How to Use the Multiplane Camera in Toon Boom

One of the most useful and multi-faceted tools in Toon Boom is the multiplane camera. It allows you to change perspective in real time as well as zoom in on scenes from a variety of angles. The multiplane camera has many different features, which, when mastered, can work together to create a truly 3D animation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Active Toon Boom project
• Toon Boom software

Add a Camera

1. Open a project in Toon Boom and choose "Element -> Add -> Camera." This will cause a new camera element with a default name to show up in both the "Camera List" and the "Timeline" window. The camera can be placed at any layer.
2. Choose the new camera from the drop-down list in the "Scene View" toolbar in Windows or from the "Camera List" toolbar with other systems.
3. When you choose the camera, the window view will change to show the secondary camera view of the scene.

Change the Camera Position

4. Pick a "Sceneplanning" view from the "Window" menu.
5. Change the east/west and north/south position of the camera by selecting "Camera View." You can also change the camera's north/south and front/back position with the "Side View" option, or the east/west and front/back position with "Top View."
6. Go to "Tools -> Sceneplanning Tools -> Select" to initiate use of the "Select" tool.
7. Click the camera name in the "Timeline" window or use the "Select" tool to choose the camera, after which you can drag it to your chosen position.

Zoom In or Out

8. Look for the "Handle" at the bottom of the red highlighted camera frame in the "Camera View" window. This indicates the "Camera" tab.
9. Choose the "Static" option for the "Field Of View (FOV) Type" to keep the camera view constant.
10. Zoom in or out using the "Select" tool on the handle at the bottom of the frame. Dragging the handle to the left will zoom in, while dragging it to the right will zoom out.
11. Enter values in the "Static" field to create a more precise FOV. This will create a zoom effect by changing the view angle.

Zoom During a Scene

12. Select the camera you want to work with in the "Timeline" window.
13. Choose "Dynamic" from the "Camera" tab to alter the zoom at various frames in the scene.
14. Extend the bar that appears when you use the "Dynamic" option if you want to change the zoom levels of more than 10 frames. You can also move the bar to where you want to begin and end zoom changes.
15. Indicate at which frame you want the zoom to end by dragging the frame slider onto the "Timeline."

Change Start/End Frames

16. Position the camera in the "Timeline" window.
17. Adjust your view of the "Timeline" window by using the slider at the bottom of the window. The red bar indicating the duration of recording will increase or decrease depending on the span of the visible elements of the scene.
18. Change the duration either by moving the pointer of the camera bar or by dragging the boundary to lengthen or shorten the camera length.

Create Precise Zooms

19. Click on the "Function Editor" option. The "Function Editor" window will appear and you should choose "FOV" from the drop-down menu.
20. Change the camera's angle view by selecting the frame at which you want the zoom to change.
21. Add a keyframe, which can be moved to the correct angle. The speed of the zoom change is determined by the shape of the plotline in your frame. Changing the shape of the plotline (using the "Reshape" menu) will also change the speed of the zoom.

Pan and Truck

22. Add a new camera and activate it.
23. Add a peg to your scene, changing the values of the start/end frame of duration to meet your needs.
24. Attach the camera element in the "Timeline" window by dragging it on top of the peg element.
25. Change the peg to make front/back, north/south and east/west motion, as the camera will follow the peg's path.

Tips & Warnings

• The first step of all the multiplane camera functions is to add a new camera element.

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