- To follow this lecture, download:
- Null Objects
- Invisible objects that have simple transform properties that can be used as a parent object to control more complex object like cameras and multiple layers
- For example, you can parent multiple layers to a null object and then animate the transform properties of the null object which will affect all layers as a whole. You can still animate the individual layers separately.
- Be aware if you change the parented null position and then de-parent that the layers will remain in the new locations
- The null becomes the new Anchor point for all layers.
- If you want the Sun to be the Anchor point location. Parent the null to the Sun first by shift dragging the pickwhip of the null to the SUN layer. This will position it direct with the SUN layer. Then turn off that parenting and parent all layers to the null and then all layers will have the sun in the anchor point position.
- Cameras
- Can direct the view of the video...even if it's not front
- To create a camera layer got to Layer>New>Camera
- Choose a two-node camera
- Two-node creates a camera and a point of interest (a target for the camera to look at)
- Go to Two Views and choose Active Camera and Front view
- Change some of the values of the Camera's point of interest and position and you'll see how Front view can vary with the Active Camera view
- This side view illustrates the relationship of the point of view and position
- Null objects can be used as rigs to control cameras easier
- Moving the point of interest around can be cumbersome and requires switching views constantly
- You can try working with the Unified Camera Tool
but it's still hard to see motion paths - To work with a null object, replace the existing camera with a one node camera and create a null object, switch on 3D, and parent the camera to the null
- Now you can easily travel through the scene by controlling the positional values of the Null
- Two-node creates a camera and a point of interest (a target for the camera to look at)