You can create basic 3D objects and animations in CINEMA 4D Lite, then export them to an After Effects layer as footage for further editing. This is the stripped back version of CINEMA 4D that comes as part of your After Effects CC download, and is the program you'll actually do the C4D work in (although if you have a full version of C4D R14 or above already installed on your computer, After Effects CC can also harness that to deliver the same two-way workflow to a full version of C4D). It arrives as part of your After Effects CC download, and is not available to anyone still using After Effects CS6 or earlier.

It's what makes it possible for After Effects users to enjoy that two-way workflow, choose to render CINEMA 4D files in an After Effects-based renderer and see changes to cameras and lighting in both programs, regardless of which they were made in. Not actually a standalone application, CINEWARE is the name of the plug-in that's been added to After Effects to let it communicate with CINEMA 4D.

Now that we're a little way down the road, the dust has settled, the workflow has been explained and the deals have been announced, we thought it'd be a good idea to take a look at CINEWARE, CINEMA 4D Lite and CINEMA 4D and work out exactly which option is best for whom, and what it is you'll get for your money. When it was announced that the Creative Cloud iteration of After Effects would be capable of two-way collaboration with Maxon's CINEMA 4D range, it fast became our favourite new feature.

4d lite