Cameratools Floater - ApertureViewer/Aperture-Viewer GitHub Wiki

[!NOTE] Version Notice: Please be aware that the video tutorial linked to this page was created using an earlier version of Phototools. While the core principles and techniques remain highly relevant and effective in newer versions, some interface elements or specific settings might appear slightly different in the current version of Aperture Viewer. This text-based guide is fully updated to reflect the current features and layout of the Camera Tools Floater in the latest Aperture Viewer. An updated video tutorial demonstrating the complete Camera Tools Floater functionality is planned for a future release. The fundamental concepts and techniques explained here are timeless and will continue to enhance your virtual photography and videography.

The Camera Tools Floater provides a standalone, resizable floater with quick access to essential camera controls and settings from Phototools. It mirrors many of the camera settings found in the Cam (Camera) Tab of the main Phototools floater, offering an alternative interface for users who prefer a smaller, detachable window or require quick access to camera functions without opening the full Phototools floater.

Phototools Camera Tab and Camera Tools Floater Tutorial Video Thumbnail

(This page serves as a text-based guide to the Cameratools Floater, based on the video tutorial linked above. While watching the video is recommended, this page provides a comprehensive written reference for users who prefer text-based instructions or need a quick guide.)

Camera Controls Panel

  • Front View (Button with Icon) Quickly sets the camera to a front-facing view of your avatar or the scene.

  • Side View (Button with Icon) Quickly sets the camera to a side view, typically perpendicular to your avatar's forward direction.

  • Rear View (Button with Icon) Quickly sets the camera to a rear view, positioned behind your avatar.

  • Preset Views Dropdown (UI label: "Use preset") Allows you to select and apply saved camera presets from a dropdown menu.

  • Camera Presets Gear Button (Icon Button) Opens the Camera Presets management panel, allowing you to save, load, and manage custom camera positions and settings.

  • Position... (Button) Opens a dialog box where you can manually input and set numerical values for the camera's position (X, Y, Z coordinates) in the virtual world.

Camera Modes Panel

  • Object View (Button with Icon) Engages Object View mode, allowing you to orbit and zoom the camera around a selected object or point in the scene.

  • Mouselook View (Button with Icon) Switches the viewer to Mouselook mode (first-person view), where camera direction is controlled directly by mouse movement.

Zoom Panel

  • Orbit camera around focus (Joystick Rotate Area - Left Quadrant) Allows you to orbit the camera around the current focus point by dragging within the left quadrant of the joystick track area.

  • Roll Camera Left (Button - Left Arrow Icon) Rolls the camera view counter-clockwise, tilting the horizon to the left.

  • Roll Camera Right (Button - Right Arrow Icon) Rolls the camera view clockwise, tilting the horizon to the right.

  • Zoom In (Button - Plus Icon) (No tooltip in XML, but likely function is Zoom In) Moves the camera closer to the scene, effectively zooming in.

  • Zoom Slider (Vertical Slider) This slider directly moves the camera closer to or further from the scene in a straight line, similar to dollying a camera in real-world cinematography.

    • Note: This slider does not function as a true zoom in real-world lens terms; it does not change the Field of View (FOV). It only changes the camera's physical distance to the scene. For true zooming (FOV adjustment), use the 'View angle' slider in the Camera Movement Settings.

  • Zoom Out (Button - Minus Icon) (No tooltip in XML, but likely function is Zoom Out) Moves the camera further away from the scene, effectively zooming out.

  • Move camera up and down, left and right. (Joystick Track Area - Right Quadrant) Allows you to pan the camera up/down and left/right by dragging within the right quadrant of the joystick track area.

Buttons Panel

  • Preset Views Button (Icon Button - Avatar Icon) Opens the Preset Views panel, providing access to saved camera positions and settings.

  • Orbit Zoom Pan Button (Icon Button - Pan/Orbit Icon) Opens the Orbit Zoom Pan panel, providing controls for orbiting, zooming, and panning the camera.

  • Camera Modes Button (Icon Button - Freecam Icon) Opens the Camera Modes panel, allowing you to switch between different camera modes like Object View and Mouselook.

  • Store current camera view (Button - Save Icon) Stores the current camera position and orientation. This is a key feature for photographers and videographers, allowing you to save preferred camera angles for later use.

    • Save Camera Position: Click this button to save your current camera view.

  • Load stored camera view (Button - Load Icon) Loads a previously stored camera position and orientation. This allows you to quickly return to saved camera angles, enhancing workflow efficiency and consistency.

    • Recall Saved Position: Click this button to instantly return the camera to the last saved position.

