Tutorial: Animation/Camera follows multiple, consecutive targets

[TomD_Arch]

1. 1. Create> Helpers> Dummy- make two(2).
   2. Create> Shape> Line- make two(2). Be sure to hold and drag the left mouse button to make them curves, and try to make them a little different.
   3. Select your first Dummy. Go up to the menu bar: Animation> Constraints> Path Constraint. Click on the first path you made. On the side bar you will now be in the "Motion" tab. If you scroll down you can put a check next to "Follow" under Path Parameters.
   4. With Dummy 1 still selected look at the Track Bar. You will notice the two keys at 0 and 100. Move the key at 100 back to 45.
   5. Repeat Step #3 but with your second Dummy and Path.
   6. With Dummy 2 still selected look at the Track Bar. Once again, notice the two keys at 0 and 100. This time move the key at 0 forward to 55.
   7. Make the perspective viewport your active one, if it is not already. Go up to the menu bar: Create> Cameras> Create Camera From View.
   8. Select the camera target
   9. Motion> Assign Controller and highlight the first line in the window- "Transform: Position/Rotation/Scale and click the "Assign Controller" button right above the window.
    
   The "Assign Transform Controller" box will appear.
    
   10. Pick "Link Constraint" and click the "O.K." Button.
   11. Make sure the camera target is still selected and your Time Slider is at 0.
   12. Motion> Link Params click the "Link to World" button.
   13. Move the time slider to 1.
   14. Motion> Link Params click the "Add Link" button, and select the Dummy 1.
   15. Move the time slider to 50 and select Dummy 2.
   16. Turn off the "Add Link" button.
   17. Using the Select & Move tool (W) position the camera target on Dummy 1.
   18. Move the time slider to 46.
   19. Turn "Auto Key" on.
   20. Click the "Set Key" button.
   21. Move Time Slider to 54.
   22. Using the Select & Move tool (W) position the camera target on Dummy 2.
   23. Click the "Set Key" button.
   24. Turn "Auto Key" off.
   25. Move the time slider back to 0, make your Camera window active and hit play.
   

You should see the camera follow Dummy 1 as it moves along the path and when it stops the target will move to Dummy 2 and follow it.

 

I'm not sure what setting the World at 0 and then Dummy1 at 1 does, but I know without the world at 0 and D 1 at 1 the placement of the Camera target fails to actually follow D1 .

 

This is my first tutorial so feel free to leave feedback to make it better. Additionally, I am not claiming this is the most efficient way to do, I just know it works if you want your camera to actually look at and follow a consecutive string of objects as opposed to the weighted aggregate all at once.