• Adobe After Effects

  Why does a 3D camera show up where it does?

  Posted by Hans Castrop on February 19, 2013 at 10:27 am

  Does anyone know why a camera defaults to a certain position in (Z)space when creating? It never pops up at 0 but always in front of that. I’m using stereoscopic scenes and want the camera to look at objects away in z space. I always have to substract camera distance from distance of 3D objects to set camera to object distance.

  Vishesh Arora replied 13 years, 5 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
• 6 Replies

• 

  Vishesh Arora

  February 19, 2013 at 2:17 pm

  Does anyone know why a camera defaults to a certain position in (Z)space when creating?

  From Adobe :
  
  In After Effects, the position of the camera represents the center of the lens. When you modify Focal Length, the Zoom value changes to match the perspective of a real camera. In addition, the Preset, Angle Of View, and Aperture values change accordingly.

  If you double click on the camera to open Camera Settings, you will notice that the z-Position is equal to( negative of )Focus Distance.

  Vishesh Arora
  3D and Motion Graphics Artist
  Films Rajendra

  Blog:
  https://digieffects.wordpress.com

  2011 3D Demo Reel:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8
• 

  Hans Castrop

  February 19, 2013 at 3:52 pm

  especcially your addition gives me some extra insight.
  Thank you.
• 

  Vishesh Arora

  February 19, 2013 at 4:24 pm

  Always glad to help 🙂

  Vishesh Arora
  3D and Motion Graphics Artist
  Films Rajendra

  Blog:
  https://digieffects.wordpress.com

  2011 3D Demo Reel:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8
• 

  Darby Edelen

  February 23, 2013 at 8:55 am

  [Vishesh Arora] “If you double click on the camera to open Camera Settings, you will notice that the z-Position is equal to( negative of )Focus Distance.”

  Just a quick not of clarification: it’s actually set to the -zoom value rather than the focus distance.

  These are often locked together in the camera dialog.

  Darby Edelen
• 

  Hans Castrop

  February 23, 2013 at 9:05 am

  Thanks Darby for finetuning.

  Hans.
• 

  Vishesh Arora

  February 23, 2013 at 9:52 am

  Darby

  it’s actually set to the -zoom value rather than the focus distance.

  The zoom is just as the Focal Distance in CS3.

  Well thanks for clarification. I checked in CS6, focal distance option has been removed.

  Vishesh Arora
  3D and Motion Graphics Artist
  Films Rajendra

  Blog:
  https://digieffects.wordpress.com

  2011 3D Demo Reel:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8

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