Animating Camera Movements

The Camera Animator command allows you to write a program for moving the camera of the 3D world during a simulation. The program is a layout item, thereby it is saved with a layout.

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  1. Task Pane
  2. API

Task Pane

You can write the program using the Camera Animator task pane.

A table is used to add and edit statements in the program. Every statement is a 3D view for the camera, the amount of time it takes the camera to reach that view, and the method of interpolating the camera to that view.

Properties

Simulation Time allows you to move the camera to different views using the runtime of a simulation. For example, you could snap the camera from one view to another when the simulation reaches 10 seconds.

Relative Time allows you to move the camera to different views using a time relative to each view. For example, the simulation could be at 10 seconds, but you could move the camera from one view to another in 1 second.

The View column allows you to define the 3D view of the camera. You have the option of creating a new view of the 3D world or using an existing view of the layout.

The Time column allows you to define the amount of time the camera has to reach its view. This value depends on whether you are using simulation or relative time as well as the time of the previous view.

The Arc column allows you to define the interpolation of the camera to reach its view. The motion of the camera can be linear or follow an arc.

Camera animation enabled turns on/off the execution of the program.

Tasks

As follows is a basic workflow for writing a program.

  1. On the Home tab, in the Camera group, click Camera Animator.
  2. In the Camera Animator task pane, choose a method of time.
  3. In the View column, click a cell to either create a new 3D view or use an existing view. You can add and edit these views from the View Editor of the 3D world toolbar.
  4. In the Time column, define a time for the camera. For example, if you are using simulation time, the camera knows to reach the view at the given point in time.
  5. In the Arc column, either keep the default to make the camera move in an arc or clear the check box to use linear interpolation.
  6. If you need to, use the last column to add a new statement, and then define it.
  7. Run the simulation to test the program.

API

For information and examples, see vcViewAnimation in the Python API reference guide.