Setting a new camera path

Tool(s): Set Camera Path

To set a new camera path

1. Click Set Camera Path (How).
   

   Activate Set Camera Path in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Change Presentation Animation

   • Toolbar: Change
   • Palette: Tools Change area in the following module(s):

   Animation

   • Shortcut menu: Navigation Mode selected - Right mouse button

   The Cameras palette opens.

2. Click New camera path at the bottom of the palette.

   The New camera path palette opens.

3. In the Define camera path area, enter a name for the new camera path. You can then see this name in the Cameras palette.
4. Set the perspective view for the model (parallel projection or central perspective) and select the size for the camera symbols in the viewports.
5. Click the Run button beside Set camera.

   The Edit camera palette opens.

6. Define the Focal length or the Viewing angle of the camera.
   

   Viewing angle

   Use this to set the camera's viewing angle (47 degrees is the default) – instead of the focal length. If you require a wide-angle view, set a higher value. If you require a more close-up view, enter a lower value.

   Note: The Viewing angle and Focal length parameters are mutually dependent. Changing the viewing angle of the camera will cause the focal length to change and vice versa.
   The viewing angle is measured diagonally.
   Viewing angle, Focal length and diagonal are mutually dependent:

   tan (camera angle / 2) = (diagonal / 2) / focal length

   

   1 Diagonal (43.3 mm, for example)
   2 Focal length
   3 Viewing angle

   

   Focal length

   You can set the camera's focal length here – instead of the viewing angle. The focal length is equivalent to the lens on a small camera (20mm = very wide angle, 135 mm = small telephoto lens). The default of 50 mm is equivalent to a normal lens.

   Note: The Viewing angle and Focal length parameters are mutually dependent. Changing the viewing angle of the camera will cause the focal length to change and vice versa.
   The viewing angle is measured diagonally.
   Viewing angle, Focal length and diagonal are mutually dependent:

   tan (camera angle / 2) = (diagonal / 2) / focal length

   

   1 Diagonal (43.3 mm, for example)
   2 Focal length
   3 Viewing angle

   Tip: Different focal lengths and viewing angles of successive cameras are interpolated automatically. As a result, you can achieve zoom effects without having to change the eye point and the target point.

7. Camera's drop-in point and Click direction point or enter angle
   Define the first camera position (= starting point of camera path) in one of the following ways:
   • Only possible in Design Mode:
     First click the intended position of the camera in the viewport. Then turn the camera in the required direction by clicking the target point or by entering the direction angle (relative to the positive X axis) in the dialog line.
     
     Tip: If the camera path is complex, you can draw it in advance by placing point symbols at the intended camera positions (see Point Symbol). You can then match these coordinates simply by clicking them.

   Or:

   • Set the required view in the viewport and click Match camera setting from current viewport in the Input Options.
     

     The toolbar with the Input options appears when a function offers several implementation options. To specify where the Input options are displayed on screen, select the View menu, choose Toolbars and then Input options:

8. Use the same approach to define the other camera positions. You can vary the Focal length or Viewing angle for each camera position.

   Important!
   You must define at least two camera positions.

   

   Detail:

   

   (A) Camera symbol with viewing direction and camera angle/focal length (here: telephoto lens, 18 degrees or 135mm)

   (B) Intermediate step with viewing direction

   (C) Camera path (= connecting spline )

9. Press ESC to finish entering camera positions.

   The Camera path palette opens. The Cameras area shows the camera positions you defined for this path.

   Tip: In order to check a camera position, click Show camera position in current viewport. If you want to find out how to add or change a camera position, see the section Modifying a camera path.

10. Click Record movie to start recording a movie straight from the Name of camera path palette (see Record Movie -> From camera path).

    Or:

    Press ESC to quit the tool.