[Plugin] CameraKeyMaker 1.0 (Update 2011-04-09)

macgile

Very good application.
I have a only one problem: when i do a render animation with vray it starts slowly and i have to wait a long time.
This happens only with a simple cube
Anyone have this problem?

hi lele_poggi

try to reduce the number of frames between of keys.
because vray render each frame interpoled by sketchup between scenes.

best regard

isda

@dbalex said:

yes I thought of that also so I installed bezier.rb again with no results.. will try it on my other computer when I have time and will let you know if it works on that one. Thanks!

dbalex, have you had any success with this plugin? I have experience the same problem and tried doing everything that was suggested also (reset all my shortcuts to default, tried a number of bezier scripts from original to thomthom's bezier and I am also using SU8 and Windows 7) but still could not make it work... a very good plugin if only we could make it work... HELP please!!!

dbalex

No it still only works partially for me but I didn't try the new version, I will do it soon and reply here. We should wait for the next release when bezier.rb will not be needed anymore, maybe that will make it work for us..

macgile

@dbalex said:

No it still only works partially for me but I didn't try the new version, I will do it soon and reply here. We should wait for the next release when bezier.rb will not be needed anymore, maybe that will make it work for us..

Hi dbalex

Currently I am looking for a way not to use Bezier curves.
I test the natural cubic spline and B-spline.
The cubic spline requires too much precision in their adjustment to smooth the path.
The B-spline is my preference because it is more accurate than Beziers and less than the Cubic Spline.
But the algorithm is very greedy for the moment.
So maybe I'll use both.

To correct the bug in edit mode:
I used the old pick_point_to_move method of bezier.rb
This method has been corrected in the new version (see http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=30973)
Thank's TT and Fredo

you can make the following changes
in file camera_key_maker.rb:

in
def pick_point_to_move (x, y, view)

change:

if ph.pick_segment @points_eye
 path       = "eye"
 @selection = ph.pick_segment @points_eye
elsif ph.pick_segment @points_target
 path       = "target"
 @selection = ph.pick_segment @points_target
end

by :

if ph.pick_segment(@points_eye, x, y)
path = "eye"
@selection = ph.pick_segment(@points_eye, x, y)
elsif ph.pick_segment(@points_target, x, y)
path = "target"
@selection = ph.pick_segment(@points_target, x, y)
end

Best Regard

dbalex

perfect! it's fully working now! thanks for this incredible plugin macgile! finally some decent animation in sketchup!

isda

macgile, i have edited the script as you suggested and it's working fine with me, too. thanks very much, i can now move the camera keys from all views now. I have another question... have you tried using this on a walkthrough? I seem to lose the camera angle even if I edit the camera path and the target to make sure that I see my models as I glide through them. the line between the key and the target does not seem to be what it is supposed to be when I hit up button..

going around a single model is a breeze but zigzagging through different models is a different story.

hope this script really develops into a plugin all of us cannot do without... keep it up, sir. thanks much!!!

macgile

@isda said:

macgile, i have edited the script as you suggested and it's working fine with me, too. thanks very much, i can now move the camera keys from all views now. I have another question... have you tried using this on a walkthrough? I seem to lose the camera angle even if I edit the camera path and the target to make sure that I see my models as I glide through them. the line between the key and the target does not seem to be what it is supposed to be when I hit up button..

going around a single model is a breeze but zigzagging through different models is a different story.

hope this script really develops into a plugin all of us cannot do without... keep it up, sir. thanks much!!!

hi isda

The final path of the eye and the target is smoothed by Bezier interpolation.
you can see into view because they are drawn dashed.
Consider the offset between keys and smoothed path to adjust the control keys.

In the next version this offset will be smaller, and higher accuracy.

I also added the ability to move around the target (the locked or not)
or rotate the eye of the camera.
This should facilitate the zigzagging between objects.

Your suggestions are welcomed

driven

this is basically working on the mac using ShiftQ, and mac arrow keycodes, the html needs some work as you need to right click after the dialog appears to load the page content, but then it works.

is it possible to loop over an object, the camera rotates twice with this path [see pic]

cheers

john
can this be made to work?

macgile

@driven said:

this is basically working on the mac using ShiftQ, and mac arrow keycodes, the html needs some work as you need to right click after the dialog appears to load the page content, but then it works.

is it possible to loop over an object, the camera rotates twice with this path [see pic]

cheers

john
[attachment=0:2glsdkjl]loopAnim.png[/attachment:2glsdkjl]

hi driven
I don't understand what you want?
in the picture the camera rotates around object but look to outside!!!!

driven

hi macgile

sorry that path pic was me trying to edit out the camera rotate,
on this simple version the camera rotates on scene 4.

john loop over cube

isda

In the next version this offset will be smaller, and higher accuracy.

