Hardware Tracking Camera
Method #
Hardware Tracking Camera receives data from external camera tracking systems and currently supports the NCAM tracking system.
Camera Frustum data is received from the tracking system (Position, Rotation, Field of View) and updates the camera in the scene in real time.
Set up the NCAM receiver utilising Devices -> NCAM. Please note that access to the NCAM SDK is required for use.
The play head must be playing for the camera to update its position.
Nodes parented to this node will generally follow the standard parent-child relationship with nodes in Notch, with a couple exceptions:
- Most Post-FX nodes will only run when viewed through a camera when connected to the camera.
- The Camera Focus Target controls the focus position and attributes for the camera.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X Move along the local x-axis.
Position Y Move along the local y-axis.
Position Z Move along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading Rotate around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch Rotate around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank Rotate around the local z-axis.
Scale X Scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y Scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z Scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
TBC
Parameter Details Tracked Position X The X position of the tracked hardware.
Tracked Position Y The Y position of the tracked hardware.
Tracked Position Z The Z position of the tracked hardware.
Tracked Rotation X The X Rotation of the tracked hardware.
Tracked Rotation Y The Y Rotation of the tracked hardware.
Tracked Rotation Z The Z Rotation of the tracked hardware.
Tracked Timecode Timecode of the tracked hardware.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Near Clip The closest distance that will be rendered. WARNING: Reducing this value too low can reduce the accuracy of aspects of the render.
Far Clip The furthest distance that will be rendered by this camera. WARNING: Increasing this value too high, without increasing the Near Clip can reduce the accuracy of aspects of the renderer. Generally best left untouched.
Camera Priority Change the priority of the camera. If two or more cameras have the same priority, the highest camera node in the nodegraph heirarchy is used.
Field Of View The FOV of the camera. NB: Only utilised when Override FOV is enabled.
FOV Offset Adds or Subtracts X degrees from the FOV reported by the tracking system. Used to create a ‘safety’.
Use Colour Data Use the NCAM colour data.
Use Depth Data Use the NCAM depth data for compositing.
Use Distort Data Use the NCAM distort data for warping.
Override FOV Override the camera FOV.
Rotation Order Specify the rotation order of the tracking coordinate system.
Lock Aspect Ratio Locks the aspect ratio of the camera to a defined ratio, as opposed to those inherited from the project settings.
Aspect Ratio Defines the ratio between the cameras width and height when Lock Aspect Ratio is enabled.
Overscan Amount Specify the overscan amount to ensure content fills the entire screen.
Control the Depth Of Field properties on the camera. Depth OF FIeld must be enabled on a Renderer Node to function.
Parameter Details Focus Mode Control how the camera chooses its focus method. Adding a focus target as a child to the camera overwrites this property.
Focal Plane Distance The distance from the camera that is sharp, when utilising Depth of Field. Requires a Depth of Field Post-FX node to be used.
Focal Bluriness How blurry the focal point is. Requires a Depth of Field Post-FX node to be used.
Focus Adaption Rate Controls how quickly the focus plane adapts to the new distance in auto mode.
Bokeh Shape control the shape used for generating a bokeh shapes in the depth of field
Blades If in polygon mode, set the number of blades used to generate the polygon.
Blade Rotation If in Polygon mode, Rotate the polygon shape.
Bokeh Image Select an image to use in Image mode.
Use Separate Near/Far Ranges When enabled, the new and far distance offsets are controlled seperately.
Focal Range The range around the focal plane that is sharp. Requires a Depth of Field Post-FX node to be used.
Near DOF Range Control the near range for the depth of field.
Far DOF Range Control the near range for the depth of field.
Use In Focus Area When enabled, control a range within the depth of field which isn’t affected by the blur.
In Focus Area Control the range for the in focus area.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | Move along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | Move along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | Move along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | Rotate around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | Rotate around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | Rotate around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | Scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | Scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | Scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
TBC
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Position X | The X position of the tracked hardware. |
| Tracked Position Y | The Y position of the tracked hardware. |
| Tracked Position Z | The Z position of the tracked hardware. |
| Tracked Rotation X | The X Rotation of the tracked hardware. |
| Tracked Rotation Y | The Y Rotation of the tracked hardware. |
| Tracked Rotation Z | The Z Rotation of the tracked hardware. |
| Tracked Timecode | Timecode of the tracked hardware. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Near Clip | The closest distance that will be rendered. WARNING: Reducing this value too low can reduce the accuracy of aspects of the render. |
| Far Clip | The furthest distance that will be rendered by this camera. WARNING: Increasing this value too high, without increasing the Near Clip can reduce the accuracy of aspects of the renderer. Generally best left untouched. |
| Camera Priority | Change the priority of the camera. If two or more cameras have the same priority, the highest camera node in the nodegraph heirarchy is used. |
| Field Of View | The FOV of the camera. NB: Only utilised when Override FOV is enabled. |
| FOV Offset | Adds or Subtracts X degrees from the FOV reported by the tracking system. Used to create a ‘safety’. |
| Use Colour Data | Use the NCAM colour data. |
| Use Depth Data | Use the NCAM depth data for compositing. |
| Use Distort Data | Use the NCAM distort data for warping. |
| Override FOV | Override the camera FOV. |
| Rotation Order | Specify the rotation order of the tracking coordinate system. |
| Lock Aspect Ratio | Locks the aspect ratio of the camera to a defined ratio, as opposed to those inherited from the project settings. |
| Aspect Ratio | Defines the ratio between the cameras width and height when Lock Aspect Ratio is enabled. |
| Overscan Amount | Specify the overscan amount to ensure content fills the entire screen. |
Control the Depth Of Field properties on the camera. Depth OF FIeld must be enabled on a Renderer Node to function.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Focus Mode | Control how the camera chooses its focus method. Adding a focus target as a child to the camera overwrites this property. |
| Focal Plane Distance | The distance from the camera that is sharp, when utilising Depth of Field. Requires a Depth of Field Post-FX node to be used. |
| Focal Bluriness | How blurry the focal point is. Requires a Depth of Field Post-FX node to be used. |
| Focus Adaption Rate | Controls how quickly the focus plane adapts to the new distance in auto mode. |
| Bokeh Shape | control the shape used for generating a bokeh shapes in the depth of field |
| Blades | If in polygon mode, set the number of blades used to generate the polygon. |
| Blade Rotation | If in Polygon mode, Rotate the polygon shape. |
| Bokeh Image | Select an image to use in Image mode. |
| Use Separate Near/Far Ranges | When enabled, the new and far distance offsets are controlled seperately. |
| Focal Range | The range around the focal plane that is sharp. Requires a Depth of Field Post-FX node to be used. |
| Near DOF Range | Control the near range for the depth of field. |
| Far DOF Range | Control the near range for the depth of field. |
| Use In Focus Area | When enabled, control a range within the depth of field which isn’t affected by the blur. |
| In Focus Area | Control the range for the in focus area. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Included Objects | Select nodes will be included in the final rendering from this camera. Once a node is connected, all unconnected nodes will be treated as excluded. | 3D Object |
| Excluded Objects | Select objects to be ignored by this camera. These objects will not be rendered, but will otherwise be generated and impact performance. Once a node is connected, all unconnected nodes will be treated as included. | 3D Object |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |
