One of the biggest problems in doing any type of camera work on Maya is that the camera is always too clean and perfect. Thus creating a very cold camera. If we take a second to notice the way the cameras work in film and the way they feel, we will be able to redirect it to two of the most popular camera rigs. The “Camera Jib Arm” and the handheld effect with a “Steadicam.” In this case we will go over the Steadicam. The whole idea behind this setup is that the stabilizer buffers the camera from jarring shocks and vibration so creating limitations on a virtual camera that will result in better photography.
What is the Steadicam?
The Steadicam is a camera stabilization device that, in the hands of a skilled operator, combines the image steadiness of a dolly with the freedom of movement of a hand-held shot.
How does it work?
The Steadicam works in three ways:
1: It isolates the camera from all but the largest movements of the operator,
2: It spreads the mass of the camera to increase resistance to rotation, and
3: It brings the **center of gravity** outside of the camera to where the operator
can manipulate it directly.
1. Constructing the Cameras and Geometry:
Lets start by making two cameras: name the first one Master_Camera and the second one Dynamic_Camera. After you are done with the renaming, take out any transformation to insure the two cameras are sitting on the same global position.
Make a poly cube and scale to 40 % and delete the front and top face of the box.
Make sure to delete the history on it.
Make a poly plane with only one face and just like the cube delete the history on it.
We should end up with something just like picture 1.
2. Poly Cube SoftBody:
Now let’s make our Poly cube into a soft body, press F4 on your keyboard to go to into Dynamic mode. Select the poly cube then go to soft/rigid Bodies – Create Soft Body – Open options. Change your options to Duplicate, Make Copy Soft and change the rest of the options, as it is shown on the picture above then apply
.
3. Poly Plane SoftBody:
Now select the plane and change your options to Make soft and apply.
4. Renaming:
It is really important that at this point we take a second to rename our new elements. Open the outliner and start with the Poly Cube. Rename the Poly Cube with the particles attached to it "Dynamic_BoxParticle" and the Original "Master_Box."
Select the plane, and rename it Dynamic_Plane.
Go to the Dynamic_box Expand and select the particles attached to it.
5. Particles Render Attribute:
With the particle selected press Ctrl A on your keyboard to bring the attributes of the particles. Scroll down to Render Attributes and change the Particle Render Type to Sphere then press Current Render Type to bring Radius and change to 0.020. This will make our particles easier to see and then manipulate it.
