How to install Corona manually using the "Unpack" option?

Sometimes, installing Corona manually may be the simplest solution to some installation issues. Here is how to do it:

 

Windows users

1. Uninstall Corona and Scatter:

To avoid issues, it is best to uninstall Corona and Scatter first. To do it, simply go to the Windows "Add or remove programs" list, search for "Corona", and uninstall it. Also, search for "Scatter" and uninstall it as well. 

 

2. Unpack the files:

  1. Run the Corona installer.
  2. Select the "Unpack" option and specify the location and folder name where the files should be unpacked.
  3. Proceed with the unpacking.

Note: there is a readme.txt file in the unpack folder. Manual installation instructions are also included in that file. 

 

3. Install the plugins:

The unpack directory contains files and folders for all supported versions of 3ds Max / Cinema 4D.

Note: You can delete the folders of the versions you don't need. Keeping them is also ok, but it will take additional space on your hard drive. 

 


For 3ds Max, check the following folders:

  • \Autodesk
  • \Corona\Corona Renderer for 3ds Max
  • \Chaos\Scatter

For example, the content of the "Autodesk" folder in the unpacked directory looks like this: 

autodeskfolder_versions.png

 

Go back to the root folder where the Corona installation files were unpacked, copy the folders Autodesk, Chaos, and Corona, and paste them into your Program Files folder. Usually, it is: C:\Program Files\

autodeskfolder_copy.png

Note #1: You can find your Program Files folder by typing %PROGRAMFILES% in the Windows Start Menu or in the Explorer path.

 

Note #2: in some rare cases, Corona does not appear in 3ds Max even after manual installation. The solution is to copy the content of the Corona "plugins" folder (\Autodesk\3ds Max 20XX\plugins) into the 3ds Max 20XX\stdplugs directory.
See also: Corona is not showing up as available renderer and is not present on the plugins list - 3ds Max

 

To install Chaos Scatter included with Corona 11 or newer in 3ds Max 2022 or newer: 

Copy the unpacked "ApplicationPlugins" folder to "C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins".

 

 

For Cinema 4D, check the following folders:

  • \Cinema 4D XXXX (look for your specific version)
  • \Corona

For example, the content of the unpacked directory looks like this:

C4D_UnpackCorona_00_Folder_Root.png

 

The content of the Corona folder looks like this:

C4D_UnpackCorona_01_Folder_Corona_B.png

To install the software, move the content of the folder specific to your Cinema 4D version to the root folder where Cinema 4D is installed on your computer (usually C:\Program files\Maxon Cinema 4D XXXX for newer versions or C:\Program files\MAXON\Cinema 4D XXXX for older versions, where XXXX represents the installed version of Cinema 4D). The reason for 2 different Cinema 4D paths is due to a change in the way MAXON are now installing their software in the most recent versions.

Then move the Corona directory from the unpacked folder to the following location: C:\Program files\Chaos

Lastly, move the remaining files (XML and txt files) from the unpacked folder to the Corona folder: C:\Program files\Chaos\Corona

 

After copy-pasting the right files into the right folders, as explained above, Corona will appear on the list of available renderers once you start 3ds Max / Cinema 4D.

 

 

Mac users

1. Uninstall Corona:

To avoid any possible issues, please first remove Corona by following the instructions provided in this article: How to remove an old Corona version.

 

2. Unpacking the files:

 

2.1 Corona 12 Update 1 and newer:

  • Run the Corona installer
  • Use the "Advanced" installation mode.
  • Enable all the appropriate checkboxes according to the Cinema 4D versions installed on your system.
  • When prompted, change the "Installation path" for each Corona for Cinema 4D version that will be installed.
    Note: Define different unpacking folders for each Corona for Cinema 4D version.
  • Complete the Unpacking process.

 

2.2 Older installer:

  • Run the Corona installer
  • When prompted, choose the "Customise" option: 
    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_00.png

  • From the list, enable the appropriate C4D version and then change the destination folder for them, using the "Other" option: 
    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_01.png

    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_02.png

  • Create a folder where the files will be extracted (e.g., you can create a folder named "Corona" on your Desktop) and click on the "Choose" button:
    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_03.png

  • Click on the "Install" button to continue with file unpacking: 
    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_04.png

 

3. Installing the files:

  • Once the unpacking process is complete, a new folder named "plugins" will appear inside the newly created folder (for this example, the "Corona" folder is located on the Desktop): 
    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_05.png

  • Next, copy the contents of the "plugins" folder to the appropriate path:
    ~/Applications/Maxon Cinema 4D XXXX/plugins/ 
    (where the XXXX represents your installed Cinema 4D version)
    C4D_ManualInstall_MacOS_UI_06.png


  • Run Cinema 4D, and if successful, you should now see the Corona menu right in the app's menu bar.

 

 

 

 

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