After Effects CC is required to run Cinema 4D Lite, but doesn't have to be open at the same time. Cinema 4D Lite comes packaged with After Effects CC, so it's not available as a standalone 3D software package.

After Effects 2021 (version 18.x)

In After Effects 2021, Cinema 4D Lite can be started directly from the file browser.

After Effects 2020 (version 17.x)

In After Effects 2020, Cinema 4D Lite can be started directly from the file browser.

  1. Locate Cinema 4D Lite in the file browser.

    Mac: /Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D R21/CINEMA 4D Lite.app

    Windows: /Program Files/Maxon Cinema 4D R21/Cinema 4D Lite.exe

    <aside> ⚠️ You may see a trial of Cinema 4D (full edition) in this folder. Running it may change your primary Cinema 4D installation. If this happens to you, see I can't open Cinema 4D Lite because it needs a license (After Effects 2020)

    </aside>

  2. Open Cinema 4D Lite.

    If it's your first time running Cinema 4D Lite, see Open Cinema 4D Lite with After Effects CC (After Effects 2020).

After Effects 2019 (version 16.x)

<aside> ⚠️ This version of After Effects is no longer supported by Adobe.

</aside>

In After Effects 2019, Cinema 4D Lite can only be started through After Effects.

  1. In After Effects CC, go to File → New MAXON Cinema 4D file...
  2. Choose a save location and Cinema 4D Lite will open.

Once Cinema 4D Lite is open, After Effects CC can be closed. Cinema 4D Lite will continue to run without it. You can edit, open, and save directly from Cinema 4D Lite.