In the fourth part of the series, we will learn how to view a 3D model from different angles by switching cameras and how this feature can bring new perspectives to our product presentations.

Camera

Create a Camera

I created a new camera by clicking the + button next to the Authoring Viewpoint dropdown list. Since this camera was intended to provide an isometric view, I didn’t make any adjustments to its angle. 

Set as Startup Camera

To ensure this camera is selected by default when I press the Play button, I clicked the arrow next to the dropdown list and selected ‘Set as Startup Camera‘ from the menu.

To confirm that the camera is set as the startup camera, I click the Play button on the Compass. As you can see in the GIF, the startup camera is set to ‘Camera’.

Camera Position

I duplicated the Camera in the Project Panel by right-clicking and selecting the Duplicate option, creating Camera 2. Camera 2 will represent the front view. To do this, I selected the Views menu in the Action Bar and looked at the model from the front view (1). Then, I clicked the Apply button (2) next to Camera 2 to update its view to the front view. I repeated the same process for Camera 3, setting it to represent the right view.

2D Camera Viewer

Create 2D Camera Viewer

I created a 2D Camera Viewer by right-clicking on the 2D section in the Project Panel.

2D Camera Viewer Properties

In the Configuration section, I selected the camera I wanted to display on the button from the Camera dropdown list. 

With this selection, the button now shows the view from the chosen camera.

Live Update Disable

When the Live Update option is disabled, running the project by pressing the Play button and setting the material to red results in the microwave model’s color remaining blue in the button previews, as seen in the image. This is because the camera reflects the initial view to the buttons.

Live Update Enable

When the Live Update option is enabled, changes such as material updates and other actions affecting the microwave (e.g., opening the cover or exploding components) are reflected in real-time as live views on the button.

Scenario: Camera Change

In the scenario we created here, whenever the mouse cursor enters the area of the Isometric button, the ‘Camera‘ will be set as the current camera.

To better understand the ‘Entered‘ trigger in the scenario, you can refer to the GIF below.