Camera Controls

One thing i have some issue with is the camera when trying to work on things. Since it is not possible to use first person to build things, that becomes #1 on my list.

#1) Have some sort of option to use first person with the mouse cursor. In some games, if while in first person, you hit the space bar, the mouse cursor comes up, and you can do normal functions this way. I would also like to be able to switch from first to third person while working on something and be able to move the camera around. This leads us into #2.

#2) a smoother interface for moving the camera. Right now, to get from edit to camera movements (focus) requires you to hit Ctrl+1, and to go back to edit, Ctrl+3. I was looking through the options for a way to change this to my own setting, such as just 1 and 3, but there is nothing there. I would really like to be able to move between different modes by hitting just one button, especially since i am constantly changing modes while working on, and trying to align objects.

#3) keep the camera from trying to zoom out when working on things in small areas. My building right now is only 8mx8m, so it is kinda tight. When i rotate around, it has a bad habit of zooming out past the walls, and thus blocking my view of what i'm doing. Once i get my lab up and running, i want to be able to work on things with the roof closed and not have to fight with the camera to keep it inside the walls. An overall revamp of the camera controls, and perhaps a couple more options, such as view area and some better movement controls would be nice.

#4) Some sort of indicator that floats in the world showing you the current focal point of the camera. This would be a virtal dot or some other sort of icon (customizable?) that would show you what point the camera would rotate about, and just where the camera things it is focused. This would be something independant of any actual selections, and if the point is under a texture, would still show up, but possibly shaded or something like that.

#5) Wire frame mode. Or some other way to shut textures off on things you own so you can perhaps find a wayward new object or better see if things really do line up. This option may not be feasable, but i don't see why not. And if doing it on objects you own only would not work, then a global option would also do just fine.

These are just the things i've come up with so far. If/when i have more ideas, you can bet your bottom dollar i'll be back to post.

Till then, keep playing, testing, and working, and have a good day.

~Mozleron
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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I rather agree... a lot of the reason I don't do much modelling is it's so hard to work the the camera.. things get lost easily, are hard to align, etc. (some alignment options would be nice too...)

good post Moz,

#1) i also want to build in 1st person view (mouseview).
you can free the cursor with the alt key in 1st person and drag your own objects around, but it's clumsy. you can also access the menus this way, although they are not visible.

#2) while you are building, you don't need the focus key at all;
ALT+ mouse click = focus on a different object, while leaving your previous object selected
ALT+ mouse = orbit left and right, zoom in and out
ALT+CTRL+mouse = orbit up and down
ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+mouse = pan(slide) view
some other shortcuts are listed at
/120/71/170/1.html

#3) i agree. the zoom worked better a month ago, but something was changed in the last version. the automatic macro-zoom(similar to ctrl+0) is disorientating and rather frustrating when i try to build, and i don't notice any advantages.

bp

Thanks for that info BP, i did not even realize there were controls you could use while in build mode. i'll have to definatly start using those to help work around the other camera usage issues.