9

1370 Chapter 15: Lights and Cameras
Boxes in the viewpor t indicate safe frames.
To ma tch a camera to a v iewpor t :
1.
(Optional) Select a camera.
2. Activate a Perspective viewport.
3. Ifnocamerawasselected,3dsMaxcreatesa
new target camera whose field of view matches
the viewport. If you first selected a c amera, the
camera is moved to match the Perspective view.
3ds Max als o changes the viewpor t to a camera
view por t for the camera object, and makes the
camera the currently selected object.
Fr e e Cam e ra
Create panel > Cameras > Free
Create menu > Cameras > Free Camera
Free camer as view the area in the direct ion where
the camera is aimed. Unlike t arget cameras, which
have two independent icons for the target and
the camera, f ree cameras are represented by a
single icon, making them easier to animat e. Free
cameras can be used when the camera’s position
is animated along a trajectory (page 3–1025),asin
awalkthroughofabuildingorwhenthecamera
is attached to a moving vehicle. The free camera
canbankasittravelsalongthepath.Ifthecamera
needs to b e directly overhead in a scene, use a free
camera to prevent it from spinning.
A fre e camera can move and be oriented without restricti ons.
Initial Direction of a Free Camera
A free camera’s initial direction is along the
negative Z axis of the active construction grid of
the viewport you click.
In other words, if you click in an orthogonal
viewport, the initia l camera direction is directly
away from you. Clicking the Top viewport aims
the camera downward, clicking the Front viewport
aimsthecameraatthescenefromthefront,and
so on.
Clicking in a Perspective, User, Light, or Camera
viewport aims the free camera downward, along
thenegativeZaxisoftheWorldCoordinate
System.
Because the camera is created on the act ive
construction plane, where you also create
geometry,youmighthavetomovethecamera
before you c an see objects in its C amera viewp or t.
Check the camera’s position from several
view por ts to correct.