Surface Imperfections
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Hello,
Where is the correct place to put a surface imperfection image in the standard/physical render materials? I have a transparent material that I want to have some surface imperfections on, such as the si-v1_smudges_05_15cm_1k from the assets browser. I've tried putting in various places in my material but nothing ever shows up.By the way, I see this sort of thing looks a lot easier in Redshift with the node based materials but as yet I can never get what I want out of Redshift, things just don't seem to work for me. I'm a good few lessons away from switching over yet so in the meantime I need to do it the standard and physical renderer. Thanks.
Kind Regards
David
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Hi David,
There are a few options; it depends on the amount of render time you're willing to invest.
A fast way is via Normal Maps.
Example:
CV4_2025_drs_25_SRar_01.c4d
Please note that I have also adjusted the UV data.
The Bevel Deformer is used to correct the contraction that can be seen due to surface artifacts, especially when super-precise edges are involved.
Switch it off, you like to have it differently.All the best
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Hi Dr Sassi,
Thanks very much this, I had a go at it on one of the actual models that I have to work with. I found that the geometry makes a big difference as to how well it worked. Some of the models aren't made by me, some are sent by the manufacturer which are converted from CAD files so they don't always work that great, unfortunately I don't have time to re-model them
Kind Regards
David -
Hi David,
Sorry to hear that you're not getting the results you are after.
Please note that CAD models often need work (at least they did so in the past three+ decades for me)
I assume you can't share one. (If possible, please use only Wetransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox, Adobe Cloud, or Apple Cloud services.) Please upload the content to the cloud as is, without compression (e.g., zip or rar). Please paste the full URL here, without a web wrapper. Thank you, and I apologize for the lengthy security-based request.
I'm unaware of your background, but I also write in a forum, so I leave this here for anyone following along:
Often, CAD models are great at the source, but export settings are applied that don't make them easy (if at all) to work with. For the creator of such files, it is often just a few checkboxes to change, and typically, they strive to produce good results if they know what is needed and wanted. In other words, let them know what is needed or what isn't working.All the best
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Hi Dr Sassi,
Thanks for your advice. I'd love to share one of the models in question but it is a product not released yet so I might get in trouble
It would sure make it easier if you could see one. I do always try to model as much of them myself as I can, it does produce much better results modelling from within C4D. It's simply down to time constraints really why I can't do all of them, my boss gets CAD files from manufacturers, I think they use Siemens NX 
. I convert them to OBJ and then bring them into C4D. Do you have any tips or advice for getting better exports? Is there a better way? Many thanks.Kind Regards
David -
Hi David,
The key is typically in the conversion. I have no idea what you use, and I guess I'm not familiar with it. But if the CAD file is perfect, and the OBJ is not, the problem center is located.
Siemens NX (. prm is not readable by C4D) but can provide OBJ, as well as IGES, and IGES will allow you to set the tessellation according to your needs.
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2025/en-us/Default.htm#html/FIGESIMPORT-CADIMPORT_GRP_TESSELATION.html?TocPath=CAD%2520Import%257CIGES%2520Import%2520Settings%257C_____3Is that something you have explored already?
When you have the model in Cinema 4D, have you explored the Mesh checker?
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2025/en-us/Default.htm#html/DMODELING-MESH_CHECK.html?Highlight=Model%20check
Besides that, most materials are set up for a specific scale (size), while some expect a proper UV mesh, while others don't care at all and use projection, such as Spherical. Besides that: Checking the Normals is key.
I believe one could fill a whole book with tips, and to say anything in general is to aim to fill that book, or keep it too short and waste time on the other side. Hence why I ask for files that show a problem.
Perhaps have a look here:
https://cineversity.maxon.net/en/tutorials/c4d_r20_import_catia_step_iges_solidworks_jt_cad_files_in_cinema_4dFingers crossed, one of these little tips helps.
Cheers
