Inventor Studio Animation Transition Between Cameras

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone.

I am working on a very simple animation and have hit a block.  I know this is possible, because I did it several years ago.  I remember there was a trick/cheat to make it work, but I cannot for the life of me remember what it was.  Here is the setup.  I have defined a camera from a view.  I called it camera 1.  I animated it as a 360° turntable.  After 360°, I want to transition with a panning motion to camera 2 (I define camera 2 during the camera animation process), which is at a slightly different angle and zoomed into a specific area of the machine.  I will then animate a few components.  After the component animation, I want to pan back out to camera 1 for another 360° turntable to complete the animation.  Panning back out to the exact location of camera 1 is my problem.  I thought I could just animate camera 2 and select camera 1 as my final location.  Unfortunately, Inventor is not allowing me to choose cameras, select "set view to camera", or even go "home" (I set my home view as camera one thinking it would make it easy to go back to it).  I realize I can get it close just by eyeing it, but I would prefer perfect panned transitions from camera 1 to camera 2 and camera 2 to camera 1.  How can I make this work?  I am running Inventor 2013.  Thanks!

kelly.young has edited your subject line for clarity: Transition Between Cameras

[jhackney1972]

You are correct, the Animation Timeline is only used to create the different camera motion.  You have to switch to the Video Producer to combine them into a complete animation.  You can also create a movie from the Video Producer if you desire.  In my screencast I have created some very crude cameras with different turntables just to show the process.

[kelly.young]

Hello @Anonymous to add what @jhackney1972 shared, here is a quick screencast showing an easy way to link the views. 

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both for the examples.  The example Kelly provided is almost exactly what I want it to do, but I need to add another step.  After waiting a few seconds in the "zoomed in" position, which will give me time to animate the components, I need to pan back out to the original position of camera 2 (ending and starting position of camera 1).  That is where I am having trouble.  How do I animate the camera to go back to the exact location it was in before I "zoomed in?"

[kelly.young · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous you are very close, the easiest way to link them exactly:

• In the Animation Timeline play the video until the end of the camera turntable or time specified.
• RMB on the Camera # > Set View to Camera.
• This should set the view to the end of the Camera path.
• RMB on the Camera Icon > Create Camera from View.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Kelly,

Thank you again for the quick reply.  I think I have not done a great job of explaining what I am trying to do.  If I break it down, I need 3 animations, or 4 if I do a repeat turntable.  The different animations are as follows:

1. Camera 1 360° turntable - no problem, I can do that.

2. Create Camera 2 at end of Camera 1 animation and animate Camera 2 to "zoomed in position" - No problem here

3. Create Camera 3 at end of Camera 2 animation, no problem.  Animate Camera 3 back out the the exact position of Camera 1 at the end of its animation, which is also Camera 2 at the beginning of its animation - Achieving that exact final location is my problem.

4. (OPTIONAL) Create Camera 4 and end of Camera 3 animation and animate Camera 4 with a turntable - No problem as long as I can get the final location of Camera 3 defined properly.

Basically, how to I define the final location of a camera animation to be the exact location and orientation of an existing camera?  Inventor will not allow me to right click on an existing camera and choose "Set View to Camera" when I am in the animation dialog.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I got it!  After re-reading all of your responses, I realized I was misunderstanding how you were telling me to use the animation timeline.  I realized what you were telling me and selected the camera and time in the animation timeline rather than the browser to define the end position.  It worked like a charm!  Thank you!