Target and Align to spline tags
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Hello,
I made my camera targetting a sphere, which is aligned to a spline.
To create a speed ramping I added a Ease Ease interpollation to the Align to spline animation (from 0% to 100%).
My issue is that my camera doesn't correctly target the ball, it follows it as if the Align to spline animation was linear, how can I do it please ?
Evann
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Hi Evann,
Could you share the file, please? Just the spline with the Sphere and the camera; nothing else is needed. This should work directly as a c4d attachment here. (if you use cloud services, Dropbox, Wetransfer, Apple, Adobe, or Google is OK; anything else I will not touch, please, no Tiny-URLs. Thank you.
Instead of guessing and making you look each time a new guess comes, this is easier.
It is unclear to me whether the Sphere needs to be always in view, or is your expectation that it slowly comes and then leaves?
All the best
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Hello,
Sorry, here is the file :
Target and Align to spline tags.c4d
I want the sphere to always be in the center, so I controlled the sphere animation interpollation to control the camera animation too. But the camera always follows the sphere animation as if it wasn't interpolated, it results as the sphere not always being in the center of the camera.
Thank you,
Evann
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Hi Evann,
Thanks for the file.
Here is your project file back.
I have transferred the Camera animation to a Null, which is then used in the Transform Constrain as a second source. The transition from one to the next is short, you can adjust it.
The Ease-Ease Curve is adjusted to get a nicer flow.
The Target tag was switched off at one point, making the camera "jump vertically."
I hope that helps
Cheers
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Oh okay thank you !
It is stupid, I desactivated the target tag to avoid the camera rotating at the end, but I adjusted some things and forgot to push that "disable" keyframe a little bit later in the timeline...
By the way when I just delete this keyframe on the original file why does the camera rotate ?
Target and Align to spline tags.c4d
And what's the point of transfering the camera animation to a null ?
Thanks !
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Hi Evann,
You have sent me the same file again with no changes.
Please note that the Coordinate system in Cinema 4D is Y for up and typically z along the front (or back view)
A "flipping" axis is typically based on a missing Up Vector. Note that you either have keyframes for animation or the Target Tag. If you use both, there might be problems. Hence, my shared setup of your file to separate those by mixing them in a Constrain Tag.
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2025/en-us/Default.htm#html/TTARGETEXPRESSION-ID_TAGPROPERTIES.html#TARGETEXPRESSIONTAG_UP_LINK
This is the Euler Problem – Angle
More about this is here:
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2025/en-us/Default.htm#html/54631.htmlIn a nutshell (simplified), the axis system will have two-axis matching, and the stability is gone.
My best wishes
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Oh sorry it maybe wasn't the file whithout the keyframe.
Okay I understand now, thank you very much for your clear informations !
Evann
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Thanks for the feedback, Evann.
Enjoy your project.
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Hello,
Today I tried to make it on my original scene, and something happens.
The transition from a target to the other in the constraint tag make the camera goes in another direction, do you know why ?
https://we.tl/t-QxxWCXTeny
(I will adjust the Ease-Ease Curve later)
Thanks,
Evann
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Hi Evann,
The Constrain Tag has the "Maintain Original Position" on. Switching it off will change everything as the transition to the sphere leaves the distance in it. Hence, it jumps up. This could be fixed with animated offset… However, it would then be a patch on a patch, etc.; nothing works when you are in an environment with tight deadlines. Keeping it simple would be my suggestion. I would avoid those combinations at all cost.
Is this a drill from your school (since it is an edu license?) If not, I suggest exploring Keyframes and F-Curve to animate a camera. This setup would not be in any training. It is hard to adjust. There are too many parts for this small move, and as you surely noticed, it doesn't work well.
The File feels like an older version, but it was set up in 2025. I'm not clear what the target is here. If it is for your school, then perhaps you must find out it is a convoluted way of animating. Ask your instructor; perhaps that is the solution. I think at that point, it is clear and not a spoiler anymore.
Here is a file with the camera, which has just a few keyframes. Use the File> Merge option to load it.
CV4_2025_drs_24_ANia_21.c4dThis can be easily adjusted and Art directed.
If that is your workflow, here is my suggestion: use all these different ways to create motion and get familiar with Cappucino to bake each keyframe.
Then copy and paste the position and Rotation channels to the object.
Explore the Key-reducer
https://help.maxon.net/c4d/2025/en-us/Default.htm#html/Key_Reducer.html?TocPath=Animate%257CTimeline%257CMenu%257CFunctions%257C_____8
And other options in the F-Curve. The F-Curve is, from my point of view, the essential tool for camera animation, and it gives you the most power and art direct ability.
There might be areas where you see jumps between copied parts, which are easy to fix with the "Spline" Handles.All the best
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Ok thank you very much !
It is a 2025 file from 2 weeks ago that I made with some others for a school project.
I wanted to try this way but I will animate the camera manually it will be simpler !
Thank you, have a great day
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Hi Evann,
Thanks for the reply. I'm always cautious with edu files, as I do not want to interfere with the instructor's curriculum. But if you explore it with others, that is no longer a problem for me, and I'm wide open to sharing.
I have extended this text above a bit to give some more ideas on how to do it.
Perhaps even explore the Animation System. Or the "Camera Morph".
Either way, if you know more options, you have a wider range to pick from.
Remember that F-Curves are a bit abstract at first, but once you get the muscle memory for it, I'm sure it will quickly deliver what you love.
If you have more questions about it, please always feel free to ask. Please use a new thread in the forum for new ideas and questions.
I'm happy to look into it and share whatever I can.
Enjoy
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Thank you very much !
I was pretty free on this project so it doesn't interfere, on the contrary your advices help me!
I will maybe see you in other threads in the future.
Enjoy too !
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You're very welcome, Evann.
Yes, please ask when something isn't working as you like to have it, etc.
Thank you very much for your reply
Enjoy
