Camera
The Camera section of the View tab provides tools for controlling scene lighting, camera parameters, and view positioning. Use these controls to set up optimal viewing conditions for analysis and presentation.
Light Studio
Light Studio is the 3D view's complete lighting workspace. It manages the default headlight and up to eight total lights, including presets, interactive manipulators, per-light shadow control, and JSON import and export.
See Light Studio for the complete reference, guided workflows, and floor-shadow best practices.
Camera Settings
Camera Settings opens a configuration panel for the 3D rendering view's camera and edits its parameters directly. Slice views are intentionally kept orthographic and aligned to their slice planes so cross-sections stay undistorted for measurement, so they are not exposed here.
Camera Presets
The Preset control at the top of the panel saves and recalls named camera setups:
- Choose a saved preset from the dropdown to apply it instantly.
- Each preset name must be unique. Saving a new preset with a name that already exists is not allowed; use the overwrite action to update an existing preset instead.
- The preset menu lets you save the current camera as a new preset, overwrite or remove the selected preset, save the collection to a preset file (
.dat), or load a collection from one. - Removing the selected preset selects the nearest remaining preset.
- Loading a valid preset file replaces the displayed collection and makes it the default collection. If the file is invalid or cannot be read, the current presets are kept.
- When the current view matches a saved preset, that preset is shown as selected. If you then edit the camera away from it (or orbit with the mouse), the preset stays selected and is marked with a trailing asterisk (
*) to show it has unsaved changes; use the overwrite action to save those changes back into it. When the view matches no saved preset, the dropdown shows Select a preset.
Camera Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| View angle | Field of view, in degrees. Angular height by default, or angular width when Use horizontal view angle is checked. Applies to perspective projection. |
| Distance | Distance from the camera position to the focal point. |
| Focal point | The point the camera looks at, in world coordinates (X, Y, Z). |
| Position | The camera location in world coordinates (X, Y, Z). |
| View up | The direction that appears "up" in the view (X, Y, Z). |
| Use explicit aspect ratio | Override the aspect ratio otherwise computed from the render window with a fixed value. |
The focal point and camera position must remain at least 0.0002 world units apart. A closer edit would make the view direction unstable, so the edit is ignored and the field reverts to its current value.
Projection
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Parallel projection | Switch from perspective to parallel (orthographic) projection. In parallel mode object sizes do not change with distance, which is preferred for measurements and CAD-style viewing. Enabling it turns off off-axis projection. |
| Parallel scale | Half-height of the viewport in world units when parallel projection is on. Smaller values zoom in; larger values zoom out. |
Projection can also be toggled with the V key while the 3D view has focus. See Perspective vs. Parallel Projection below. Switching modes preserves the apparent framing of the current view where a perspective equivalent is representable, including when a horizontal field of view or explicit aspect ratio is in use.
Stereo Parameters
Advanced controls for stereoscopic (3D) output. They have no effect on a normal mono view:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Left eye | Render the scene from the left eye of the stereo pair. |
| Eye angle | Angle between the two eyes, in degrees. |
| Use off-axis projection | Use an off-axis frustum for stereo, configured by the Eye position and Eye separation. Enabling it turns off parallel projection. |
Rotation Center Controls
The panel also sets the point the camera orbits around, either numerically (X, Y, Z) or by pressing P with the cursor over a surface or volume. Reset returns it to the scene center. See Center of Rotation below for the interactive C key and middle-mouse shortcuts.
Default
The Default button fits the view to the scene and restores the default camera settings: a 30° field of view, no explicit aspect ratio, default stereo, and the center of rotation reset to the scene center. The view-up direction and projection mode are kept.
Perspective vs. Parallel Projection
| Mode | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Perspective | Objects appear smaller with distance | Natural appearance, presentations |
| Parallel | No size change with distance | Measurements, CAD-style viewing |
Toggle between modes with the Parallel projection control in Camera Settings, or with the V key while the 3D view has focus.
