Cameras are the digital lenses through which objects are viewed in Mudbox. Four cameras exist in the 3D View by default (Perspective, Front, Top, and Side) to let you view and evaluate your 3D model from many points of view. Additional cameras can also be created.
Perspective is the default viewing camera when you first launch Mudbox. The Front, Top, and Side cameras are collectively referred to as orthographic cameras.
You can save a particular camera view so you can return to it later using a bookmark. A bookmark saves the camera's properties as a preset to a Tray you specify.
You can import 2D images, drawings, or sketches into your orthographic cameras as image planes. Image planes are a component of the camera that places an image file in the view of the camera which gets used as visual reference as you sculpt your 3D forms. An image plane only appears in the camera to which the image plane is connected. You can adjust the transparency of the image so it doesn't block your view of the mesh.
For a description of camera properties see Reference>Properties>Camera Properties.
To look through a camera
Do one of the following:
- Select a camera from the cameras listed in the Object List (Perspective, Top, Side, or Front).
- Right-click on a camera in the Object List (
) and select Look
Through from the menu that appears.
To navigate a camera in the 3D view
To work efficiently in Mudbox, you must be able to view and sculpt your 3D model from many points of view. Navigating the perspective camera within the 3D view is an important skill to master.
Note: Mudbox uses a three-button mouse configuration for camera actions similar to Autodesk® Maya®.
| Camera Action | Hotkeys | Action/Results |
| Tumble | Alt + LMB | Drag the mouse in any direction in the 3D view while pressing the Alt key and the left-mouse button. The camera rotates (tumbles) about its center of interest in the 3D view. |
| Track | Alt + MMB | Drag the mouse in a sideways motion in the 3D view while pressing Alt key and the middle mouse button. The camera moves (tracks) sideways or up and down in the 3D view. |
| Dolly | Alt + RMB | Drag the mouse in a sideways motion in the 3D view while pressing the Alt key and the right mouse button. The camera moves (dollies) towards or away from its center of interest in the 3D view. Note: For Maya users used to dollying using the left and middle mouse buttons, this key combination is also supported. |
| Roll | Shift + MMB | Drag the mouse in a sideways motion in the 3D View while pressing the Shift key and the middle mouse button. The camera rolls about its viewing axis. |
| Focus | F | Place the mouse cursor over the model and press f. This location becomes the camera's new center of interest. |
| Frame All | A | Repositions the active camera so that all visible objects are within the camera's field of view. |
Note: If you are using a Wacom tablet with stylus stylus see Tablet Setup for instructions on navigating the camera.
To create an additional camera
- Select Create > Camera. A new camera is created and appears in the Object List.
To bookmark a camera view
- In the Tray window, select a Tray where you want to save your camera bookmark.
- Select the
icon and from the menu that appears, select Add > Camera
bookmark to store the current camera view as a preset. Mudbox
prompts you to type a name for the bookmark before saving it to the
Tray. - To view the camera bookmark, click the icon in the Tray.
To delete a camera bookmark
- Select the bookmark you want to delete.
- Select the icon and from the menu that appears, select Delete.
To reset a camera
- Select the camera in the Object List ()that you want to
reset to display the Properties for that camera. (Alternately, you
can right-click on the camera in the Object List and select
Properties from the menu that appears.)
- In the Properties window, under the Transform tab, click the attributes you want to reset (Roll, Rotate, Track, Dolly) and then click Reset.
Additional camera controls
Mudbox provides two camera control behaviour options:
- Default: camera rotation is relative to the world's Y axis. This behaviour is common to many 3D applications.
- Trackball: freestyle camera rotation relative to the screen. The position of the cursor on the screen when beginning to rotate the scene affects the angle of the rotation. The roll area, located on the fringes of the 3D View allows you to roll the camera. To turn on the Trackball feature: Select Windows > Preferences > Camera > Control and select the Trackball option.