Using the Viewpoint Manipulator

You can change the current viewpoint through a dedicated manipulator.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
  • When multiple tabs are open in your session, the manipulator closes in the current tab when you switch to another tab.
  • The look and feel of the manipulator may slightly vary depending on your screen resolution, or if you are working in Full Screen or Full Screen for Design mode.
See Also
Creating a Camera

Customize the Interface

You can display or hide some parts of the manipulator's interface to better suit your needs.

  1. From the Live Rendering section of the action bar, click View .
  2. In the manipulator, click the appropriate icon.
    IconDescription
    Hides or shows the focal rulers.
    Hides or shows the exposure rulers.
    Hides or shows the roll ruler.



Change the Focal Length

You can modify the current view angle.

Before you begin: The focal length defined through this manipulator and the one defined through the Dolly-zoom parameter are linked: if you change the focal length through the manipulator, the new value is automatically applied to the Dolly-zoom parameter next time you open the Edit Camera panel. However, if the Edit Camera panel is open while using the manipulator, you must click Update Camera from Current View in the Edit Camera panel to apply the new focal length to the Dolly-zoom parameter.
  1. Do one of the following using the handle on the Focal length ruler:
    • Drag the handle until you reach the appropriate result.
    • Click the handle, enter the new focal length in the box, and then press Enter.

    Tip: The smaller the number, the larger the view angle.

  2. To switch between a zoom or dolly-zoom behavior, click .



Change the Depth of Field

You can define the depth of field (DOF) by editing the aperture size and the shutter speed.

Before you begin:
  • When you make changes through the manipulator, the Aperture, Exposure, and Shutter Speed parameters available in the Edit Camera panel are updated accordingly. Inversely, any change in the panel is automatically applied to the manipulator.
  • Make sure Allow depth of field is activated in the Visual Quality editor.
  1. To modify the aperture, do one of the following using the handle on the F-stop ruler:
    • Drag the handle until you reach the appropriate value.
    • Click the handle, enter the new aperture value in the box, and then press Enter.

    Important: By default, aperture and exposure are linked but you can click to unlink them.

  2. To modify the exposure, do one of the following using the handle on the EV ruler.
    • Drag the handle until you reach the appropriate value.
    • Click the handle, enter the new exposure value in the box, and then press Enter.
  3. To modify the shutter speed, do one of the following using the handle on the Shutter ruler:
    • Drag the handle until you reach the appropriate speed.
    • Click the handle, enter the new speed in the box, and then press Enter.

Change the Gravitation

You can modify the roll angle of the viewpoint.

Drag the handle on the Roll ruler.
The viewpoint moves along the fixed axis, like in a real plane.



Important: Regarding the Gravitational effects during navigation option in the Preferences:
  • When the option is cleared, is deactivated and the roll ruler (with its handle ) is not visible.
  • When the option is selected, is activated and you can hide or display the roll ruler (with its handle ).
    • If you hide the roll ruler or close the manipulator, the gravitational effect remains active with the current roll value.
    • If you clear then select again the option in the Preferences, then the roll value is reset to 0.

Change the Focus Distance

You can modify the focus distance.

Before you begin: When you choose a focus mode in the manipulator, the Focus Mode parameter available in the Edit Camera panel is updated accordingly. Inversely, if you make changes in the panel, they automatically apply to the manipulator.
Click the appropriate mode.
ModeDescription
AF-A Continuous focus

The focus is on a 3D point clicked the scene. To do so, drag the cursor onto the 3D point of your choice: the 3D point is selected and the cursor disappears.

To modify the focus point afterward, click in the Edit Camera panel, and then use the cursor to pick another 3D point.

Note: The first time you run the View command, the cursor is located at the center of the manipulator.
AF Autofocus

The focus is on the object located under the cursor and the cursor stays fixed in the 2D frame if you move the viewpoint.

At any time, you can drag the cursor to refocus on another point on the screen.

Note: The first time you run the View command, the cursor is located at the center of the manipulator.
MF Manual focus

The focus depends on the value defined for the focus distance.

Do one of the following:

  • Drag the handle on the Focus ruler until you reach the appropriate distance.
  • Double-click the handle, enter the new distance value in the box, and then press Enter.
    Note: The handle is displayed in MF mode only.
  • Click to display the cursor . Then, pick an object in the 3D area to measure its distance from the camera origin.
The last-used mode and the focus location are stored in the preferences and are activated next time you run the command.