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3D Camera Movement
Using AE7, had a question about moving camera around a comp.
Is keyframing position the only way to move the camera around the comp, or is there some way of just moving it around as if I’m motion capturing?
Thanks for the reply.Alexander Gao
“When the revolution happens, I’ll be leading it.”
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6 Replies
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If I understand your meaning, you need a matchmoving app such as Syntheyes or PFHoe to do that. Those apps analyze footage and create a “3D solution” which places a moving camera in a 3D scene. You can then export the data to AE (at least with Syntheyes) or a 3D app.
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Thanks, steve, for your response. Actually I wasn’t referring to matching up camera moves w/ live action footage or anythign of that nature. I’m just looking for a more fluid may to move around an AE comp that has a bunch of 3D layers, rather than having to keyframe all of the positions that i want. And by motion capture, I meant the same concept as dragging, say, a solid around while AE records position keyframes, except in 3D so that the camera moves around. Hope that’s clear.
Alexander Gao
“When the revolution happens, I’ll be leading it.”
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Ah. Yes. Hmm …
Well, you could use window>motion sketch to create the keyframes, but the challenge is, that only works in one plane. Which makes sense, when you think about it. Also, you cannot motion sketch a 3D layer.
However, you can motion sketch a 2D layer or null, make it 3D, then parent a camera to it, but you’d only have motion in two directions. You could create expressions tying the camera’s positions to the sketched objects’ positions by individually using a pickwhip and dragging to each position value. You’d be essentially sketching the motion on two planes, then transferring that motion to the camera.
Say, create this expression for the camera’s position:
[position[0], position[1],position[2]]
… then highlight one of those three values (e.g. position[2]) then drag the camera’s expression pickwhip to one of the other layers’ sketched position values for whichever axis you want.If you want to do that in three dimensions at once, sorry, AE doesn’t do that. You’d need a 3D app with one of those weird squeezy trackballs, or a mouse in each hand, maybe. Haven’t tried that.
Anybody else?
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Alright, thanks for the help, Steve. You really know what you’re talkin about!
Alexander Gao
“When the revolution happens, I’ll be leading it.”
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Hey, thanks. Hope you can work something out. 🙂
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In 3D programs, I use a noise function on all 3 position Axis and all 3 rotation Axis. And it looks very handheld w/o a lick of keying. Except I don’t know AE expressions at all. But I’m sure it’s very simple. The challenge is you’ll want a unique noise seed for each of the six things (3 pos, 3 rot) so none of the axis share the same movement. I’m Sure Dan can help with something quick.
Chris Smith
https://www.sugarfilmproduction.com
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