About animating the view
When animating the ArcMap, ArcScene, and ArcGlobe view, the animation created is maintained within a map view track, camera track, and globe camera track, respectively.
Reasons to animate the view are as follows:
- To move the camera around a scene or globe
- To follow an object that is moving through a scene
- To pan or zoom in and out on a map
The simplest method, capturing perspective views, can be done quickly with any data. Another simple method is to record a navigation using the Fly tool in ArcScene or ArcGlobe. In ArcGlobe, you can also use the Walk tool. In ArcMap, you can use the Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Pan tools.
Learn how to create an animation by capturing perspective views
A more complex method is to create a flyby from a path, defined by selected line features or graphics. This method requires specific types of data in the display but can provide a more visually appealing animation.
Learn how to create an animation where the camera or map view moves along a path
Alternatively, you can use the Create Animation Keyframes dialog box to create keyframes. By moving through a scene or globe or zooming in and out or panning a map, then creating a keyframe, you can create a camera track or a map view track.
Learn more about creating keyframes of camera or map view properties
In ArcGIS, you view your map, scene, or globe through a viewer.
The view in ArcScene and ArcGlobe
In ArcScene and ArcGlobe, the viewer is also the camera. A camera's orientation is defined by two points, the observer and the target. The camera's location is defined by the observer property, and the center of your view is defined by the target property. The camera can be oriented in different angles from the same observer by setting properties, such as the inclination, azimuth, and roll angle.
Imagine what you see is what the camera sees. As you navigate through a view, you are actually moving the observer in conjunction with the target. If you set a new target on the data, that point on the data is shifted to the center of your view. There is only one camera, observer, and target set in any viewer. Familiarizing yourself with the camera, observer, and target will help you gain a better understanding of animation.
The view in ArcMap
In ArcMap, the view is the portion of your data that is visible in the display. It can be animated by altering its extent using the Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Pan tools on the Tools toolbar for each keyframe in a map view track.
Learn about camera and map view properties that can be animated
Learn about playing different camera tracks in different viewers
Animating the view
There are five ways to create a camera track in ArcScene or ArcGlobe and a map view track in ArcMap: