it up here. I had this effect mapped out sometime in November, but it took awhile to get the greenlight to produce and then get approval for the tutorial, it’s not something I just cranked out yesterday after seeing someone else do it. This is a tutorial for Cinema 4D, mainly Xpresso, so it’s very different process that produces a similar result.

  • fxxking

    Nice one. A good start into Xpresso. Not as entertaining as Andrews bar graphs but very powerful and timesaving. I recommend to use a scaler for the bars instead of a multiplier for the numbers. So you have more control about the look ‘n feel.

    Thanks.

  • ivanex

    Gracias un buen aporte..!!!!!!
    Muchas gracias…
    Lo cierto un retoque y queda cooool
    un saludo desde LA PAZ – BOLIVIA

  • ©klad

    It will be usefull for my TV work. Thank you!

  • http://eknowles.com edk

    this looks like another re-hash from creative cow…

  • http://kugarov.ru/ dnk

    Thank you very much
    All concepts and works!
    Now would be a similar lesson about the circular diagrams …

  • http://chrisdinicolas.com Chris

    What about negative values?

  • http://jayse.us jayse

    brilliant

  • http://www.randykarey.com Randy

    Nice tutorial. However, most of the time when I do bar charts, the values are not whole numbers (integers) but numbers with a decimal (float), but usually only to the tenths place. 10.2, 59.7, etc. When I change the bar values to float, I get 3 decimal places and I can’t seem to change that. Any way to specify how many decimal places there ought to be?

  • Zentromorph

    Is it possible to do this dynamically where you link the fields to a database or excel spread sheet?

  • jamy

    you’re so genius~!! perfect guy~!! Thank you so much as I can’t describe your ability.

  • Mihai

    Nice tutorial. But whay can you multiply the bars if thats repeates 1 2 3 1 2 3. Is any procedure that allows to make automate independently bars like 1 2 3 4 5…Escuse my english, i hope you understand me. Thanks !

  • http://URL?WTF Alex

    The best XPresso tutorial i have seen!?!?!

  • Nassaj

    In Object properties of Blue tag there is no Movement? I have C4D 11.5

  • Ben G.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH. life saver here for a gigantic project for a gigantic client.