I also added the ability to move around the target (the locked or not)
or rotate the eye of the camera.
This should facilitate the zigzagging between objects.

Hi Macgile,

Can't wait to try the next version (I don't mean to pressure you by this.. haha (= ). God bless you in your pursuit to excellence.

The ability to rotate the eye of the camera is a great idea, as well.

I don't know if I am pushing the limit but I remember one 3D software where you can see the camera on the path and being able to see (from the top view) in what direction the cam is facing much like the AdvanceCameraTool... but anyways, as it is, I believe this plugin is great already.. kudos to you.

macgile

@isda said:

In the next version this offset will be smaller, and higher accuracy.

I also added the ability to move around the target (the locked or not)
or rotate the eye of the camera.
This should facilitate the zigzagging between objects.

Hi Macgile,

Can't wait to try the next version (I don't mean to pressure you by this.. haha (= ). God bless you in your pursuit to excellence.

The ability to rotate the eye of the camera is a great idea, as well.

I don't know if I am pushing the limit but I remember one 3D software where you can see the camera on the path and being able to see (from the top view) in what direction the cam is facing much like the AdvanceCameraTool... but anyways, as it is, I believe this plugin is great already.. kudos to you.

hi isda
yes drarq already suggesting this improvement.
but it will be for a future release.
now I made a version that works for everyone (PC and MAC OS)
I fix bugs and improve the design.

best regards

putnik

macgile, this is awesome! Thank you!

macgile

@putnik said:

macgile, this is awesome! Thank you!

Thank's putnik

best regard

macgile

@driven said:

hi macgile

sorry that path pic was me trying to edit out the camera rotate,
on this simple version the camera rotates on scene 4.

john[attachment=0:1hzgzkb0]loop2.png[/attachment:1hzgzkb0]

hi driven
Ok in the next release you can do it with rotate around camera target.

best regard

alphannurridho

@pixero said:

Just did a quick test and it's supersmooth.
Love it already.

please tell me how i can make video from sketchup with render image..

Enzay

Hey,

I noticed you updated something for "large models". Mine might be excessively large but I'm trying to get a "flightpath" along a road and acrross a bridge. This looks like it would work great for that because it is able to set the camera point andthe point of focus. I however, found that starting the script made the model disappear. It seems to have zoomed way out and I can't zoom in to set the camera position. Wondering if this has to do with the model being so large. My road chainage is around 2.6km. I tried using flightpath.rb but it still has the lag between scenes with 0 scene delay so it's not doing me much good.

Has anyone thought about making a script that places points or cameras (like advanced camera tools) and connects those points afterwards to make a smooth path? That would allow the user to set points without "being" the camera. Just some thoughts...

Enzay.

DesignChest

Hi

Just tried to install your plug in but i'm getting the error box - no file to load. Any ideas?

TIG

@designchest said:

Hi
Just tried to install your plug in but I'm getting the error box - no file to load. Any ideas?
Celina
Please get a screen-capture of the error-message and post it that way we can then try to help solve the issue. I suspect from what you say here and other of your posts that you are not installing these plugins properly...
Please reread the installation instructions that accompany almost all Plugins
This thread covers many issues http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=35746
Also as a MAC user please double check you are using the right Plugins folder and that any files that are supplied in a subfolder within a zip file are left inside an equivalent subfolder inside the Plugins folder - some poor [or badly optioned] unzip tools ignore the subfolders and don't extract properly. Also if you have inadvertently put any such files into Plugins that shouldn't be there please remove them before restarting Sketchup as these could we cause unexpected problems as all scripts directly within Plugins will auto-load...

DesignChest

Thanks Tig

I knew it must be something i was not doing. Will follow your instructs and fingers crossed I'll be on my way. I have had a bit of headway with some of the installs now.

Trying to get my animations up to scratch for a client whom I am hoping to design a great film set for. So used to hand drafting that the world of sketchup is just opening up to me, so bear with me - a little green still.

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