3DS Max Tips #6: Camera basics

• Layer manager 
• Scene explorer extension 
• can turn off render, freezing etc
• move things into own layer to keep default layer for unsorted things
• can  hide without needing to group in the conventional way
• By object/by layer on properties menu to change whether it inherits ;ayer [rp[ertoes or objects themselves

• Two types of cameras - 
• Target cameras have aim points for when the cameras dont move
• Free camera move by direct rotations for moving camera - e.g. tilt, dolly
• create in top or front view for correct orientation
• Click on view name panels and chose that camera in drop down or press C
• C cycles through cameras too
• Third person movement in normal views, movement in camera view is first person
• Click camera manipulation buttons in bottom right for dollying etc
• fly out can dolly camera and target for example
• Pan button does actual panorama
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• Aspect ratio is fixed so press shift f so viewport is cropped to ratio of render frame
•  Action safe - cyan rectangle will always show important action even when ratio is stretched in cinema for example
•  Title safe shows margin for text (best practice)
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• aspect ratio width divided by height
•  Render set up (dialogue bog with teapot in top right of screen), output size can be set here 
• Presets for ratios
• Field of view - field of view icon at bottom right - use on camera view in iewports
• Frustum shows whats in the field of view
• short lens - low focal length and opposite for close up shots etc
• tick show horizon for guide
• Free camera for animated shots or looking straight up or down 
• Control rotation of camera using third person method by being in gimble mode and change rotation order - motion panel - rotation - ZXZ best for this