Workflow: Switching to Orthographic Projection for Measurements
- Open the View tab and click Camera Settings
- Enable Parallel projection in the panel (or press V while the 3D view has focus)
- The 3D view now keeps object sizes consistent regardless of distance
- Adjust Parallel scale to frame the region, then make your measurements or compare object dimensions
Standard Views
Quickly orient the 3D camera to predefined directions. Click Standard Views to access the menu:
Axis-Aligned Views
| Option | View Direction | Description |
|---|---|---|
| -X | From negative X | Left side view |
| +X | From positive X | Right side view |
| -Y | From negative Y | Back view |
| +Y | From positive Y | Front view |
| -Z | From negative Z | Bottom view |
| +Z | From positive Z | Top view |
Isometric View
Isometric positions the camera at a diagonal angle showing all three axes equally. Useful for overview presentations and general inspection.
Orientation-Dependent Labels
View labels change based on the selected orientation preset (Standard, Classic, Medical, etc.):
| Engineering Mode | Medical Mode |
|---|---|
| Left / Right | Left / Right |
| Front / Back | Anterior / Posterior |
| Top / Bottom | Superior / Inferior |
Keyboard Shortcuts
When the 3D view has focus:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| X | View from +X |
| Shift+X | View from -X |
| Y | View from +Y |
| Shift+Y | View from -Y |
| Z | View from +Z |
| Shift+Z | View from -Z |
View Controls
Three buttons provide quick camera adjustments:
Center 3D View
Resets the camera focal point to the center of the scene without changing the viewing angle or zoom level.
Use when:
- The view has drifted off-center
- You want to rotate around the scene center
- Objects appear off-screen
Reset 3D View
Fits all visible objects in the 3D view by adjusting the camera position and focal point. The view angle resets to show all content at an appropriate zoom level.
Use when:
- Starting inspection of a new object
- Objects are too small or too large in the view
- The camera position has become disoriented
Keyboard shortcut: Press R in the 3D view.
Reset Slice Views
Resets all slice view cameras and returns slices to the center of the volume:
- Zoom levels reset to fit the image
- Pan positions reset to center
- Slice positions return to the volume midpoint
Use when:
- Slice views have been zoomed or panned significantly
- You want to start navigation from the volume center
Center of Rotation
The 3D view rotates around a focal point. You can set this point interactively:
| Method | Action |
|---|---|
| C key | Press C with the cursor over a surface to set the center of rotation there and center that point in the 3D view |
| Middle mouse button | Click with the middle mouse button to set the crosshair and focal point |
If the center of rotation axes are visible in the 3D view controller, they move to the new rotation point immediately.
Setting the center of rotation under specific features helps when inspecting detailed areas.
Mouse Navigation
Default 3D view mouse controls:
| Action | Mouse Operation |
|---|---|
| Rotate | Left mouse button + drag |
| Pan | Middle mouse button + drag |
| Zoom | Right mouse button + drag or scroll wheel |
| Pick point | Left click on surface |
For slice views:
| Action | Mouse Operation |
|---|---|
| Pan | Middle mouse button + drag or right mouse button + drag |
| Zoom | Scroll wheel or Ctrl + right mouse button + drag |
| Scroll slices | Scroll wheel (when not zooming) |
Common Workflows
Setting Up a Presentation View
- Reset the 3D view to fit all objects
- Select Isometric from Standard Views
- Open Light Studio and apply a balanced studio preset
- Switch to Parallel projection if orthographic appearance is preferred
- Hide the clipping box and object widgets for a clean view
Detailed Inspection
- Navigate to the region of interest using slice views
- Use the crosshair to center on the feature
- Press C in the 3D view over the feature to set the rotation center
- Zoom in and rotate around the feature
- Adjust lighting to emphasize surface details
Related Topics
- View Tab Overview – Complete View tab reference
- Light Studio – Lighting presets, manipulators, and floor shadows
- 3D View – Rendering and representation options
- Layouts – Workspace arrangement options