Creating a Camera

You can create and manage cameras to visualize your model from different viewpoints.

See Also
About Cameras
Monitoring Cameras
  1. From the Display section of the action bar, click Camera .
    The Camera dialog box displays.
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. Optional: Click Start from, and select an existing camera from the tree to pre-populate the settings for a new camera.
  4. From the Projection type options, select one of the following:
    OptionDescription
    Perspective Creates a view corresponding to a standard conical camera with a nonzero focal length.

    In the 3D Viewer, lines in the camera line of view intersect at the same point.
    Parallel Creates a view corresponding to a cylindrical camera.

    In the 3D Viewer, parallel lines in the camera line of view never intersect.
  5. From the Positions options, specify how the camera is oriented.
    OptionDescription
    Coordinates Specifies the X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates for the origin of the camera location.
    Select a node Specifies a node as the origin for the camera location.
    Select an axis system Specifies an axis system type as the origin for the camera location.
    Select a vertex Specifies a vertex as the origin for the camera location.
    Note: This option is available only for native simulations.
  6. Optional: Add an offset value to displace the camera a specified distance from the origin previously established by the Positions attributes.
  7. From the Sight options, select the direction for the camera sight.
    OptionDescription
    Direction Specifies the X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates of the sight direction in relation to the camera position.
    Follow a point Specifies the X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates of the camera target.
    Follow a node Specifies a node for the camera sight.
    Follow a vertex Specifies a vertex for the camera sight.
    Note: This option is available only for native simulations.
    Look at self Turns the camera from the camera's actual position with an Offset value toward the originally specified Position coordinates (without the Offset value).
    Note: This option is available only when offset values are defined.
    X (Axis system) Specifies the X-axis as the camera target.
    Note: This option is available only when an axis system is specified as a position.
    Y (Axis system) Specifies the Y-axis as the camera target.
    Note: This option is available only when an axis system is specified as a position.
    Z (Axis system) Specifies the Z-axis as the camera target.
    Note: This option is available only when an axis system is specified as a position.
  8. Optional: Move the Up direction slider to displace the camera, rotating the coordinate system.
  9. Optional: Move the Zoom slider to zoom in or out.
  10. Optional: Click Preview to visualize the camera view of the model in the work area.
  11. To reset all camera values to match the view from the work area, select Reset value.
  12. Click OK to create the camera.

The camera is created and listed in the tree. You can apply a camera to the current view at any time.