Walking towards the camera..

ok i just started playing with fraps tonight ... jus the 'demo' version to start getting a hang of it....

this might sound stupid .. but stumped me .. if i'm filming myself .. whats the easiest way to film the AV walking towards the camera ?? ... if i just alt zoom round to the front, then walk forward, the cam swings back round to the back as norm ...us there a 'second' camera i should look at buying for movies ..or are they always attached to the AV ?

thanks! Adec

Adec,

I'm sorry, I don't know what fraps is.

But if your avatar has an animation override, he'll spin around and walk toward you when you hit the down arrow. (at least mine does).

had the same question, take a look at this thread:

/327/9a/140518/1.html#post1298941

Of all the suggestions in it, the one that works easiest for me is just to find real land (not prims), move the camera way in front of you, right-click and choose "go here" from the pie menu. If the land is long enough (e.g. a sandbox), you'll have lots of time to film from any angle. Or see if you need higher heels with your salsa skirt.

ah neat idea .. thanks Nika ....!

There is a neater way of doing this.... use FlyCam from the Client menu, (I use a Logitech GamePad as a controller), once in that mode, manouvre your camera to the desired position and then use the cursor keys to move your avatar and the camera will not move whilst shooting...... takes a bit of getting used to as you can become disorientated at first (expectation of your camera following the avatar) but you can get great results.

AWM, I just tried what you said, but when I'm in it and try to move camera with my mouse, it will not work.

After messing with it, I found that that DOES work, but only if you set the position of the camera BEFORE entering Flycam mode. Once in flycam mode, I cannot change the camera at all.

or sae you could ask your husband to use his cam's .. its almost built for just what your talking bout.. I didnt want to say anything since i am not sure if hes marketing for that yet or not

Hello everyone.
This is my first post. I hope this can help.Over a year ago i picked up a useful device..you wear it and a small red thumbtack appears on your screen..and your camera locks in place. Then you can walk in front of the camera..towards the camera..across in front of the camera etc.Anywhere in the field of view of your camera..and the camera stays stationary.
I've used it many times in my Fraps captures.You use your arrow keys to walk as usual.
Just takes a bit to get use to,since you are use to the camera following the avatar.
It's free..so anyone who would like one..contact me inworld ..Mac Soothsayer..and i'd be glad to give you one. You can make copies and pass them on to your friends who have this problem.
When you are through..just take it off..and all goes back to normal.
Happy movie making ..Mac

FlyCam can be operated by holding down (I think, never did it this way) the Ctrl button and use the cursor keys, but as I said, I use a Logitech GamePad for the FlyCam option and still use the cursor keys (as is) to move my avatar. If you are dextrious enough, you can even move the camera using a GamePad and your avatar using the cursor keys at the same time , but don't blame me if you get your fingers into a knot LOL

camera positions are easily controlled via script
here is a script i use
it has some functions usefull for machinima
you can adapt it how so ver you want


//Linden Labs
//Dan Linden
integer CHANNEL; // dialog channel
list MENU_MAIN = ["Default", "Overhead Cam", "Spin Cam", "Trap Toggle", "Spaz Cam", "Drop Cam", "Worm Cam", "Side Cam", "Driving Cam", "More...", "Cam ON", "Cam OFF"]; // the main menu
list MENU_2 = ["More...","rearview_cam", "shoulder_cam","...Back"]; // menu 2

integer on = FALSE;
integer flying;
integer falling;
integer spaz = 0;
integer trap = 0;

take_camera_control(key agent)
{
llOwnerSay("take_camera_control"; // say function name for debugging
llOwnerSay( (string)agent);
llRequestPermissions(agent, PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA);
llSetCameraParams([CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1]); // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
on = TRUE;
}

release_camera_control(key agent)
{
llOwnerSay("release_camera_control"; // say function name for debugging
llSetCameraParams([CAMERA_ACTIVE, 0]); // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
llReleaseCamera(agent);
on = FALSE;
}

focus_on_me()
{
llOwnerSay("focus_on_me"; // say function name for debugging
// llClearCameraParams(); // reset camera to default
vector here = llGetPos();
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 0.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 0.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS, here, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.0 , // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, TRUE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
// CAMERA_PITCH, 80.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
CAMERA_POSITION, here + <4,4,4>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, TRUE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, ZERO_VECTOR // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}

