With the Illustrator Import, Cinema 4D offers a range of options for working with path objects.

With just a few clicks, two important results can be achieved.

First, it's easy to convert the path information created in  Illustrator to Cinema 4D's native Spline object. The structure of the source file supplied by Illustrator can be maintained for the most part. The source information can be in Ai, CC or Illustrator 8 format. In cases in which a very precise or detailed structure is not required, the result can be grouped.

This easy import of Illustrator files makes it possible to create a good basis for using paths or shapes.

The Vector Import is an Illustrator import at its core. Here, the formats Ai, CC and Illustrator can be used. The importer converts the imported files to a multi-functional setup and offers a user interface with several default setups already integrated.

Path objects from Illustrator can be managed by the Vector Import. The fill and contour information used by Illustrator will be used.

Fill and contour information will be evaluated when Path objects are imported from Illustrator using the Vector Import.

Line color and size will be converted internally to a Sweep object.

The fill information will result in an Extrude setup for which the fill color will be used (RGB should be used for lines and fills to ensure consistency between platforms).

Both setup types are connected internally with the interface and have individual object access options. To make individual adjustments possible, the Vector Import object can be made editable using the C key (the simple Vector Import interface will then be lost).

For best results you should use uncompressed Illustrator information. PDFs that contain path information can be used in most cases.

Below you will find additional details for adapting the results.

R26

Clipping Masks

Import now also supports Clipping Masks created in Illustrator. In Cinema 4D, a Clipping Mask is a Spline Mask. Paths / Splines are edited using Boolean operations. As such, a corresponding spline setup using spline masks will be created in Cinema 4D if you activate Hierarchy in the Vector Import object. Since the original splines still exist, you have complete control over the result.