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

[macgile]

This plugin generates smooth animations based on a camera path (bezier spline). Camera keys are editable and saved within the drawing.

How to install: Unzip in Plugins folder.

Shortcuts:

Alt + Q : Add camera key / Update position of key (first press down. see below)
Down : Edit current key.
Left : Previous key.
Right : Next key.
Up : Preview animation.
Enter : Generate Scenes (pages)

Edit camera key mode is available only (top - right - left - front ) view.

Soon:
I want to add an effect to mimic the pitch of the airplane flight.

Known Issues:
1) WARNING ! when you whant generate avi file it crash sketchup (desactivate tool first "click on select tool" )

require bezier.rb
http://rhin.crai.archi.fr/rld/download.php?file=bezier.rb

Update 2011-04-09 (Fixed various errors with large model)
Download english version on ruby library depot (french version translated by Didier Bur is available) : Ruby Library Depot
Direct download : CameraKeyMaker.zip

Tutorial basic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ_V9Txie2A


Demo animation :

Parody


Cloister galleries Thoronet (test advanced animation)


Enjoy!

[srx]

Great! Thank you!

[Krisidious]

nice animation. could you describe what makes your animation plugin different from others?

[Pixero]

Wow! I'm stunned.
This is exactly what I always wanted for SU animation.
Thank you soooo much!

Did I say Wow?

[Pixero]

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

[Gaieus]

Yes, apparently very nice, smooth animations.

I wonder how they can be "translated" into 3rd party renderers' camera exporters (this is obviously not your task but of those who write them - hopefully it is feasible).

[macgile]

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

Thank you very much Pixero

[macgile]

Yes, apparently very nice, smooth animations.

I wonder how they can be "translated" into 3rd party renderers' camera exporters (this is obviously not your task but of those who write them - hopefully it is feasible).

Yes it's possible.
I know that in LightWave the camera paths are stored in envelopes it's just a spline.

[TIG]

Excellent idea.
My only suggestion is that you put it in the 'Camera' menu rather than the 'Plugins' [I've already edited my version...]

[macgile]

Excellent idea.
My only suggestion is that you put it in the 'Camera' menu rather than the 'Plugins' [I've already edited my version...]

Of course it's obvious

Thank's TIG
best regard.

[jarynzlesa]

nice and smooth .

[dbalex]

It's a great plugin! I'm testing it right now but I'm trying to edit the path (in top or front view in parallel and perspective) and I can't select and move the points.. Does anyone else have this problem? I'm using sketchup 8 on windows 7

[macgile]

It's a great plugin! I'm testing it right now but I'm trying to edit the path (in top or front view in parallel and perspective) and I can't select and move the points.. Does anyone else have this problem? I'm using sketchup 8 on windows 7

Thank's for your reply dbalex !

Strange thing!
Check your keyboard shortcuts if it already occupied by another tool (see above in the header of this post to shortcuts)
Check if you have groups or layers in your model.
sometimes when a key is published in conjunction with a group is selected that is problematic.

[dbalex]

Is there a shortcut key for editing the points? because I can update the keyframes by putting the camera in the right spot and update the keyframe, but I can't select them and move them in the orthographic views.. non of the shortcut your plugin uses is used in my shortcuts so I don't think that's the problem, anyway even like this it's a great tool! thanks for the fast reply

[dbalex]

and I have no groups or layers in the scene, just a testscene with a simple cube.

[macgile]

and I have no groups or layers in the scene, just a testscene with a simple cube.

Sorry for the inconvenience.
Check if you have the file bezier.rb
The plugin has been tested on Sketchup v.7 and v.8 (pro or not)

best regard

[dbalex]

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!

[mitcorb]

Would some other Bezier plugin work with this tool? If not, could this be causing the difficulty?

[macgile]

Would some other Bezier plugin work with this tool? If not, could this be causing the difficulty?

thank's mitCorb for reply

In the next major update (1.2) the file "bezier.rb" will no be required.

[urgen]

....o-o-o-excellent!

[Oxer]

Hi,
Thanks for the plugin, it's very useful but i work on Mac, the plugin runs but there are problems:
1. On Mac the keys combination (Alt+Q, ...) and the arrow keys don't works so you can't create the Camera Keys.
2. The path to camera_path.html file is invalid and the file don't open when you push Enter key.
Only the first time that i ran the plugin i could create the camera keys (Ctrl+Q on Mac) but the next times no and when i pushed the Enter key this were the Console message:

Captura de pantalla 2011-04-13 a las 04.12.36.JPG

I have translating the plugin to spanish language, when i finished it i'll upload it here.

Bye and i hope your help for fix these problems.

[TIG]

Using keys that might be mapped by others to do stuff [I already use Alt+Q to orient-faces] is a bad idea... use just modifiers like Alt or Cmd or Shift etc that can't be used as shortcuts otherwise...

[macgile]

Hi,
Thanks for the plugin, it's very useful but i work on Mac, the plugin runs but there are problems:
1. On Mac the keys combination (Alt+Q, ...) and the arrow keys don't works so you can't create the Camera Keys.
2. The path to camera_path.html file is invalid and the file don't open when you push Enter key.
Only the first time that i ran the plugin i could create the camera keys (Ctrl+Q on Mac) but the next times no and when i pushed the Enter key this were the Console message:

Captura de pantalla 2011-04-13 a las 04.12.36.JPG

I have translating the plugin to spanish language, when i finished it i'll upload it here.

Bye and i hope your help for fix these problems.

Thanks for reply Oxy

Sorry for Mac users.
I'll fix these bugs soon and contact you.

[macgile]

Using keys that might be mapped by others to do stuff [I already use Alt+Q to orient-faces] is a bad idea... use just modifiers like Alt or Cmd or Shift etc that can't be used as shortcuts otherwise...

Thank you for your reply TIG
Yes I do not know why I picked the keys complicated.

[Tiggz1]

Awesome feature - Thankyou!!
One question - forgive me if I missed it. How do I delete the Camera Key path so I can start from scratch?

[Ecuadorian]

This looks like exactly what I need to smooth out the motion in my LightUp animations.

Thank you!

[macgile]

Awesome feature - Thankyou!!
One question - forgive me if I missed it. How do I delete the Camera Key path so I can start from scratch?

Thank for reply Tiggz1

just delete path in background layers.

best regard

[wwwyoose]

hi

I am trying this plugin and it dont work whit the short cut. alt+q.
I have mac are ther some diffrent short cut?

Best Achim

[macgile]

hi

I am trying this plugin and it dont work whit the short cut. alt+q.
I have mac are ther some diffrent short cut?

Best Achim

Thank's wwwyoose

This bug is fixed in the next version with many other improvements
comming soon!

best regard

[vidy]

This bug is fixed in the next version with many other improvements
comming soon!
best regard