This tutorial comes with 2 max files, cam_tut_work.max, the raw file with the animation and cameras. This is the file to use for the tutorial.
The second file is cam_tut_done.max which is the project completed, to compare against if you have any problems. They can both be downloaded here (compressed zipfile 37k).

FIGURE 1



FIGURE 1

STEP 1
We start out with our initial scene (cam_tut_work.max) complete with 2 cameras (Figure 1). To render multiple cameras from within max we need to utilize Video Post.
In this animation we want frames 0-55 to be camera 1, 56-100 to be camera 2.

FIGURE 2



FIGURE 2

STEP 2
Bring up the Video Post dialog by going to the top menu Rendering/Video Post. We are presented with the dialog shown in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2A



FIGURE 2A

STEP 3
Next we must Add a Scene Event. This basically means we are adding an element from our max scene, be it a camera,viewport, file or animation. (Figure 2a.)

FIGURE 2B



FIGURE 2B

STEP 4
The Add Scene Event Dialog. (Figure 2b) Here we will declare which camera we will use for the initial segment* of the animation. The top drop down menu provides us with our available views. Select Camera1. Edit the Video Post Parameters on the bottom thusly: VP Start Time:0 VP End Time:55 Click OK.


FIGURE 2C



FIGURE 2C



STEP 5
Now we have our event in the queue with the sliders representing the active time. We now add camera 2 into the mix. With nothing selected in the event queue, click on the add scene event button again. (Figure 2C) Edit the dialog box so the View is Camera 2, and the VP Start/End time is 56 and 100 respectively. Click OK


FIGURE 3



FIGURE 3



STEP 6
Our Video Post setup is almost complete. The final step is to Add an Image Output Event; in essence this is declaring the file/files we are outputting. Without this step, the frames will be rendered but not saved. Again with nothing selected click Add Image Output Event.(Figure3) Add a label and click Files. You may now choose your output filetype as well as compression options for avi/mov formats. Make sure that the Video Post Parameters ranges from 0 to 100. This is the range of frames included in the Video Post queue.
Click OK.

FIGURE 4



FIGURE 4


STEP 7
The final step is to execute the Video Post queue and output the final render. The icon of the running man is the Execute Video Post Button. When clicked we are presented with the following dialog. (Figure 4). Here we may choose the range of frames to render as well as output size and other render options. The other render options (i.e. shadows etc.) are accessed through the standard render dialog.


NOTES:
This is a basic introduction to the functionality of Video Post. There are a myriad of other features that Video Post offers, you may use any number of cameras/views/files, as well as add filters to your anims
Video Post can also be used to composite individual frames into a single animation as well.
The settings in Video Post can be saved for future use, or use in other files. The Video Post settings are automatically saved along with the max file as well.

© 2001 This tutorial is copyright by Everflow Studios and may not be reproduced/distributed in any way/shape/form except for printing the pdf version for personal use only.