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FAQ: Cameras & Animation ​

Frequently asked questions about cameras, camera paths, and animations in iJewel Playground.

How do I import a camera path from Blender?
  1. Create your camera animation in Blender with keyframes
  2. Bake the animation — constraints and drivers don't export to GLTF format
  3. Export as GLB with cameras enabled (check the camera option in Blender's GLTF export dialog)
  4. Drop the GLB file into Playground
  5. Go to Scene → Cameras (Loaded), select your camera, and click Activate Main
  6. Play the animation with the GLTF Animation controls

See the full tutorial on the Cameras (Loaded) page.

My camera animation from Blender doesn't play. What's wrong?

The most common causes:

  1. The animation wasn't baked as keyframes — Blender constraints (Track To, Follow Path) don't export to GLTF
  2. The camera wasn't included in the GLTF export settings
  3. You haven't activated the camera — go to Scene → Cameras (Loaded), select it, and click Activate Main
  4. The animation player is paused — check the GLTF Animation controls
How do I align a Rhino/Matrix model with a Blender camera path?

Two approaches:

  1. Convert first: Export 3DM from Rhino → convert to GLB in Playground → edit in Blender (add camera animation) → export as GLB with animations → load into Playground
  2. Load separately: Export camera-only GLB from Blender, then drag both the 3DM model file and the camera GLB into Playground one by one
How do I create a turntable animation?

For a simple turntable, use the built-in turntable recording feature in Export → Video Export. You can set rotation speed, direction, and angle there.

For more complex turntable animations with custom speeds or easing, create the camera path in Blender and import it as described above.

Video Tutorial

Watch Perfect 360° Turntable In 2 Minutes for a quick guide on creating turntable animations.

How do I create a pendant animation?

Create the pendant swing/movement animation in Blender, export as GLB with animations, and load into Playground. You can then play the animation back and record it.

Video Tutorial

Watch the Pendant Animation tutorial for a complete walkthrough.

Can I create a shadow rotation animation (shadows moving around the model)?

Yes. The best approach is to create directional lights in Blender, animate them to rotate around the model while keeping the target on the jewelry, and export as GLB with animations. In Playground, this will appear as GLTF Animations that you can play back.

How do I save and reuse a camera position?

You can use Camera Views to save and switch between fixed camera angles. This is also useful for taking snapshots from specific positions. See the full Camera Views documentation for a step-by-step guide.

Video Tutorial

Watch the Camera Views tutorial for setting up and using saved camera positions.

You can also export camera settings as part of a scene preset. Go to the scene settings and use the Download Preset option from the three dots menu (⋯). This saves a JSON/VJSON file that includes camera position, rotation, and other settings. Drop this file back into Playground to restore the same camera angle.

How can I create an environment map rotation animation?

Playground supports environment map rotation animations. You can create them in the Animation tab using the environment rotation animation feature.

Video Tutorial

Watch the Environment Map Rotation Animation guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Can I use poses to set consistent angles across different models?

Poses are currently not saved between sessions. Each model has different proportions, so the same transform values (rotation/position) produce different results on different models. For consistent angles, use the camera position values instead — these are independent of the model and can be saved as presets.