Camera control in shaded view

This section defines how a camera is controlled in Shaded view when Traditional WYSIWYG is selected as the Shaded View Camera Control. Traditional WYSIWYG is the default camera control in Shaded view.

In the Application Options window, you can choose Other 3D Applications on the Shaded View Camera Control drop-down list if you want to use camera control that complies with other 3D applications. See Camera Control for alternative mouse and keyboard action commands.

Note: The Camera-to-Target distance is maintained for all operations listed below. To change this distance, hold down simultaneously CTRL and ALT and spin the mouse wheel up or down while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active. You need to perform this action to alter the Camera’s orbit; it also serves to set the target distance when rendering with Aperture enabled. This does not apply to Flying Cameras, since the target system for Flying Cameras is different than World or Standard Cameras’ target systems.

• Holding down the left SHIFT key on the keyboard while performing any of the actions below will decrease the speed at which changes are applied, regardless of how the actions are performed (i.e., by mouse or keyboard).
• Holding down the right SHIFT key on the keyboard while performing any of the actions below will increase the speed at which changes are applied, again regardless of how the actions are performed (i.e., by mouse or keyboard).

Orbit

Orbiting the camera causes it to spin around its target without altering the target’s position. When the camera is orbiting, its own position changes. This control applies to World and Standard Cameras.

• To orbit a Camera using the mouse, click and drag with the left mouse button in the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view.
• To orbit a Camera by using the keyboard, hold down ALT and tap the arrow keys while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.

Notes:

• In order to prevent accidentally changing the shape of Camera Paths, it is not possible to orbit Flying Cameras.
• This is the “default” behavior for a Camera in WYSIWYG; it has not changed despite the introduction of the new camera system in Release 29.

Pivot

Pivoting the Camera causes it to change its orientation/where it is pointing to (without altering its own position). Another way to think of it is that by pivoting the Camera, its target’s position is altered.

This control applies to World, Standard and Flying Cameras (at user-defined nodes).

• To pivot a Camera using the mouse, hold down ALT on the keyboard and click and drag with the left mouse button in the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view.
• To pivot a Camera using the keyboard, tap the arrow keys (without holding down ALT) while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.

Notes:

• This is one of the two ways in which a Flying Camera can be modified at a user-defined node—dollying is the other.
• Flying Cameras cannot be pivoted at nodes where Behaviour was set to Follow Path or Follow Target. In cases where something is “interfering with the shot” and the Flying Camera at such a node must be pivoted, simply change the Behaviour at that node to user defined—the Camera’s current position and orientation will not be altered by the Behaviour change.

Dolly

Dollying the Camera alters its own position and its target’s position at the same time. This control applies to World, Standard and Flying Cameras (at user-defined nodes).

• To dolly a Camera up, down, left or right using the mouse, hold down CTRL and click-and-drag with the left mouse button in the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view.
• To dolly a Camera in or out using the mouse, hold down CTRL and spin the mouse wheel up or down while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.
• To dolly a Camera using the keyboard, hold down CTRL and tap the arrow keys while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.
• To dolly a Camera in or out using the keyboard, hold down CTRL and tap the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN keys while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.

Important: Dollying a Flying Camera will physically alter the shape of its Camera Path.

Notes:

• This is the second of two ways in which a Flying Camera can be modified at a user-defined node—pivoting is the other.
• Flying Cameras cannot be dollied at nodes where Behaviour was set to Follow Path or Follow Target. In cases where something is “interfering with the shot” and the Flying Camera at such a node must be dollied, simply change the Behaviour at that node to user defined—the Camera’s current position and orientation will not be altered by the Behaviour change.

Roll

Rolling the Camera causes it to tilt left or right so that its bottom edge is no longer “parallel to the ground.” This control applies to all Cameras, at all times.

• To roll a Camera using the mouse, click and drag left or right with the middle mouse button (i.e., the mouse wheel) in the Shaded view or in the Shaded pane of Quad view.
• To roll a Camera using the keyboard, hold down ALT and tap the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN keys while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.

Zoom

Zooming the Camera causes its field of view to increase or decrease. This control applies to all Cameras, at all times.

• To zoom a Camera using the mouse, spin the mouse wheel up or down while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.
• To zoom a Camera using the keyboard, tap the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN keys while the Shaded view or the Shaded pane of Quad view is active.

Mouse actions

*Affected by View Option, “Pan tool moves objects”.

Keyboard actions