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DEM Tutorial
Renato! Sigmon
Part 3 of 6
i 1 2 3 4 5 6

4 - LIGHTS! CAMERA! ANIMATION!

Now let's find a good place for the camera so we can start to create a grand canyon animation!

In order to keep render times down, let's create an 8 second animation.

It's up to you where your camera starts and ends; or you may use the keyframe coordinates for the tutorial movie I made, so you can end up with the same start and end frames as I did. You could then manipulate the sky and scene between the start and end frames as you like, or you can also use my attribute values for the keyframes in between, which I'll give you as we go along.

4a - It Was A Set-up

First let's set the duration of the animation to 8 seconds.

Interface Guide - Changing the Animation Duration

Select File > Animation Setup. In the "Seconds" box for "Duration", change the value to 8. Accept the change and return to the work area.

 

Now let's return to the Director view, where you started out.

Interface Guide - Return to Director view from Top view

Click-hold the Select Views icon (the top-down view below the Nano Preview) and drag to your left; you should see the director's chair icon appear just next to your mouse cursor. Another way to get there is by pressing the ` key (left of the 1 key).

You'll also find the scene easier to navigate if your view is set to rotate around the center point of the object you're interested in; in this case, the terrain object.

Interface Guide - Set the Director view to rotate around a selected object

Select the terrain, then double click on the trackball at the left; you should see a "Director" dialog pop up. Select the "Center to Selection" button and click the check mark at lower right to accept the change.

Select the terrain; this will make the origin point of this object, the point about which you rotate in Director view.

4b - The 1st Frame is the Key Frame

Now, it's up to you how and where to position your view. Here's how to create the first keyframe of your animation:

1 - Make sure the Scrub Time bar, at the bottom of the work area, is positioned at 0.00.

2 - In Director view, with the terrain selected, use the Trackball and the three Camera Controls above it (from left to right: YZ, XZ, XY) to position your view.

Interface Guide - Reset Views

If you ever get totally lost while orienting your view, you can regain your bearings by selecting the first triangle at the left edge of the work area; this will bring up a "View Options" dialog box. Select the last item, "Reset All Views". You will be returned to the initial setting in Director view.

I found my 1st keyframe position by pivoting the view about such that the terrain appeared to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Then I brought the horizon line (that blue horizontal line) to about the middle of the screen. Next, I moved in closer to the canyon on the Z axis using the XZ Camera Control. Finally, I tilted the view downward on the Y axis, using the Trackball, so that it looked down on the Colorado River.

To move your Director view to the same first keyframe position as mine, double click the Trackball and enter these attribute values:

CAMERA & 2D PROJECTION ATTRIBUTE VALUES FOR 1ST KEYFRAME, DIRECTOR VIEW:

3 - When you're happy with your scene, press the second triangle on the Controls palette to bring up the Camera Options menu. Select "Camera to Director". This will move the Camera object (that blue, pyramid-shaped object) to the same view as the Director view which you are in. Animations always render from Camera view.

4 - Set a keyframe by clicking the "+" next to the key icon, at the bottom right.

4c - Stuck In The Middle With You

I decided I wanted my camera to start looking down on the Colorado, then swing up to a nice view of the rock formations and the horizon inside the canyon. I also thought it would look nice to make the camera static after this move, and watch the sunset turn into a bright, starry night.

Since it's an 8 second animation, it seemed like a good idea to have the camera swing up for 4 seconds, and sit still for the next 4 seconds.

Making sure you've set your first keyframe, and that you're also back in Director view with the terrain selected, slide the Scrub Time bar to exactly 4 seconds (4.00).

Using the Trackball and the three Camera Controls above it, move your view around until you find something you like. If you're using the same size terrain I am, you may have to maneuver a bit until you can find a view that doesn't show the part of the water plane lying outside the terrain.

Interface Guide - View "Memory Dots"

If you'd like to save a particular view so you can easily come back and see it later, click one of the white Memory Dots to the left of the Nano Preview. To clear a memory dot, hold down option (mac) or alt (PC) while clicking the memory dot.

I decided to elevate up on the Y axis, and also rotate up with the Trackball. Then I pivoted about until I found a view which did not show the Water Plane between the horizon and the canyon terrain; and which also showed the canyon's terrain and the sky beyond it equally well.

Again, where you move your camera is up to you. Once you've found a good view, remember to move the Camera to Director and set the keyframe, as described in section 4b above.

To move your Director view to the exact middle keyframe position as mine, make sure the Scrub Time bar is positioned at 4.00, double click the Trackball and enter these Attribute values:

CAMERA & 2D PROJECTION ATTRIBUTE VALUES FOR MIDDLE KEYFRAME, DIRECTOR VIEW:

ORIGIN: X = -32.43 Y = 22.17 Z = -18.60

POSITION: X = 6.14 Y = 23.07 Z = 19.64

ROTATE: X = -10.89 Y = -93.13 Z = 0

PAN V = 0 PAN H = 0

FOV = 60

SCALE = 100

Accept these attributes. Move the Camera to Director view (Camera Options Menu > Camera to Director). Set the keyframe by clicking +

4d - All Good Things Must Come To An End

As I wrote above, I want to just sit and admire the little fluffy clouds as they pass over the Grand Canyon; so, let's make the camera static by setting the last keyframe to be the same as the middle keyframe.

Without changing your view, slide the Scrub Time bar to 8.00 seconds and set a keyframe.

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