JIGPX
JIGPX

Directories

Essential file paths and directory management in Cinema 4D

Installation Directory

Default installation paths for Cinema 4D:

# Windows
C:\Program Files\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]\

# macOS
/Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]/

Preferences Directory

Cinema 4D stores user preferences and settings in:

# Windows
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\MAXON\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]\

# macOS
/Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/MAXON/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]/

This directory contains:

  • User preferences
  • Layout configurations
  • Shortcuts
  • Recent files history

Project Directory

The default project folder where Cinema 4D looks for assets:

# Windows
C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Cinema 4D [version] Projects\

# macOS
/Users/[username]/Documents/Cinema 4D [version] Projects/

Changing Project Directory:

  1. Go to Edit → Preferences (Windows) or Cinema 4D → Preferences (macOS)
  2. Select "Files" in the left sidebar
  3. Change the "Project Folder" path
  4. Click "OK" to save changes

Plugin Directory

Cinema 4D looks for plugins in several locations:

# Windows - Global Plugins
C:\Program Files\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]\plugins\

# Windows - User Plugins
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\MAXON\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]\plugins\

# macOS - Global Plugins
/Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]/plugins/

# macOS - User Plugins
/Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/MAXON/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]/plugins/

Important plugin subdirectories:

  • library/ - Plugin resources
  • resource/ - Plugin interface elements
  • shader/ - Custom materials and shaders
  • bodypaint/ - BodyPaint specific plugins

Asset Libraries

Cinema 4D's asset browser looks in these locations:

# Windows - Factory Content
C:\Program Files\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]\library\

# Windows - User Content
C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Cinema 4D [version] Library\

# macOS - Factory Content
/Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]/library/

# macOS - User Content
/Users/[username]/Documents/Cinema 4D [version] Library/

Quick Tip: Custom Library Paths

  1. Open Asset Browser
  2. Click the menu icon (three dots)
  3. Choose "Add Path"
  4. Select your custom library folder

Cache Directory

Cinema 4D uses various cache locations:

# Windows
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\MAXON\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]\cache\

# macOS
/Users/[username]/Library/Caches/MAXON/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]/

Managing Cache:

  1. Go to Edit → Preferences → Memory & Cache
  2. Adjust cache size limits
  3. Change cache location if needed
  4. Use "Clear Memory & Cache" for troubleshooting

Preset Directories

Various preset locations in Cinema 4D:

  • Material Presets:
    /library/browser/material/
  • Object Presets:
    /library/object/
  • Render Settings:
    /library/render_settings/

Script Directory

Locations for Python and other scripts:

# Windows
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\MAXON\Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]\scripts\

# macOS
/Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/MAXON/Maxon Cinema 4D [version]_[architecture]/scripts/

Scripts can be organized in subfolders and will appear in the script manager accordingly.

Best Practices

  • Keep project files organized in dedicated folders
  • Use separate drives for cache and project files
  • Back up preferences and scripts regularly
  • Create custom asset libraries for frequently used items
  • Document plugin installations and dependencies
  • Use version-specific folders for custom content

Troubleshooting

Common directory-related issues and solutions:

  • Missing Plugins: Check both global and user plugin directories
  • Corrupt Preferences: Rename or delete the preferences folder to reset
  • Asset Browser Issues: Verify paths and refresh the browser
  • Cache Problems: Clear cache and check directory permissions