Getting Started
Q: What is Gorilla Cam Lite?
A: A simplified version of our original plugin, GorillaCam. It is a tag that adds handheld camera shake to any Cinema 4D camera.
Q: How do I install this tool?
A: Through Cargo. Open Cargo, go to the Tool page, click Install, then restart Cinema 4D. See Installation in the user guide for the one-time Connector setup.
Q: I don't have Cargo. Where do I get it?
A: Download it at greyscalegorilla.com/cargo and sign in with your Greyscalegorilla account.
Q: How do I add the shake?
A: Select your camera, then choose Greyscalegorilla > GorillaCam Lite from the main menu. The tag is added and the camera starts shaking right away.
Q: Are the two dropdowns all I need?
A: For most shots, yes. Camera and Energy are on the Shake tab. Looping is on the Loop tab, and finer controls are on the Advanced tab.
Usage
Q: What is the difference between Lucky and Random Seed?
A: Lucky picks a new Camera and Energy. Random Seed keeps your Camera and Energy and only changes the movement pattern.
Q: Can I try different looks while the animation plays?
A: Yes. Press Play and click Lucky. Each click applies a new shake without stopping playback.
Q: Can I move the camera while the tag is on it?
A: Yes. Move, orbit and dolly as normal. The shake follows the camera.
Q: Does it work on a camera that is already animated?
A: Yes. The shake is added on top of your existing animation. Baking includes both.
Q: Can I use it on something other than a camera?
A: Yes. It works on any object, such as a null or a light. Select the object, then use the same menu.
Q: How do I make it loop?
A: Open the Loop tab and click Match Preview Range. This sets the loop length and turns Loop on. With no preview range set, it uses the document range.
Q: My loop repeats a frame. Why?
A: In a 90 frame loop, frame 90 matches frame 0. Render frames 0 to 89 instead.
Q: Do I have to bake?
A: No. The tag renders fine as is. Bake when you need to send the scene to someone without the plugin, or want to lock the shake.
Q: If I bake, can I get my original animation back?
A: Yes. Click Unbake to remove the baked keys and restore the original animation, including tangents.
Q: The shake changed when I turned Loop on. Is that a bug?
A: No. Looping changes the movement pattern, the same as a new seed. Click Random Seed until you find one you like.
Q: Why does the dropdown say Custom?
A: You edited a slider that the preset controls. Pick a preset again to go back.
Q: How do I get rotation only, with no drift?
A: On the Advanced tab, set Pos Max to 0. This works well on long lenses.
Q: The shake is too strong. What should I change?
A: Lower Amount on the Shake tab.
Compatibility
Q: Which versions of Cinema 4D are supported?
A: Cinema 4D 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Q: Does it work with my render engine?
A: Yes. It is tested on Redshift, Arnold and Octane, and works with any engine since it only animates the transform.
Q: Does it need a simulation or a cache?
A: No. Each frame is calculated on its own, so scrubbing is instant.
Q: How is this different from GorillaCam?
A: Gorilla Cam Lite is a simplified version of GorillaCam. It has fewer settings and no setup. It can also scrub and loop, which GorillaCam cannot.
Q: When should I use GorillaCam instead?
A: When you need detailed control over the shake or dynamic overshoot. GorillaCam uses a simulation for this, which is why it cannot scrub or loop.
Troubleshooting
Q: I installed it in Cargo but don't see it in the Greyscalegorilla menu.
A: Restart Cinema 4D. New tools only appear after a restart. If it still doesn't show, see Troubleshooting in the user guide.
Q: Nothing is happening.
A: Check that Amount is not 0 and the tag is enabled. Bake turns the tag off, so if you baked, click Unbake. If that doesn't help, open the Console (Extensions > Console), reproduce the problem, and send us the output.
Q: The shake suddenly looks twice as strong.
A: The tag was turned back on after a bake, so it is adding shake on top of the baked keys. Click Unbake.
Q: Bake isn't doing anything.
A: Bake won't run twice in a row. Click Unbake first, and check that your preview range has frames in it.
Licensing
Q: What do I need to use this tool?
A: An active Greyscalegorilla or Everything Bundle subscription. Tools are installed and licensed through Cargo.
Q: If I bake the shake, does the person I send the file to need a license?
A: No. Baked keyframes are standard Cinema 4D animation, so the file works without the plugin.