AR->DOF :: "Use Target Object" huh?

[JoelOtron]

This is just driving me batty; I am animating the camera and using rear blur. I want to keep the focus on my object while the camera moves; use target object seems to be just the thing I need. But it is perpetually grayed out and always selected anyhow. How do I set the Target Object? The manual is quite vague on the matter.

Select your camera. right click (command click on a mac) and choose c4d tags-> target tag.

This will apply a target tag to your camera. Now select the target tag and in the AM drag the object you wish to use as the target object. I usually use a null.

You may need to rework your animation after doing this--as your camera will now be targeting the new object.

You can also determine how far your camera is to your object of interest via HUD, and just enter that number into your target distance field. This would be an alternative to using a target object and will be less disruptive to your workflow.

[VestanPance]

Ah, ok. So DOF uses the regular old Target Tag in a unique way? Strange and thanks.

[VestanPance]

So that works great....but now my camera animation is gone due to the Target Tag. Any way to target the object for DOF and retain my animation?

[tcastudios]

You could use something like this.

Cheers
Lennart

[edfenner]

TCA - you beat me to it, I was going to suggest the same thing. Target moves the camera to keep the object in camera. xpresso would allow you to move the object anywhere and feed it's distance to the camera to stay in focus.

ed

[JoelOtron]

Nice setup Lennart.
Much more efficient than keyframing the camera distance manually a I often do.

[tcastudios]

Yup. But I have to take the opportunity to mention SteadyCAMPRO here.
I can without any shame say: It makes stuff like this v e r y easy and v e r y fast to setup.
And it won't break your wallet into smitherins.

SteadyCAMPRO (http://homepage.mac.com/tcastudios/steadycampro.html)

Cheers
Lennart

[VestanPance]

Cheers Lennart. Plug appreciated as well ;)

Which object would I put this xPresso tag on?

[tcastudios]

A xpresso tag can (in most cases) be placed on any object in the OM

[VestanPance]

Got it...and thanks. It works exactly the way I wanted.

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