Mastering the camera

[John Cuevas]

Check out the VideoCopilot tutorials on SureTarget. It’s a free plugin they developed that moves between different targets/locations. Really handy and they have some good tuts on it’s usage.

Johnny Cuevas, Editor

[Tudor “ted” jelescu]

Another great resource is the camera rig tutorial you can find at the link below. This (or a slightly more complex version) is what I use to animate my cameras and I am very happy with it:
https://maltaannon.com/articles/after-effects/simple-camera-rig/

Tudor “Ted” Jelescu
Senior VFX Artist

[Ben G unguren]

I like video copilot’s stuff, but I recommend understanding rigging for a camera, and come up with something that works well for you….

Ben Unguren
Motion Graphics & Editing
http://www.mostlydocumentary.com

Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Vimeo framework” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

[Brian Charles]

Ben is right, there are 3 tutorials here on the Cow by Andrew Devis that can help:

https://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/Animating-a-Camera-1/1

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Sure Target is good but like others have chimed in, it’s not an ideal tool to use if you’re learning how to use AE’s Camera.

I use different camera rigs, from complex ones to no rig at all. It all depends on the type of camera moves I want. Further, it is indeed more difficult to animate a camera than other layers. This is to be expected and you should be cognizant of this fact. Hence, it is OK to spend more time on it – IOW don’t be disheartened if you’re not getting it right the first few times.

I think I’m decently experienced with the Camera but there are times when I really have to tweak and finesse (that’s a lot of undo’s and redo’s) my way about to get what I want.

Learn to use multiple viewports, it is a necessity when you need to accurately set up layers in 3D space and/or to move the camera. Use AE’s Look At menu items should you get lost. Then re-orientate yourself by either moving selected layers or the camera or both.

You will also have to be really good with the Graph Tools if you want to be a good ‘cameraman’. This is the part that oftentimes make your moves really work. Sometimes, all it takes is a sweet ease or a quick zip-in to get the camera move looking great.

HTH
RoRK

Intensive AE & Mocha Training in Singapore and Malaysia
Adobe ACE/ACI (version 7) & Imagineer Systems Inc Approved Mocha Trainer

[Andrew Donaldson]

Yowza!
Thanks for the replies folks, heaps of good info there.

Im a bit ashamed that I didn’t know anything about camera rigs, but they look well helpful.
I have checked out VC’s stuff in the past and its cool, but I agree with the feeling that its good to learn how/why these things work properly (to really free your creativity, etc, etc).

Im gonna get right in about that Maltannon Camera Rig, it looks great.

And I actually cant wait to master those moves i always shyed away from!

Cheers again guys…