Bolt Documentation

presents

a plugin for Cinema 4D XL
by Ben Johnson

Bolt creates an animated "lightning bolt" effect, using a custom algorithm that mimics the way natural lightning follows its path. You have complete control over the shape, size, duration, and complexity. This plugin requires Cinema 4D XL v5.1 or above.

Begin by creating 2 Empty (null) Objects. Name the first "Start", and the second "End". These two objects will be the end points of the bolt. Position them in the scene as desired.

Now select Bolt from your plugin menu. You will be presented with this dialog:

Start Object: The object which will be the beginning point of the bolt.
End Object: The object which will be the end point of the bolt.
Complexity: The number of points which will be used. Larger values can give a more jagged result.
Movement: This is the maximum movement distance from one point to the next along the bolt.
Constraint: The furthest distance a point can travel from the local average center. A small constrant will result in a smooth, straight bolt, while a large constraint will create a bolt with larger spiking.
Bolt Width: The size of the bolts's cross section diameter.
Random Seed: Any number; used to make each bolt unique.
Start Time: The frame number in which the bolt will become visible.
End Time: The frame number in which the bolt will become invisible.
# of Keyframes: The number of individual "bolt shapes"that will be created, on a per-keyframe basis. You can have no more than 1 shape per keyframe.

Input the values to define the bolt's size, complexity, and animation parameters.Then click "ok".
A bolt object will appear in the object manager,

and in the scene, along with all the splines that define its shape.

Apply a material to the bolt. Finally, you should add a shadow parameter to the bolt from the object menu; turn both casting and receiving shadows OFF. Your bolt is ready to go! You can delete the "Start" and "End" objects if you like, or reposition them and make another bolt. In addition, you can hide the "Bolt Targets" object group if desired.

I hope you will find Bolt to be a useful plugin. If you have any suggestions (or problems) with this plugin, please don't hesitate to contact me!

About Cup of C.O.F.F.E.E.

Cup of C.O.F.F.E.E. plugins are created by Ben Johnson. The emphasis is on quality, reliability, and usefulness. Ben works very hard to bring Cinema 4D users great plugins at a very affordable price. Please do not distribute these plugins. They are copyrighted material, and piracy only discourages future development. Support the developer, and he will support you. And thanks for purchasing this Cup of C.O.F.F.E.E. plugin!

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