Maxon and Tencent Cloud have forged a partnership to integrate Tencent’s HY 3D AI engine directly into Cinema 4D. This will enable artists to jump-start the ideation process, generating base 3D and UV models from text prompts or image references. Maxon said use of the AI capability is optional. The integration will occur in Cinema 4D in late 2026.
A partnership between Maxon and Tencent Cloud will add AI feature to Cinema 4D. (Source: Maxon)
Creators continue their love-hate relationship with AI. They embrace the advantages that AI-powered software gives them while plying their craft, though they do so with one eye warily looking over their shoulder, aware that AI is threatening jobs throughout their industry. It’s a double-edged sword that creators need to wield, but also utilize to advance their own skills.
Content-creation software vendors continue to add AI capabilities to their tools, speeding up the less-creative processes such as concepting, so artists can spend more time creating. With this in mind, Maxon has partnered with Tencent Cloud to incorporate that company’s HY 3D AI engine into its flagship Cinema 4D DCC software.
Developed by Tencent Cloud and trained on Tencent’s large library of games, the HY 3D engine enables artists to accelerate early-stage 3D concepting and experimentation, as users are able to generate base 3D or UV models from text prompts or image references. Users then refine those models, customize them, animate them, and render them using Maxon tools, including Cinema 4D, ZBrush, Redshift, and Red Giant.
Maxon emphasized that it does not train proprietary AI models for this integration, nor does it use customer content to train AI systems, as the AI functionality is provided by Tencent Cloud under its own infrastructure.
The integration will happen in late 2026, and Maxon said the new feature will not increase the cost of Cinema 4D. But as is the case with many AI-enabled tools requiring cloud computing—in this case, the use of Tencent Cloud infrastructure—there will be an associated cost, which will be announced when the feature is launched.
Maxon stated this is not an autonomous system that generates finished art, but rather technology that accelerates certain steps in the broader creative process that is artist-led. According to Maxon, the generated models typically require refinement, creative direction, and artistic decision-making.
While the HY 3D engine is being integrated as a full-fledged feature into Cinema 4D (desktop and iPad), artists will be able to opt not to use it and work on their own.
“This partnership is about giving creators additional tools to move faster when they choose to, especially in early-stage ideation and prototyping. The artist remains in complete control of the final result,” said David McGavran, CEO of Maxon. “AI can assist with iteration and experimentation, but authorship and creative direction stay firmly in the hands of the creator.”
This AI feature will be released first on Cinema 4D for iPad late this year, followed by the desktop application.
Maxon said it has no plans to develop its own generative AI model.
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