Adjust a camera view or working 3D view

You can adjust the Position and Point Of Interest properties of a camera layer by using the Camera tools in the Composition panel.

You can also use the Camera tools to adjust a working 3D view, a 3D view that is not associated with a camera layer. The working 3D views include the custom views and the fixed orthographic views (Front, Left, Top, Back, Right, or Bottom). The working 3D views are useful for placing and previewing elements in a 3D scene. If you use a Camera tool to adjust a working 3D view, no layer property values are affected. You can’t use the Orbit Camera tool on the fixed orthographic views.

The easiest way to switch between the various Camera tools is to activate the Unified Camera tool and use the buttons on a three-button mouse.
  1. In the 3D View menu at the bottom of the Composition panel, choose the camera view to adjust.
  2. Activate a Camera tool. To activate a Camera tool, select it in the Tools panel or press C to cycle through the Camera tools.
    Orbit Camera 
    Rotates the current 3D view by moving the camera around the point of interest. (To temporarily activate the Orbit Camera tool when the Unified Camera Tool is active, hold the left mouse button.)

    Track XY Camera 
    Adjusts the 3D view horizontally or vertically. (To temporarily activate the Track XY Camera tool when the Unified Camera Tool is active, hold the middle mouse button.)

    Track Z Camera 
    Adjusts the 3D view along the line from the camera to the point of interest. If you are using an orthographic view, this tool adjusts the scale of the view. (To temporarily activate the Track Z Camera tool when the Unified Camera Tool is active, hold the right mouse button.)

  3. Drag in the Composition panel. You can drag outside the panel after you’ve begun dragging within it.
Rolling the mouse wheel forward and backward when the Unified Camera tool is active has the same result as dragging with the Track Z Camera tool.

After you’ve modified a 3D view, you can reset it by choosing View > Reset 3D View.

Chris and Trish Meyer provide a video tutorial on the ProVideo Coalition website that demonstrates the use of the Camera tools to adjust cameras and 3D views.