Camera Setup Tut

[Jeffrey]

Hi Everyone,

 

Does anyone know a good tut that show you how to setup camera for an animation? Normally people use standard camera or vray physical camera? or others? I'm fairly new to animation. Cheers~!

[Mechadus]

I dont really know of any tutorials, but heres what I usually do -

 

For interiors I like to use free cameras... I set them where I want to start the animation, move the time slider to the last frame, then move the camera to where I want the last frame to be, then just add a few keyframes along the camera path to set it where I want it

 

For exteriors, I animate the same way, but I find that target cameras are a little easier to work with (IMO).

 

I always use regualr MAX cameras, just because it seems the Vray camera makes render times longer (Time is money, especially when rendering 6000+ frames). I would love to be able to use the Vray camera for animation, and you certainly CAN, but I really only use it for stills myself.

 

I always try to keep my cameras about 6 feet (2 meters) off the floor/ground just because it seems our clients like that more than very low, or very high cameras (with the exception of aerial shots)

 

Lastly, remember that when it comes to keyframing cameras LESS IS MORE - you dont want to have like 20 keyframes on a 400 frame camera - and dont try to show too much in one camera - render 2 shorter cameras of the same room instead of having a camera that does a 360 in the middle of the room. Im no cinematographer by any means, but I spend a lot of time analyzing the camera work on those TV shows that showcase resorts/homes/whatever, and I try to replicate the same style (most of my clients seem to be afraid of 'fun' cameras ) If you have it, the Travel Channel is a GREAT resource for that stuff.

 

Anyway, hope this helps some

 

Nick Kropat

 

Sr 3D Artist

http://www.3Dwebmedia.com

[Jeffrey]

I dont really know of any tutorials, but heres what I usually do -

 

For interiors I like to use free cameras... I set them where I want to start the animation, move the time slider to the last frame, then move the camera to where I want the last frame to be, then just add a few keyframes along the camera path to set it where I want it

 

For exteriors, I animate the same way, but I find that target cameras are a little easier to work with (IMO).

 

I always use regualr MAX cameras, just because it seems the Vray camera makes render times longer (Time is money, especially when rendering 6000+ frames). I would love to be able to use the Vray camera for animation, and you certainly CAN, but I really only use it for stills myself.

 

I always try to keep my cameras about 6 feet (2 meters) off the floor/ground just because it seems our clients like that more than very low, or very high cameras (with the exception of aerial shots)

 

Lastly, remember that when it comes to keyframing cameras LESS IS MORE - you dont want to have like 20 keyframes on a 400 frame camera - and dont try to show too much in one camera - render 2 shorter cameras of the same room instead of having a camera that does a 360 in the middle of the room. Im no cinematographer by any means, but I spend a lot of time analyzing the camera work on those TV shows that showcase resorts/homes/whatever, and I try to replicate the same style (most of my clients seem to be afraid of 'fun' cameras ) If you have it, the Travel Channel is a GREAT resource for that stuff.

 

Anyway, hope this helps some

 

Nick Kropat

 

Sr 3D Artist

www.3Dwebmedia.com

 

Thanks, Nick. That's a lot helps. Just one more thing, normally I use vray camera to control the lighting for still image(ISO,shutter speed and aperture). That means if I change to standard camera, the lighting will not be something I set before, it's either underexpose or overexpose. This happen to animation too(if I use free camera)?

[Mechadus]

Jeffrey-

 

I really cant comment on that one - Since I never really use the Vray camera, I try and controll most of my lighting thru my lights. I may get some flak for saying this, but I really dont use exposure control or color mapping at all, unless I absolutely have to. I normaly just tweak my lights untill I get the effect Im after. If you are used to using the Vray Camera, then by all means use it if you can afford the render times - it certainly does allow for some very pretty effects

 

-Nick Kropat