Cam2Vista

Cam2Vista : MEL utility to read/import and write out camera files (camera matrices) to text files using Maya. The text file could then be used with Vista (command line volume renderer) and Mesh Viewer (interactive volume renderer) for custom camera movment and positioning.

Importing Camera files: The file should be in ascii format as follows. Each line contains only one camera martix of 16 floats after the keyword "CameraMatrix:" space or tab delimited. Each camera matrix is imported as a keyframe on a per frame basis
CameraMatrix: 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0
CameraMatrix: 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0
.
.
. and so on

Requirements : Windows, Linux, Mac; Maya 5.0+ (untested for earlier versions)

Notes : Vista's volume size is always 1 unit cube. Thus the path should be created with this information in mind. Good idea is to create a default cube and test out camera path by scrubing in timeline or Step 7.

Limitations :

• Jerky camera movement on preview of camera path.
• Camera axis Y is always Upvector
• Maya (PLE) does not allow write access to files so this script will show errors. The script prints out the info in the script editor when PLE option is checked.

Download : Cam2Vista-1.3 (36 kb) (right click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" ) Updated: Feb 22, 2008
Old Version : Cam2Vista-1.2(32 kb) (right click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As" ) Updated: Jan 30, 2006

Running Cam2Vista :

• Download and save Cam2Vista-1.3.mel
• Open Script Editor - In Maya go to Window > General Editors > Script Editor
• In Script Editor go to File > Source Script > Cam2Vista-1.3.mel (browse to folder where you saved Cam2Vista-1.3.mel)
• Roll over buttons for tool tips

Usage :

1. Choose Camera set up single camera=1cam; five camera setup for dome=5cam; seven camera setup for dome=7cam; eleven camera setup for dome=11cam (see Screenshot below - Step 1) Camera order for 5Cam dome rendering : Up, Front, Back, Left, Right
2. Choose aim or look at direction (see Screenshot below - Step 2)
3. Draw your own curve or create a test one (see Screenshot below - Step 3)NOTE: The maximum volume size in Vista is a unit size cube so make sure the path is appropriately scaled.
4. Enter the number of frames you want to have on camera path (see Screenshot below - Step 4)
5. Select the aim curve on which you want to move the camera's aim. (see Screenshot below - Step 5 optional ) Choose Camera looking towards MyPath or Norm2MyPath in Step 2
6. Select the path curve on which you want to move the camera. Scale the size of the camera for if needed (see Screenshot below - Step 6)
7. Save Camera File at desired location ".cam" would be appended to the typed filename (see Screenshot below - Step 7) or Save Reversed Camera File at desired location ".cam" would be appended to the typed filename (see Screenshot below - Step 7)
   NOTE:When the camera position and aim are coincident. You'll notice warnings on script editor. Make sure you have correct camera Aim option selected in Step 2
8. Preview the camera path and camera aim (Make sure the camera aim is selected correctly in Step 2) . Also Accesed via "View" drop down menu.
9. Import an existing camera file. (File>Import)
10. Path curve smoothing options. Look under "Tools" drop down menu.