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is there any benefit of rendering in a camera view if not using any camera effects?

juantamborjuantambor Posts: 91
in New Users

Hello - i've been rendering in perspective view so far. I'm not using any camera effects or changing any settings so is there a benefit to rendering in a camera? Do lights only show through camera renders or anything like that?  thank you!

 

 

Comments

  • SixDsSixDs Posts: 2,384

    I am certain that there are some folks that set up cameras with specialized settings for render purposes, but the most common reason I use a special camera is to ensure that I don't lose my point of view once i decide on a specific camera angle for the render. I can then do whatever I like in the default camera views, like zooming, orbiting etc. and tweaking the scene elements. but will always be able to return to my render view by picking the camera that I added.

  • FeralFeyFeralFey Posts: 3,948

    One benefit from using a camera over the perspective camera is that you can select the camera in the scene tab and move it to exactly where you want it. Whereas the perspective camera is not selectable and it requires you using the manipulation tools to move it. 

    Personally I like using a camera for my rendering and the perspective camera for setting up my scenes, or doing my production work. 

    If you start using the "camera" camera (instead of the "perspective" camera) I think you'll find a whole new world opens up to you. You'll be able to explore things like Depth of Field (DOF) - which works best in conjunction with the perspective camera (in that while the camera is selected and you look through the perspective camera, you can see the delineation marks between where the DOF begins and where it ends. Very handy for setting up the DOF.) You can also start playing around with the Focal Length, which is a very simple manipulation that yields some interesting effects (ex: you have a small space you're rendering in, but the camera only allows you to see small parts of the room. Adjusting the Focal Length will allow you to adjust the camera to show as much or as little of the scene you desire.)

    One thing to keep in mind, however, when you use a camera, remember to turn off the headlamp when you render your scene. I know that having the headlamp set up on "auto" is supposed to automatically turn it off when you render, but I don't always find this to be the case. So as a matter of course, I turn it off every time. Or I wind up with some surprising results. :)

    In any case, you're not obligated to switch from a perspective to a camera view. Do what feels right to you. Try using a camera first and see if it offers you the results you're after. Otherwise, stick with the perspective view. The point is to have fun while you're making art, otherwise it's not really art, now is it? :)

  • juantamborjuantambor Posts: 91

    thanks for your comments, i had the aha moment - i was making newbie mistake of not viewing through the camera...  Doh!

  • FeralFeyFeralFey Posts: 3,948

    Don't feel bad juantambor. It took me a while to realize the same thing when I started out. (Sh-h-h-h...this is OUR secret. wink-wink-wink) 

    And don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions. We're here to help.

  • PetercatPetercat Posts: 2,321
    juantambor said:

    thanks for your comments, i had the aha moment - i was making newbie mistake of not viewing through the camera...  Doh!

    In addition, when you get the camera set to provide exactly the view that you want, lock the XYZ movements and rotations and the F-stop and distance controls, so that you won't lose your perfect viewpoint by mistake.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,205
    When you save your scene, it won't save the Perspective View position or orientation. Next time you open the saved scene, the Perspective View won't be looking at the same thing. That is why I always try to render from a camera instead. The camera view is saved with the scene, so it is the same when I reopen the scene later.
  • KnittingmommyKnittingmommy Posts: 8,191

    Another reason to use the camera is that you can turn off the headlight on a camera.  In perspective mode, there is always a light on even if you have no lights in your scene, perspective will have one.  I'm not sure if this is as important in 3Delight as it is in Iray as I don't use 3Delight as much and am still learning that engine.

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 107,953
    FeralFey said:
    One thing to keep in mind, however, when you use a camera, remember to turn off the headlamp when you render your scene. I know that having the headlamp set up on "auto" is supposed to automatically turn it off when you render, but I don't always find this to be the case. So as a matter of course, I turn it off every time. Or I wind up with some surprising results. :)

    Auto turns the headlamp off when there is a real light in the scene (an actual light node, not an emissive shader on a surface). If you want a "headlamp" only for scene navigation then set the Headlamp to be off in Render Settings and turn off preview Lights in the Window menu (shortcut ctrl-L).

  • macleanmaclean Posts: 2,438

    So far no one has mentioned Focal Length, to me, one of the major tools in any camera system. Try looking at a scene through the camera, then changing Focal Length from the default 65mm to something like 24mm or 300mm.

    The great thing about Focal Length is you don't need to know anything about photography to use it - just look and see what you like. Although, as an ex-photographer, I'm used to using it for dramatic effects, so I'm probably more aware of it than most.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 26,205
    maclean said:

    So far no one has mentioned Focal Length, to me, one of the major tools in any camera system. Try looking at a scene through the camera, then changing Focal Length from the default 65mm to something like 24mm or 300mm.

    The great thing about Focal Length is you don't need to know anything about photography to use it - just look and see what you like. Although, as an ex-photographer, I'm used to using it for dramatic effects, so I'm probably more aware of it than most.

    And Depth of Field controls.

  • mjc1016mjc1016 Posts: 15,001
    barbult said:
    maclean said:

    So far no one has mentioned Focal Length, to me, one of the major tools in any camera system. Try looking at a scene through the camera, then changing Focal Length from the default 65mm to something like 24mm or 300mm.

    The great thing about Focal Length is you don't need to know anything about photography to use it - just look and see what you like. Although, as an ex-photographer, I'm used to using it for dramatic effects, so I'm probably more aware of it than most.

    And Depth of Field controls.

    DoF is the start of the 'camera effects'...

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