Camera Points Properties
Map tour nodes to positions in a 3D model and add connecting points for transitions and alignment.
Camera Points are markers placed in the 3D model that represent the camera positions of the tour nodes, or waypoints to define connections between nodes. They let Pano2VR map a panorama node to a specific point and orientation in the model so you can:
- build model-based transitions between nodes,
- create motion paths that follow defined waypoints,
- and align panoramas accurately to the model for seamless navigation, and
- move to specific views of the model.
To add Camera Points, change to Camera Points (T) mode in the Viewer. The Camera Points properties will open in the properties panel. A selected point will be red. A deselected point will be blue.
Common Properties
These settings apply to all camera point types unless noted otherwise.
ID
The editable identifier for a tour node, waypoint, cluster point, or target camera.
Position
The 3D position of the camera point (X, Y, Z).
Rotation
The rotation of the camera point (X, Y, Z).
Lock
Lock the camera point to prevent it from being moved.
Weight
The weight property acts as a distance multiplier, artificially lengthening or shortening connections between waypoints to influence route calculation. By default Pano2VR finds the shortest path between nodes. If you’d like to a detour, let’s say, going from one node to another, you can assign a weight to a camera point to influence the route Pano2VR takes. A weight lower than 1 to make that route appear shorter and a weight greater than 1 is longer.
Type
There are four camera point types used in model mapping and transitions: Tour Node, Waypoint, Cluster Point, and Target Camera. Each serves a different purpose.
There is also a special camera point, which is the Default View of the model and appears in List View.
Default View camera point
The Default View camera point represents the model’s opening view. Set or update it using Set Default View (Viewing Parameters) or the Viewer context menu. The Default View camera point is listed in List View and is highlighted in Cyan when the Viewer is in Camera Points mode. You can connect the Default View camera point to other camera points to use it as an endpoint for motion paths and transitions — useful for returning the viewer to a predefined model position during tours or animations. See Transitions with Motion Paths for how to link camera points.
Tour Node
Represents a panorama’s camera position. Tour nodes have the common properties above and these actions:
- Move to Camera Point — Jumps to the camera point and switches to Control Points mode so you can add control points from that position.
- Optimize Camera Point — Click this button after adding control points to refine the camera point alignment. The button is only available for camera points that can be optimized.
Drag a node from the Tour Browser to the model to add a Tour Node camera point.
Waypoint
A waypoint marks a position used when creating transition paths between tour nodes; waypoints affect the motion path the viewer follows.
Double-click anywhere in the model to add a Waypoint.
Cluster Point
A cluster point links camera points without changing how the viewer moves between them — the connection exists for grouping or alignment, but transitions go straight from one tour node to another or from one tour node to a waypoint. For example, if A and B are linked by cluster point C, the viewer still moves directly from A to B.
This is useful if you have a lot camera points that have the same target and want to avoid a large matrix of blue connection lines.
Double-click to add a point and then change it to a Cluster Point.
Target Camera
A Target Camera marks a location in the model you can jump to. Use it to navigate or aim the viewer at a specific spot in the model. Target cameras support:
- FoV – Widen or narrow the field of View. The camera icon will adjust to this setting.
- Camera Mode – Set the type of camera mode for the Target Camera.
- Move to Camera Point – Jump to the camera point.
- Update Target Camera from Viewer — Click to change the Target Camera’s view
Add a target camera by moving to the desired view in the Viewer and then click Capture Target Camera in the 3D Controller.
See the glossary entry for Target Camera.