Creating Custom Camera Rigs

Maya's three camera types (Camera, Camera and Aim, Camera Aim and Up) work well for many common animation situations. However, you'll find that sometimes a custom camera rig gives you more creative control over a shot. This section shows you how to create a custom camera rig for the car chase scene. Use this example as a springboard for ideas to design your own custom camera rigs and controls.

Swivel Camera Rig

This rig involves attaching a camera to a NURBS circle so that it can easily swivel around a subject in a perfect arc.

1. Open the chase_v03.ma scene from the chapter2\scenes directory on the DVD, or continue with the scene from the previous section. In the Display tab of the Layer Editor, turn off both the choppers and buildings layers.