5.18.4. Virtual Cameras

Cameras are used in 3D composite shots. If you have any 3D layers you must have a camera for them to be visible.

*If you only have 2D layers in your composite shot, a camera will not have any effect.

Creating Cameras

Cameras will be created automatically when required by your project, but can also be created manually at any time.

• 3D Layers: When you switch a 2D layer to 3D, a camera will be created automatically so the 3D layer can be seen.
• 3D Effects: When a 3D effect is added to the timeline, a camera will be created automatically so the new layer can be seen.
• New Layer Menu: Open the New Layer menu on the timeline and select Camera to manually create a camera at any time.

Cameras can be created manually from the New Layer menu on any composite shot timeline. The camera will be added to the timeline as a new layer.

Multiple Cameras

You can create multiple cameras in the same composite shot. Each camera can be positioned separately, enabling multiple views of the same 3D scene.

Only one camera can be used at a time. HitFilm uses three methods to determine which camera is the active camera:

1. Camera Layer Duration: The duration of the layer on the timeline determines whether a camera can be active or not. If the camera layer does not cover the current frame, the camera will not be used as an active camera.
2. Camera layer visibility: Only cameras that are visible can be active cameras. If multiple camera layers are present on the current frame, then any camera layer whose visibility is disabled will be ignored.
3. Timeline Layer Order: If multiple camera layers are present and visible on the current frame, the camera on the highest layer is used as the active camera.

*Virtual Cameras with movement can be exported as FBX files to be used with other applications. To do so, right-click on the camera and select Export Camera to FBX, and save the file on your computer.

Editing Cameras

Camera layers have a number of unique properties.

Layer Properties

• Depth Of Field: Turns depth of field for this camera on or off. This default to off, ensuring that all 3D layers will be in focus.
• Focus Distance Layer: Locks the focus to a specific layer. The focus will then automatically track that layer as the camera and selected layer move in relation to one another.

Lens

• Aperture: Size of the camera’s virtual aperture in pixels. The larger the number, the larger the aperture, and the shallower the depth of field. Note that this is different to real camera apertures, whereby a smaller number represents a larger aperture. Only has an effect if Depth of field is turned on.
• Zoom: Adjusts the camera between wide angle and telephoto.
• Focus Distance: Moves the focal point closer to or further away from the camera. This setting will only have an effect if Depth of Field is turned on.
• Blur: Changes the amount of blur applied to out of focus areas. Only has an effect if Depth of Field is turned on.

Camera Properties

Unlike Layer Properties and Lens, Camera Properties are found by choosing Properties from the camera layer’s menu on the timeline.

• Name: The name of the camera on the timeline.
• Near Clip Distance: The closest point at which layers are rendered.
• Far Clip Distance: The farthest point at which layers are rendered.