Walkthrough around model

[Henry D]

I have searched all the posts on walkthroughs and panoramas and I still can't figure it out.

How can I do a walkthrough around the exterior of the model where the camera is always looking at the model? The camera always wants to point in the direction of the path; turning the camera towards the building at each frame doesn't give smooth transitions.

Thanks for your help.

[cdatechguy]

When the walkthrough path is active and you select the camera that you want, (It will show a camera icon) there will be a leader coming from the camera with a node on the end. By selecting that node you can rotate the camera in the direction you need to go. Unless I am wrong you have to create the path first then go back and change the view that you want camera by camera. It helps to start out with the least Total Frames so that you can get your primary camera locations setup first.

[luigi]

MP directed you correctly...

Just create your path, it doesn't matter where and how many point you create, just make sure that the path seems smooth enough...it will assume that you are looking straight ahead...Then click on the object of the walkthrough and "edit walkthrough"...it should automatically bring you into the "Active Camera" that was mentioned below...but if not, in the option bar you can select it.

Active camera allows you to change what you are looking at, and the distance...so if you try to change the direction and it doesn't allow you....just hit "tab" once, and it will switch from the "distance" to the target and then you can drag it to the model...do this for each point.....

Hope this helps....

As you change

When the walkthrough path is active and you select the camera that you want, (It will show a camera icon) there will be a leader coming from the camera with a node on the end. By selecting that node you can rotate the camera in the direction you need to go. Unless I am wrong you have to create the path first then go back and change the view that you want camera by camera. It helps to start out with the least Total Frames so that you can get your primary camera locations setup first.

[Henry D]

Thanks for your help...this is where I was and still am stuck: if I grab the node at the end of the camera "triangle" I can manipulate the distance, but even if I hit the tab key I can't get the camera to rotate.

[LRaiz]

This is a back clipping plane control. Move/Rotate the target control. In your picture it is the one that is closer to camera eye point.

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Also a good idea to keep an elevation view open so you can flip between the plan and elevation views to adjust the camera and target heights of the chosen camera at the same time

[luigi]

Leonid is correct (of course....he's tha' man)
So if you have both graphics (clip plan and target) visibly, then it's all good...what I was talking about is that I found that often ( for me 9 out of 10 times) those 2 will share the same location...and the clip plane (again 9.9 out of 10 times) is on top of the target...so the tab key will help you in that case....

I hope you will show us your walkthrough.... ;)


This is a back clipping plane control. Move/Rotate the target control. In your picture it is the one that is closer to camera eye point.

[Henry D]

Thank you very much for your help..I have a lot of brain power helping me on this one! ...now I know which node to grab.

Problem: I can rotate the first and last camera on the path, but all the other cameras in between don't have a node to grab...have you tried this...what am I doing wrong? See attached images.

[Scott D Davis]

When editing the walkthrough, look at the Options Bar. You need to look in the drop down and set it to Active Camera. Then see the controls in the Options Bar for "Play". "Fast forward" etc? Click on the arrows to go to next frame, or next camera. When you go to next camera, you can adjust it. then go to the next, adjust it, etc.

[Henry D]

Scott,

What you describe is exactly what I do. Active camera frame #1 can be rotated, forward to next frame and it can't be rotated...you can see in my previous attachment that there is a small "x" where the rotation node should be. Have you tried this exact procedure? If you can get the 2nd, 3rd, etc. frames to rotate let me know.


Thanks

[luigi]

Hi Henry...
the only points you can modify are the main key points on a path. If you look at the graphic you posted, there are thick red dots along the path...those are you main key points. if the first key frame is looking at the building, and your next keyframe is looking at the building...then all of the other frames in between will look at the building.

instead of advancing frame by frame, there is an icon, that looks like forward to end (arrow with a vertical line), that will allow you to skip from key frame to key frame....at this point you can change the target...

I hope this helps...it seems like we are getting closer for your understanding of the walkthrough tool

Take care,

Luigi

Thank you very much for your help..I have a lot of brain power helping me on this one! ...now I know which node to grab.

Problem: I can rotate the first and last camera on the path, but all the other cameras in between don't have a node to grab...have you tried this...what am I doing wrong? See attached images.

[Henry D]

Thanks Luigi!

Ahaaa!! As soon as I read your post I knew that was the answer.

Thank you very much.

[dwall]

Thanks to everyone who posted info here! My next project is to create a walkthrough/fly about of a development we have been working on, but I all I have done to this point is play around with the walk thru tool a bit. Your advice is very helpful to go beyond the 'playing' stage to creating something useful for presentations.