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Connecting Cargo to Cinema 4D (C4D)

Elaine Deveney avatar
Written by Elaine Deveney
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Initial Setup

  1. Ensure the C4D version you're using is supported by Cargo: Cargo Supported 3D software and render engines

  2. To install the Cargo plugin to Cinema 4D, first follow the Basic Software Setup guide, ensuring that C4D is shut down before starting.

  3. After you have selected your version of Cinema 4D in Cargo -> Account -> Software Settings, Cargo will install all necessary files to your computer and ask you to activate your plugin within C4D.

Steps in Cinema 4D

The new Cargo plugin will auto connect to Cargo when C4D is launched.

The connection status of the Cargo importer in Cinema 4D can be identified via its extension window in Cinema 4D.

This window can be opened navigating to Extensions → Cargo Importer on the top menu bar.

Cargo Plugin Configuration

To access the available settings for the Cinema 4D Cargo plugin, navigate to Edit→Preferences→ Extensions→Cargo Importer

Manual Import

NEW: The Cinema 4D plugin has a new manual import option in v2.0.0+

The new manual import option enables the ability import one or multiple USD models or materials from disk that have already been downloaded from Cargo.

Manual import is only certified to work with KitBash3D assets, which have gone through an extensive validation process to ensure compatibility with our Cinema 4D plugin’s feature set. KitBash3D’s importer is not a generic USD importer.

How To Enable the Manual Import Menu:

  • Click Edit → Preferences in the top menu bar

  • Navigate to the Extensions → Cargo Importer tab

  • Click the “Enable Manual Import” check box

How to Manually Import a Single Asset:

  • Click the “Select File” button

  • Choose a Cargo USD file to import

    • Be sure to click the USD file that has the same name as it’s parent folder. This is the root USD asset that references the other USD assets in that folder.

  • Similar to Cargo’s inspector window, select the texture variant you wish to import

  • Click the OK button to start the import process

How to Import a Folder of USD Assets:

  • Click the “Select Folder” button

  • Choose a “Models” or “Materials” folder to import

    • The importer will search the selected directory for asset folders to import.

How to configure the which renderer Cargo imports materials and models for?

Starting with the C4D Cargo Importer v2.0.0+ the Importer will create materials for the currently active renderer nodespace.

Ensure your projects renderer is set to the renderer you’d like Cargo to create it’s materials for and Cargo will handle the rest.

Troubleshooting

Cannot import into C4D, C4D crashes

First, ensure you're using a supported version of C4D

Completely removing all associated Cargo files will ensure that a reinstallation is successful at resolving your issue.

Remove Cargo application files

  1. Navigate to: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming

  2. Delete kitbash3d folder

  3. Delete Cargo by KitBash3D folder

  4. Empty Recycle Bin

Uninstall Cargo

  1. From the Start menu, run the Window Uninstaller to uninstall Cargo

  2. Ensure the app has been cleared from your Recycle Bin

Reinstall Cargo

  1. Ensure your 3D software is shut down

  2. Install the latest version of Cargo from https://kitbash3d.com/pages/cargo-download
    (note the file name of the Cargo application is NOT the version number)

  3. Log into Cargo

  4. ACCOUNT > SOFTWARE SETTINGS > ADD NEW SOFTWARE > SELECT C4D

  5. Allow Cargo to install the plugin into C4D

  6. Open your C4D and enable the Cargo plugin in all locations

  7. Select a render engine if applicable

  8. Select an asset to import

Cargo Logs

If the above steps do not allow you to import an asset into C4D, locating and sending the logs from the dates you experienced the issue will be helpful for the team to see what's going on behind the scenes.
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Windows OS

Take the below steps

  1. In the File Explorer, navigate to: Windows: C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\kitbash3d\Logs\cargo.log
    There are two logs here: cargo.log and cargo-platform-services.log.

  2. Zip up this folder and reply back to us with the logs from the date you experienced the issue

  3. We'll get back to you as soon as our team is able to review the logs.

macOS

  1. In Finder, use CMD+SHIFT+. to reveal hidden folders

  2. In /Users locate the /kitbash3d/ folder

  3. In /kitbash3d/ folder, locate the logs folder

  4. Please email us the most recent file from the Logs folder.
    ​

Email info@kitbash3d.com

Once our team is able to review the logs, we'll get back to you with more information about the issue you experienced.


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