How do I convert a C4D file to FBX, OBJ or STL?

Open the C4D Converter in your browser and drop your .c4d file onto the upload area (or click it to choose a file). The converter shows a 3D preview and lists the objects in the scene. Choose FBX, OBJ, STL or all three formats and click “Convert & save”.

Do I need Cinema 4D to use the converter?

No. The converter reads the .c4d file format directly and works without Cinema 4D, Maxon software or a Maxon account. You only need Cinema 4D to prepare the file once, see the next question.

How do I prepare my Cinema 4D file for conversion?

In Cinema 4D, open the Project Settings (Ctrl/Cmd + D), go to the “Cineware” tab and enable “Save Polygon Cache”, then save the file. Cinema 4D then stores the finished 3D geometry of every generator in the file, and the converter can read it.

Alternatively, convert all objects to polygon objects with “Make Editable” (C) before saving.

Why does the converter say my file contains no 3D geometry?

The file was saved without polygon cache. It then only contains object settings, for example splines, Extrude or Boole parameters, but not the resulting surfaces. Enable “Save Polygon Cache” in the Project Settings under “Cineware” and save the file again.

Which Cinema 4D objects are supported?

With the polygon cache saved, the converter exports the geometry exactly as Cinema 4D calculated it. This includes:

• polygon objects
• primitives such as cube, sphere or cylinder
• generators such as Boole, Extrude, Lathe, Sweep, Loft, Symmetry, Subdivision Surface, Array, Instance and cloners
• deformers such as Bend or Bulge
• object hierarchies with position, rotation and scale

Splines on their own have no surface and are skipped.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser. Your .c4d files and the resulting FBX, OBJ and STL files are not transmitted to our server or to third parties and are not stored.

Which Cinema 4D versions are supported?

The converter has been tested with files from Cinema 4D 2024 and Cinema 4D 2026. Other versions that save in the same file format should work as well. If a file cannot be read, the converter shows an error message.

Which format should I choose: FBX, OBJ or STL?

• FBX for Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya and other 3D applications. Each object is exported separately, with UV coordinates and normals.
• OBJ as a universal exchange format that almost every 3D program can open, with UV coordinates and normals.
• STL for 3D printing and slicers such as PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio or Cura.

“All” saves the three formats together in a ZIP file.

Are materials, textures and animations exported?

No. The converter exports geometry with UV coordinates, normals and Phong smoothing. Materials, textures, lights, cameras and animations are not exported. Animated scenes are exported in the state in which they were saved.

Which units does the converter use?

Cinema 4D usually works in centimeters. By default, FBX and OBJ are written in centimeters and STL in millimeters, which is what slicers expect. You can change both the unit used in Cinema 4D and the output unit in the converter.

Is the STL file suitable for 3D printing?

Yes. STL files are written with Z up and in millimeters. The option “Repair STL for 3D printing” is enabled by default: it merges duplicate points, removes duplicate or broken faces and turns all faces outward.

The repair does not close holes in the model. If the model itself has gaps, for example from the legacy Boole object, most slicers close them automatically when importing.

How are coordinates converted?

Cinema 4D uses a left-handed coordinate system with Y up. The converter converts the geometry to the right-handed system used by FBX, OBJ and most other programs, with Y up. STL files are rotated so that Z points up, as is usual for 3D printing.

Does the converter work on Mac, Windows, Linux and mobile devices?

Yes. The converter runs in any current web browser, for example Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge, on Windows, macOS and Linux as well as on tablets and smartphones. An internet connection is needed for the 3D preview. The conversion itself also works without the preview.

Is there a file size limit?

There is no fixed limit. The maximum size depends on the memory available in your browser. Typical models with tens of thousands of polygons are converted in about a second.