User Manual

To rotate within a 3D viewer, do one of the following:
 Hold down the Option key and drag left or right using the middle mouse button.
 Hold down the middle and right mouse buttons while dragging.
The rotation is centered on the middle of the view.
TIP: These rotation controls can be used with the 3D Histogram subview as well.
Viewing Objects via Wireframe
3D composites not only work with 2D images on image planes but can also integrate true
geometry, such as that generated by the Particle system, Text 3D node, imported FBX meshes,
and basic primitives from the 3D toolset. Using a Wireframe view helps to see through a mesh
or see the density of the geometry. It is much easier to see a change in the Subdivision level of
an ImagePlane3D in wireframe than viewing the rendered image.
To display 3D geometry in wireframe, do the following:
 Right-click the 3D Viewer and choose 3D Options > Wireframe from the
contextual menu.
Changing the POV of a 3D Viewer
Compositing a 3D scene often requires that you view the scene from different angles to make
sure the position and animation are what you want. While the 3D Viewer uses a perspective
camera that allows you to look at the 3D scene from any angle, you can also switch the 3D
Viewer to view from the front, top, left, or right side of the scene; these are collectively called
Orthographic views.
Additionally, if you have a camera or spotlight in your scene, you can switch the viewer to face
the scene from the point of view of those objects.
To change the 3D viewpoints:
 Right-click the viewer and choose an option from the Camera submenu of the
contextual menu. The choices include Perspective, Front, Top, Left, and Right.
Changing Cameras in a 3D Viewer
If you have one or more camera objects in the 3D scene, they will be listed as options in the
contextual menu. Spotlights and other lights or objects in the scene will be listed in the Other
submenu. If you choose any one of these objects, the 3D Viewer jumps to display the scene
from the point of view of the chosen object. While looking “through“ an object, rotating,
panning, or zooming, the viewer will instead change the rotation, position, and scale of the
camera, light, or other object.
Copying a Viewer’s POV to a Camera
There are many times you will have used the default perspective view to set up your scene and
then want that point of view (POV) to become your main camera’s point of view. You can easily
position and orient a camera, light, or other object to match the current point of view shown in
the viewer using the Copy PoV To command.
To copy the point of view in the viewer to a camera, do the following:
Chapter – 58 Using Viewers 1148