Placing a video camera

For use by event designers, the Vectorworks Spotlight video camera object includes a variety of lenses, camera bodies, and stand types, to mimic real-world video camera options. The video camera’s active view displays a view similar to a real video camera using the same lens, camera body, and stand type as in the actual event space. The active view updates live as settings change, so designers can plan the lighting and shots needed for the production.

● Click Lens, Body, and/or Stand on the Tool bar to select resources from the Resource Selector.

● Click Preferences to open the Object Properties dialog box and specify the tool’s default parameters.

Parameter	Description
Position	Enter a position note that can be displayed in the drawing and/or in a report
Name	Enter a unique name that can be displayed in the drawing and/or in a report
Activate Camera (Object Info palette only; displays when no camera is activated)	Changes the document view to the camera view and displays the image that the real-world camera will capture within the viewfinder indicator. Enables the Renderworks camera effects when rendering in Final Quality Renderworks or Custom Renderworks render modes. The camera can also be activated by double-clicking it with the Selection tool and from the Visualization palette; see Managing lights and cameras with the Visualization palette. Use the multiple view panes feature (see Using multiple drawing views) to view the camera in a third-person view and in first-person camera view simultaneously. When the views are linked, the camera view updates in real time when the video camera object is edited.
Deactivate Camera (Object Info palette only; displays when a camera is activated)	Unlinks the camera from the current view so that viewing tools do not affect the camera view, disables the Renderworks camera effects when rendering in Final Quality Renderworks or Custom Renderworks render modes, and returns you to the previous view. The camera can also be deactivated by changing the view so the camera is no longer active.
Render Mode	Select a render mode for the 3D camera view; see Rendering modes
Show Field of View	Select how to display the field of view indicator, which provides an idea of what the camera will capture, from an inactive camera view
Auto Update 3D View	Automatically updates the 3D camera view with every parameter change. For complex models with many adjustments, this can slow down processing. Temporarily deselect this option until the changes are made, and then either select it or click Activate Camera on the Object Info palette to update the camera view.
Format	If the video camera’s record contains the camera format, it displays. If the record doesn’t contain the format, select the desired format. Select Camera Default or Custom Aspect to enter a Custom Format.
Fine Tune Camera
Aim Camera (Object Info palette only)	Click to aim the selected camera at a selected point on the drawing; the cursor changes to indicate the operation is active. Click on the drawing to aim the camera.
Focus Point	Specify a focus point object for the camera; see Focusing lighting devices
Pan Left/Right	Pans the camera left/right about its axis within a 180° range, as though it were on a tripod; enter the value or drag the slider
Tilt Up/Down	Tilts the camera vertically about its axis within a +/- 20° range, as though it were on a tripod; enter the value or drag the slider
Rotate Camera L/R	Rolls the camera about its axis within a +/- 20° range, as though it were on a tripod; enter the value or drag the slider
Lens
Resource Selector	Displays the currently selected resource; to change it, locate the desired resource, and double-click to activate it
Focal Length	Set the lens’s focal length
Diagonal Angle of View	Displays the diagonal angle of the view
Minimum Focus Distance	Displays the minimum distance in mm between the camera and the point of focus, using the selected lens
Aperture	Displays the aperture range supported by the selected lens
Camera Body
Resource Selector	Displays the currently selected resource; to change it, locate the desired resource, and double-click to activate it
CCD/Sensor Format	Displays the CCD/sensor size of the selected camera body
For DPI of	Displays the calculated pixel size when exporting the camera view. This has no effect on the camera view.
Maximum Resolution	Displays the maximum resolution in megapixels supported by the selected camera
Crop Frame Scale %	Scales the both the size of the clipping window frame when in a cropped perspective projection, and the perspective distance; both the crop frame and the drawing appear scaled
Stand Type
Use Symbol for Stand	Includes stand type details
Resource Selector	Displays the currently selected resource; to change it, locate the desired resource, and double-click to activate it
Wheels	Displays the number of wheels on the selected stand, if any
Gimbal Points	Displays the number of gimbal points on the selected stand
Articulation Points	Displays the number of articulation points on the selected stand
Height	Displays the height of the selected stand
Camera Effects	See Placing a Renderworks camera for descriptions of the available effects
Depth of Field	Uses the depth of field options
F-Stop	Select a value, or select Custom F-Stop
Custom (f/#)	If F-Stop is set to Custom F-Stop, enter a custom value equal to or greater than 0.01
Focus Distance	Specify the focus distance numerically or click Click to Set Focus Distance to define the focus distance based on objects in the drawing
Iris Shape	Select the iris shape
Exposure	Uses the exposure options
ISO Film Speed	Select an ISO film speed
Shutter Speed	Select the shutter speed, or select Custom Speed
Custom Speed (s)	If Shutter Speed is set to Custom Speed, enter a custom value
Bloom (%)	Enter a bloom percentage; values greater than 100% are accepted
Vignetting Intensity (%)	Enter a vignetting intensity percentage; values greater than 100% are accepted
Vignetting Offset (%)	Enter a vignetting offset percentage
Chromatic Aberration (%)	Enter a chromatic aberration percentage; values greater than 100% are accepted
Classes	To control appearance and visibility for the camera parts and fields of view, click to open the Classes dialog box. For each part, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class.