Difference between revisions of "Camera view"

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{{Stub}}
 
{{Stub}}
There are up to four different '''camera views''' available, depending on the current location.
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There are several different '''camera views''' available in KSP, offering different perspectives from a virtual external camera pointed at the craft, [[kerbonaut]], or other item being controlled. Pressing the V key will cycle through the available camera views at any time.
  
 
== Free ==
 
== Free ==
 
[[File:Aeris_3A.png|thumb|Free view: [[Kerbin]] is on the bottom]]
 
[[File:Aeris_3A.png|thumb|Free view: [[Kerbin]] is on the bottom]]
The '''free''' camera view holds the orbited body always at the bottom. This makes controlling [[plane]]s easier.
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The '''free''' camera view positions the celestial body the craft is orbiting or resting on at the bottom of the screen and taking "up" to be a direction away from its surface. This is the recommended mode for controlling [[plane]]s.
  
 
== Orbital ==
 
== Orbital ==
 
[[File:Aeris_4A_in_orbit_2.png|thumb|Orbital view: Kerbin is on the right]]
 
[[File:Aeris_4A_in_orbit_2.png|thumb|Orbital view: Kerbin is on the right]]
The '''orbital''' camera view has always North at the top and South at the bottom. When a [[craft]] is in an (near) equatorial orbit the orbited body is always viewed from the side.
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The '''orbital''' camera view takes "up" to be towards the north pole of the body being orbited, which tends to place the body being orbited to the side of the craft on the same horizontal plane when the craft is near the equator. This mode is often the most comfortable when flying a spacecraft in orbit as it matches the camera behavior of the [[map view]].
  
 
== Chase ==
 
== Chase ==
The '''chase''' camera view is always relative to the craft. So if the craft is rotating, the camera does this too. For [[docking]] it is recommended to use this view, as the controls don't change.
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The '''chase''' camera view is relative to the craft itself and rotates along with it as its attitude changes; it may also be repositioned manually. "Up" for the chase cam is based on the orientation of the part the craft is currently being controlled from (usually the [[command module]]). This view can make [[docking]] much easier to perform without switching to docking controls.
  
 
== Auto ==
 
== Auto ==
The '''auto''' camera view switches automatically between the free and orbital view depending on the [[orbit]]. Usually at launch it is in the free view and as soon as the periapsis gets high enough it switches to the orbital view. It also switches back to the free view, when the periapsis gets to low. The minimum periapsis to switch to orbital view depends on the body:
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The '''auto''' camera view switches automatically between the free and orbital view depending on the craft's overall altitude. At launch the free view is used, but as soon as the periapsis gets high enough the camera switches to the orbital view (and back to the free view, when the periapsis gets to low). The minimum periapsis to switch to orbital view depends on the body:
 
{{Stub|section|The definitions for other bodies is missing. Maybe some bodies share similar definitions.}}
 
{{Stub|section|The definitions for other bodies is missing. Maybe some bodies share similar definitions.}}
 
* [[Kerbin]]: Periapsis is above 23&nbsp;km.<sup>[''verify'']</sup>
 
* [[Kerbin]]: Periapsis is above 23&nbsp;km.<sup>[''verify'']</sup>
 
* [[Mun]]: Periapsis is above the “sea level”.
 
* [[Mun]]: Periapsis is above the “sea level”.

Revision as of 18:44, 11 September 2013

This article is a stub. You can help KSP Wiki by expanding it.

There are several different camera views available in KSP, offering different perspectives from a virtual external camera pointed at the craft, kerbonaut, or other item being controlled. Pressing the V key will cycle through the available camera views at any time.

Free

Free view: Kerbin is on the bottom

The free camera view positions the celestial body the craft is orbiting or resting on at the bottom of the screen and taking "up" to be a direction away from its surface. This is the recommended mode for controlling planes.

Orbital

Orbital view: Kerbin is on the right

The orbital camera view takes "up" to be towards the north pole of the body being orbited, which tends to place the body being orbited to the side of the craft on the same horizontal plane when the craft is near the equator. This mode is often the most comfortable when flying a spacecraft in orbit as it matches the camera behavior of the map view.

Chase

The chase camera view is relative to the craft itself and rotates along with it as its attitude changes; it may also be repositioned manually. "Up" for the chase cam is based on the orientation of the part the craft is currently being controlled from (usually the command module). This view can make docking much easier to perform without switching to docking controls.

Auto

The auto camera view switches automatically between the free and orbital view depending on the craft's overall altitude. At launch the free view is used, but as soon as the periapsis gets high enough the camera switches to the orbital view (and back to the free view, when the periapsis gets to low). The minimum periapsis to switch to orbital view depends on the body:

This article is a stub. You can help KSP Wiki by expanding it.

section

  • Kerbin: Periapsis is above 23 km.[verify]
  • Mun: Periapsis is above the “sea level”.