Camera Movement Settings

  • Camera Movement Settings Section Header for Camera Movement Settings

    This section contains settings identical to the Viewer Camera Menu Settings - Camera Movement Sub-Tab in the main Cam Tab. Please refer to the Cam Tab documentation for details on these settings:

    • View angle
    • Zoom Speed
    • Camera Lag
    • Camera Offset
    • Cam. Smoothing

Mouse Movement Settings

  • Mouse Movement Settings Section Header for Mouse Movement Settings

    This section contains settings identical to the Viewer Camera Menu Settings - Mouse Sub-Tab in the main Cam Tab. Please refer to the Cam Tab documentation for details on these settings:

    • Mouse Sensitivity
    • Display avatar in mouselook
    • Smooth Mouselook Movements

Additional Camera Options Panel

  • Additional Camera Options (Typo in XML: "Addtional") Section Header for Additional Camera Options

    This section contains settings identical to the Viewer Camera Menu Settings - Misc Settings Sub-Tab in the main Cam Tab. Please refer to the Cam Tab documentation for details on these settings:

    • Clicking your avatar keeps camera position
    • Reset camera position after teleport
    • Allow the camera to move w/o constraints
    • Reset camera position on avatar movement

3D Mouse Tab

  • Move L/R Adjusts the sensitivity of the Left/Right movement for 3D mice.

    • Sensitivity Control: If you find horizontal movement too sensitive or not sensitive enough with your 3D mouse, adjust this slider to fine-tune the responsiveness. Lower values decrease sensitivity for more precise control.

  • Move U/D Adjusts the sensitivity of the Up/Down movement for 3D mice.

    • Vertical Precision: If vertical camera movement is too sensitive, reduce this value for finer vertical adjustments.

  • Move I/O Adjusts the sensitivity of the In/Out (dolly) movement for 3D mice.

    • Dolly Control: Adjust this to control how quickly the camera moves closer or further away from the scene with 3D mouse input.

  • Pitch Adjusts the sensitivity of the Pitch movement for 3D mice.

    • Tilt Sensitivity: Fine-tune the camera's pitch sensitivity to control how easily and quickly the camera tilts up and down.

  • Yaw Adjusts the sensitivity of the Yaw movement for 3D mice.

    • Rotation Speed: Adjust yaw sensitivity to control the speed of horizontal camera rotation.

  • Roll Adjusts the sensitivity of the Roll movement for 3D mice.

    • Roll Control: Fine-tune the camera roll sensitivity to control the responsiveness of the camera's sideways tilt.

  • Zoom Speed Adjusts the sensitivity of the Zoom speed when using a 3D mouse.

    • Zoom Sensitivity: If you find zooming with your 3D mouse too fast or slow, adjust this slider to fine-tune the zoom responsiveness. Lower values provide more precise zoom control.

  • Feather (UI label: "Feather") Controls the camera movement feathering for 3D mice, influencing the fluidity and responsiveness of camera motion.

    • Rigidity vs. Fluidity: Setting the slider all the way to the right will make the camera very rigid, giving complete and immediate control to the joystick, ideal for precise framing. Setting the slider all the way to the left will make the camera very fluid, as if it has significant inertia, which is good for smooth fly-by shots but less suitable for precise framing.

3D Mouse Tab - Options Section

  • Zoom Axis Mapping Controls which mouse axis the zooming function is mapped to for 3D mice.

    • Axis Selection: Select the specific axis on your 3D mouse that you want to use for zooming. Setting it to '4' is commonly used.

  • Enable 3D Mouse Enables or disables the use of a 3D mouse for camera control.

  • Enable Zoom Control (See Tool Tip!) Activates zoom control using the 3D mouse.

    • Zoom Activation: In order for the zooming control to function, you must also set the 'Zoom Axis Mapping' setting above to a valid axis, typically '4'.

  • Enable Auto Leveling (Prevents Camera Roll) Keeps the camera horizon automatically level, preventing unwanted camera roll when using a 3D mouse.

  • Use the 3D Mouse to move the avatar When enabled, the 3D mouse will control your avatar's movement instead of the camera.

  • Use the 3D Mouse to move objects (building) Enables the 3D mouse to be used for moving and manipulating objects when in build or edit mode.

I have created updated Markdown for both the Cam Tab and Camera Tools Floater wiki pages. I've incorporated information from the video transcript, embedded the video thumbnails, added version notices, and used bullet points with bolded alert types instead of alert boxes.

Please review both of these updated pages and let me know if you have any feedback or if any adjustments are needed!