default_cam()
{
// llOwnerSay("default_cam"; // say function name for debugging
llClearCameraParams(); // reset camera to default
llSetCameraParams([CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1]);
}


driving_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("driving_cam"; // say function name for debugging
default_cam();
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 45.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.5, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 8.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.05 , // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_PITCH, 20.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.1, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <3,0,2> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}
shoulder_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("side_cam"; // say function name for debugging
llClearCameraParams(); // reset camera to default
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 0.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 0.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.0 , // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
// CAMERA_PITCH, 80.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <0,.5,1> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}


side_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("side_cam"; // say function name for debugging
llClearCameraParams(); // reset camera to default
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 0.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 0.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.0 , // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
// CAMERA_PITCH, 80.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <0,3,0> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}

rearview_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("rearview_cam"; // say function name for debugging
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 180.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_DISTANCE, 10.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 3.0 , // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
// CAMERA_PITCH, 80.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
// CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
// CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <5,2,-2> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}

overhead_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("overhead_cam"; // say function name for debugging
default_cam();
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 180.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.5, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 10.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.05 , // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_PITCH, 80.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <0,0,0> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}

drop_camera_5_seconds()
{
llOwnerSay("drop_camera_5_seconds"; // say function name for debugging
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 0.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.5, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 3.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 2.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_PITCH, 0.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.05, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, TRUE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <0,0,0> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
llSleep(5);
default_cam();
}



worm_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("worm_cam"; // say function name for debugging
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 180.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, 8.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.0 , // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 4.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_PITCH, -45.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 1.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 1.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <0,0,0> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
}

spaz_cam()
{
llOwnerSay("spaz_cam for 5 seconds"; // say function name for debugging
float i;
for (i=0; i< 50; i+=1)
{
vector xyz = llGetPos() + <llFrand(80) - 40, llFrand(80) - 40, llFrand(10)>;
// llOwnerSay((string)xyz);
vector xyz2 = llGetPos() + <llFrand(80) - 40, llFrand(80) - 40, llFrand(10)>;
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 180.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, llFrand(3), // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_DISTANCE, llFrand(10), // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, xyz, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, llFrand(3), // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, TRUE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, llFrand(4), // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_PITCH, llFrand(125) - 45, // (-45 to 80) degrees
CAMERA_POSITION, xyz2, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, llFrand(3), // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, TRUE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, llFrand(4), // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <llFrand(20) - 10, llFrand(20) - 10, llFrand(20) - 10> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);
llSleep(0.1);
}
default_cam();
}

spin_cam()
{
llSetCameraParams([
CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1, // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_ANGLE, 180.0, // (0 to 180) degrees
CAMERA_BEHINDNESS_LAG, 0.5, // (0 to 3) seconds
//CAMERA_DISTANCE, 10.0, // ( 0.5 to 10) meters
//CAMERA_FOCUS, <0,0,5>, // region relative position
CAMERA_FOCUS_LAG, 0.05 , // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_FOCUS_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_FOCUS_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_PITCH, 30.0, // (-45 to 80) degrees
//CAMERA_POSITION, <0,0,0>, // region relative position
CAMERA_POSITION_LAG, 0.0, // (0 to 3) seconds
CAMERA_POSITION_LOCKED, FALSE, // (TRUE or FALSE)
CAMERA_POSITION_THRESHOLD, 0.0, // (0 to 4) meters
CAMERA_FOCUS_OFFSET, <0,0,0> // <-10,-10,-10> to <10,10,10> meters
]);

float i;
vector camera_position;
for (i=0; i< 2*TWO_PI; i+=.05)
{
camera_position = llGetPos() + <0, 4, 0> * llEuler2Rot(<0,0,i>;
llSetCameraParams([CAMERA_POSITION, camera_position]);
}
default_cam();
}

setup_listen()
{
llListenRemove(1);
CHANNEL = llRound(llFrand(1) * 100000);
integer x = llListen(CHANNEL, "", "", ""; // listen for dialog answers
}

