Camera Path

Description

Name

The Name property lets you give the Realtime Camera a descriptive name to help you identify it when creating a movie or starting an automatic Realtime Walkthrough.

To change the name, click the text field and type any name you would like to use. Using descriptive names is useful if you plan to add many Realtime Cameras to your landscape design.

Closed

Check the Closed option to connect the end of the path to the start, creating a closed circuit. When unchecked, the camera path is an open line.

Reverse

Check the Reverse option to switch the direction of the camera.

Edit points

Click the Edit points button to enable or disable point editing mode, which will allow you to modify the camera path. See Editing Points for details.

Shape options

Click the Shape options button to save the shape of the Realtime Camera, or to load an existing shape. For more details, see Saving and Loading Shapes.

Elevation

Elevation determines the distance of the camera from the ground at the selected point.

Direction

Direction determines the camera’s direction (left/right angle) at the selected point.

Angle

Angle determines the camera’s angle (up/down tilt) at the selected point.

Hold time

Hold time determines the amount of time (in seconds) that the camera will pause once it reaches the selected point.

Time of day

Time of day determines the time of day at the selected point. This affects the lighting, sun/moon position, shadows, and sky.

If the previous point's Cut to next point option is enabled, then the time of day will change immediately. Otherwise the transition will smoothly occur over a few seconds.

Cut to next point

Cut to next point determines if the camera will transition from the currently selected point to the next point normally, or if it will jump to the next point instantly.

If this option is enabled and the next point has a different Time of day, then the time of day transition will occur immediately. Otherwise the transition will occur smoothly over a few seconds.

Camera speed

Camera speed determines the camera speed (in feet or meters per second) as it moves from the selected point to the next.

View from selected viewpoint

View from selected viewpoint shows your landscape design from the view of the Realtime Camera at the currently selected point.

This preview helps a great deal when adjusting the elevation, angle, and direction of the camera at a specific point.

Decelerate smoothly when approaching

When checked, the Decelerate smoothly when approaching option causes the camera to gradually come to the target speed as it reaches the selected point.

When unchecked, the camera will immediately switch to the new speed.

Accelerate smoothly when leaving

When checked, the Accelerate smoothly when leaving option causes the camera to gradually come to the target speed as it leaves the selected point.

When unchecked, the camera will immediately switch to the new speed.