What is Camera GripTools?

'Camera GripTools' is a real time motion capture plug-in for
Maxon CINEMA 4D.

With GripTools you can breathe life into virtual objects using a wide range of input devices in a simple and coherent user interface.
GripTools is the way to navigate and animate the 3D world in a natural and very intuitive way.

[ read more ]

The concept

The main concept is the use of 'Control Modes'. You choose a mode and the object will behave that way, no matter what input device you use.

Control can be split up in 3 Sections with 10 different "Modes":
(click the mode titles to read more!)

You can do all this in real time, with a surprising range of input devices and create stunning animations.

Camera grip simulation presets

Transport vehicle simulation presets

Object property control

All camera support systems have their own qualities. Camera GripTools can simulate the real world camera mounting systems:

	Handheld The Handheld mode gives you 6 degrees of freedom = total control over the object or camera in CINEMA 4D. You can assign hardware axes (Position X,Y,Z, Rotation heading, pitch, bank).
	Tripod The Tripod mode simulates a real world tripod; you can Pan & Tilt (and zoom) the object or camera in CINEMA 4D. By applying the Filter, you can finetune the motion just the way you want it, similar to the friction in a real tripod.
	Dolly With the Dolly mode you can move the object or camera in CINEMA 4D along 'rails' (a spline track). Additionally, you can Pan & Tilt and Zoom as well. Each axes (for example the object's position on the spline track) can be assigned to your hardware.
	Crane The Crane mode simulates everything to create real crane shots. You can rotate the crane arm. You can set the arm length. You can Pan & Tilt the camera attached to the crane. And you can even mount the whole crane on 'rails' (a CINEMA 4D spline track).

Moving a camera or an object in the 3D world has never been so easy.
GripTools simulates the typical motion of the basic vehicles:

	Helicopter The Helicopter mode gives an object or camera in CINEMA 4D the properties of a simple helicopter. You can turn, go up and down, and control the speed using any of your device axes.
	Airplane Have fun flying over your CINEMA 4D scene! The Airplane mode gives you control over the plane by pitching & banking, and speed. It's relatively easy to fly once you've found the right axes assignment and get a feeling of scale.
	Stuntplane Have fun flying over your CINEMA 4D scene! The Stuntplane mode works like the normal Airplane mode, but wihtout any angle limitations. You can make full rolls or loopings.
	Car The Car mode offeres a straightforward way to drive around your scene. You have control over speed and steering. Get that old steering wheel with pedals from the attic!
	Flying platform Did you ever had the feeling, checking the viewfinder and wishing you were able to float, just miraculously weightless? The Flying Platform makes this dream come true. Just use it as a 'vehicle' for a camera or other object. The axes are: left/right, forward/back and up/down. While the camera operator does another wonderful move, the grip flies the magic carpet. We find it very useful. The Platform has two operating modes. By applying the steady filter(default), the motion is relative. Switching off the 'Steady' filters, or using the 'Exponential' filter, the position becomes absolute. By tuning the axes ranges with the slider in the TopDisplay, you can scale the motion to the scene.

With Camera GripTools you can animate properties of objects, like the intensity or the color of light. Or the size of a balloon, or the effect of deformers, or physics parameters or...

We call it the 'Custom Mode'. Click here to read all about the new Custom Mode!

The user interface

The user interface is where the data from the Xtensions is channeled to the controlled objects. Within one simple interface you have easy access to all connected input hardware and modifiers, at once and in real-time.

The Xtensions

The GripTools Xtensions are the tunnels between your input devices and the unified GripTools User Interface.

Available Xtensions:

	Supports devices	Platform
iXplorer	The iPhone using the iXplorer App
HID	Joysticks, game controllers, steering wheels and more
MIDI	General MIDI devices, high resolution fader support for BCF2000
TrackIR	Naturalpoint TrackIR (6 D.O.F. tracker)

Custom	Tailor made hardware interface solutions

(click for more info)

What is Camera GripTools?

The concept

Camera grip simulation presets

Transport vehicle simulation presets

Object property control

The user interface

The Xtensions

Available Xtensions:

Supports devices

Platform

iXplorer

HID

MIDI

TrackIR

Custom