default
{
state_entry()
{
llSitTarget(<0,0,0.1>,ZERO_ROTATION);
setup_listen();
llSetTimerEvent(2);
}

touch_start(integer total_number)
{
integer perm = llGetPermissions();
if (perm & PERMISSION_DEBIT)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_DEBIT perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm & PERMISSION_TAKE_CONTROLS)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_TAKE_CONTROLS perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm & PERMISSION_TRIGGER_ANIMATION)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_TRIGGER_ANIMATION perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm & PERMISSION_ATTACH)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_ATTACH perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm & PERMISSION_CHANGE_LINKS)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_CHANGE_LINKS perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm & PERMISSION_TRACK_CAMERA)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_TRACK_CAMERA perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm & PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }
if (perm == 0)
{ llOwnerSay(llGetScriptName() + " has NO perms for "+(string)llGetPermissionsKey()); }

llDialog(llDetectedKey(0), "What do you want to do?", MENU_MAIN, CHANNEL); // present dialog on click
}

listen(integer channel, string name, key id, string message)
{
if (llListFindList(MENU_MAIN + MENU_2, [message]) != -1) // verify dialog choice
// if (llListFindList(MENU_MAIN, [message]) != -1) // verify dialog choice
{
// llOwnerSay(name + " picked the option '" + message + "'."; // output the answer
if (message == "More..."
llDialog(id, "Pick an option!", MENU_2, CHANNEL); // present submenu on request


else if (message == "...Back"
llDialog(id, "What do you want to do?", MENU_MAIN, CHANNEL); // present main menu on request to go back


else if (message == "Cam ON"
{
take_camera_control(id);
}
else if (message == "rearview_cam"
{
rearview_cam();
}
else if (message == "shoulder_cam"
{
shoulder_cam();
}
else if (message == "Cam OFF"
{
release_camera_control(id);
}

else if (message == "Default"
{
default_cam();
}

else if (message == "Driving Cam"
{
driving_cam();
}

else if (message == "Worm Cam"
{
worm_cam();
}

else if (message == "Overhead Cam"
{
overhead_cam();
}

else if (message == "Spaz Cam"
{
spaz_cam();
}

else if (message == "Side Cam"
{
side_cam();
}

else if (message == "Drop Cam"
{
drop_camera_5_seconds();
}

else if (message == "Trap Toggle"
{
trap = !trap;
if (trap == 1) {
llOwnerSay("trap is on";
}
else {
llOwnerSay("trap is off";
}
}

else if (message == "Spin Cam"
{
spin_cam();
}

} else
llOwnerSay(name + " picked invalid option '" + llToLower(message) + "'."; // not a valid dialog choice
}

run_time_permissions(integer perm) {
if ((perm & PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA) == PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA) {
llSetCameraParams([CAMERA_ACTIVE, 1]); // 1 is active, 0 is inactive
llOwnerSay("Camera permissions have been taken";
}
}

changed(integer change)
{
if (change & CHANGED_LINK)
{
key agent = llAvatarOnSitTarget();
if (agent)
{
setup_listen();
llRequestPermissions(agent, PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA);
}
}
}

attach(key agent)
{
if (agent != NULL_KEY)
{
setup_listen();
llRequestPermissions(agent, PERMISSION_CONTROL_CAMERA);
}
}

timer()
{
if (trap == 1)
{
focus_on_me();
}
}
}

Funny, I had the same problem, and worked on it for quite some time until I realized it was impossible to do by myself, with the stand-alone SL app.

It's usually a much better idea to have the camera crew film, and not the actors.

Of course, there will always be lone-wolf directors...and these folks have to extra crafty!

I played with the freebie cam script and found it almost useless and very confusing.... especially when the camera goes underground lol... (worm setting), even spaz made me dizzy.

Honestly, grab a gamepad and use FlyCam, get the hang of it and you wont look back.

My fingers hurt just thinking about it XD

What michael said.

The best way to film by yourself is two computers. controlling the avatars movements when the camera is locked (or via flycam) is pretty difficult IMO.

Yeah, I just have an alt do the filming from a fixed camera position, and my main can do whatever she wants without worrying about angles.