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I am new to 3D software and have just started with Cinema 4d. This is a very noobish question but when I create any object in a project it always shows up pitch black.

The tutorial videos I have seen create objects where the faces can be see in a shaded grey. What am I doing wrong?

Image relating to the problem: http://i48.tinypic.com/2e1d5bk.jpg

Thanks, Hiren

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This normally happens when you have a light in the scene and the light is inside the box such that it can impossibly light the box. But in your screenshot I don't see any lights in your scene, so that's not the case. – Bart Arondson Feb 17 at 14:03
If you click on the object, in the lower right corner basic properties of the cube (like the Name, the Layer, Visible in Editor, etc...) will show up. Can you check if Use Color is set to Off? If it's set to something else it might be the cause of your colour problem. – Bart Arondson Feb 17 at 14:06
Hi Bart thanks for the response! I have checked the object in question and the Color is set to Off. – Hiren Umradia Feb 17 at 18:13

1 Answer

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This can either be an issue with OpenGL and you may want to disable it in the program settings (under "File) to test if thats the issue. Or you may have disabled the standard infinite light that is present in every new scene until you add your first light. Add an infinite light from the lights menu and see if that gives your objects some shading. Also try what @Bart Arondson said and look if you have the "Use Color" option enabled and set to black. If yes set it to "off".

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Hello Paul, thanks for the response! I applied a light and it did show me the faces of the cube. However, what's strange is that when I turned Open GL off like you said, it showed me the cube's faces without the lights. I think its could be a problem with using my integrated graphics on my i7 CPU. Thank you for the help :) – Hiren Umradia Feb 17 at 18:17
If you go to Preferences -> OpenGL -> Show OpenGL Capabilities... you can see if your graphics card meets Cinema4D's OpenGL requirements. – Bart Arondson Feb 17 at 18:44
OpenGL is important for C4D to show advanced shading. The viewport is very limited in software mode. Always have OpenGL enabled as long as its not causing any problems (which is rather rare anyways). If adding a light shows you a shaded face then the missing infinite light was you problem. – Paul Green Feb 17 at 18:49
Hey bart, I just checked the capabilities and the computer seems fine to run it. I have added an infinite light and it seems to work with Open GL on. Thanks for your help guys :) – Hiren Umradia Feb 17 at 19:23
in my case when i start the application there is no problem. but when i add light ...and after that i delete that light then the box turns to black.i solved that by unchaking the openGL in preference..but it creates some new problem with materials..adding some extra lines over the applied material.i have updated my graphics card..! – subhrajit mitra Apr 28 at 15:51
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