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How do I animate a camera?

drucdruc Posts: 472
in Technical Help (nuts n bolts)

I have just purchased Female Walking Construction Set for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Females. In the videos on how to use the animation blocks  it shows the walk cycles with the camera animated to stay a uniform distance from the figure. How do I create a camera to do this?

Comments

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,221

    Create a camera with the Create/New Camera menu in Daz Studio. Set your viewport to use that camera. When you move the camera it wll create a keyframe in the timeline.

  • drucdruc Posts: 472

    Thank you barbuit. If I understand your comment, there is no way to "point" a camera at a figure and have the camera move as the figure moves.

  • felisfelis Posts: 5,754

    You can set your camera to 'point at', and then choose your chaeacter.

    Although I think I would suggest using a null as target to have a litlle more controle.

  • drucdruc Posts: 472

    Thank you fells. There is an option in the create a camera for a Persistent Point at Target (null). I have tried as is and also parented to the upper body of the figure. Parented it does always point. Using an Arc 90 L the camera remains in the same position, but turns, so faces the front of the figure, then when the 90 turn happens the camara shows the figure back. So the camera will rotate, just not move to follow the walk cycle and keep the figure the same size in the frame.

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 108,028

    If you want the camera to move with the figure you need to parent it (care needs to be taken as you presumably don't want it bobbing up and down) or establish links between its translations and those of the figure (which can be more seelctive about how it tracks, but is harder to save without scripting).

  • drucdruc Posts: 472

    Thank you Richard, I understand what you mean about possible issues with parenting. I've had some unusual results in the past.  For example the camera twisting the ground plane.

    I have been in contact with the vendor who has been very helpful. For the video on the product page they used the Front camera so it seems the camera is moving. They also gave advice on how to change the animation to "walking on the spot" Although I haven't mastered the instructions yet in order to make it work.

  • pauldb13pauldb13 Posts: 18

    I really don't understand the animation of a camera. I want it to orbit the scene but every tutorial I follow the end result is always the same. The camera will only stay on the final camera view and not be animated.

    Is ther an ELI5 tutorial on how to do this?

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 108,028

    You are using a camera, not the Perspective View (which doesn't animate or get tracked for Undo)?

  • CAV_18687CAV_18687 Posts: 123

    There is a product that does this by 3D universe but it might only support Genesis 8 (3D animation tools) .  Similarly if you use a path plotter (in same product for G8) or the new one by alvin bremnar (Mopat), at least you could see the path the character will follow to animate the camera either manually facing at it or you can plot a path for the camera itself as well, which respects the way the camera is facing I believe and can also follow the path itself...   ...camera director by lunarlume may similarly have a feature set, it has videos in the promo, as do the other two mentioned products...   ...one or all of these products might help, personally I don't mind keyframing by hand either, sometimes feels more immersive anyway, obviously depending on many factors.

  • CAV_18687CAV_18687 Posts: 123

    Here are said products - sorry i got lazy!...

    Mopat: Motion Path Animation for Windows | Daz 3D

    Daz Studio Animation Tools - Set 1 | Daz 3D

    Camera Director | Daz 3D

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