stemstudio-camera

name	stemstudio-camera
description	Camera type, perspective, and configuration for Studio 3D. Use for camera type selection, FOV, clipping planes, and genre-appropriate camera setup.

StemStudio Camera

Use this skill for camera configuration and genre-appropriate camera setup.

Start Here

Read current camera settings before changing:

python scripts/get_editor_settings.py --category camera

The default scene camera is always named DefaultCamera. Use this name as --target unless the user has renamed it.

Critical Workflows

Find the camera in the scene

The default camera object name is "DefaultCamera". If you are unsure, verify with:

python ~/.claude/skills/stemstudio-scene/scripts/get_scene_objects.py --filter "DefaultCamera"
# If not found (user renamed the camera), retry without --filter and look for isCamera: true
python ~/.claude/skills/stemstudio-scene/scripts/get_scene_objects.py

Look for an object with isCamera: true in the result. Use that object's name as the --target for all camera commands.

Set camera type and properties

python scripts/set_camera_settings.py --target "DefaultCamera" --cameraType THIRD_PERSON --fov 60
python scripts/set_camera_settings.py --target "DefaultCamera" --cameraType FIRST_PERSON --headHeight 1.7
python scripts/set_camera_settings.py --target "DefaultCamera" --cameraType TOP_DOWN --defaultDistance 20
python scripts/set_camera_settings.py --target "DefaultCamera" --cameraType SIDE_SCROLLER --axis Z

Camera types: THIRD_PERSON, FIRST_PERSON, TOP_DOWN, SIDE_SCROLLER.

Adjust distance and clipping

python scripts/set_camera_settings.py --target "DefaultCamera" --defaultDistance 8 --minDistance 3 --maxDistance 15
python scripts/set_camera_settings.py --target "DefaultCamera" --near 0.1 --far 1000

Camera and character controller relationship

The camera is driven by the character controller behavior attached to the player object. The character behavior controls which object the camera follows and passes runtime options (animations, movement speeds, look speed) to the camera each frame.

The playable object must carry the object tag Player. When creating or repairing a player-controlled character, add the tag before depending on follow-camera behavior:

python ~/.claude/skills/stemstudio-objects/scripts/modify_object.py "Player" --tag Player

To modify the camera perspective (type, FOV, distances): use set_camera_settings targeting DefaultCamera.

To modify how the character moves and what the camera follows: use set_behavior_config targeting the character object with the character behavior. set_behavior_config requires a --behaviorId — never use a behavior name as a substitute. First inspect the player object and find the attached behavior's ID in its behavior data:

python ~/.claude/skills/stemstudio-scene/scripts/get_object.py --target "Player"
# Note the behaviorId of the 'character' behavior from the output

Then update its config:

python ~/.claude/skills/stemstudio-behaviors/scripts/set_behavior_config.py --target "Player" --behaviorId "BEHAVIOR_ID" --attributesData '{"lookSpeed":0.5}'

Key attributes:

• lookSpeed — camera rotation sensitivity (0–1)
• walkSpeed, runSpeed — movement speeds that affect camera follow feel

Do not try to detach or replace the character behavior to fix camera issues — modify its config instead.

Camera direction convention

Three.js right-handed: +X right, +Y up, -Z forward. The camera's local forward is -Z, so camera.getWorldDirection(v) returns the vector the camera is looking toward (already negated for you). When writing custom follow rigs, place the camera at target + offset where offset.z > 0 puts it behind the target. lookAt(x, y, z) takes a world-space point — no axis flip needed. See ~/.claude/stemstudio-docs/architecture.md "Coordinate Convention".

Genre-to-camera mapping

Genre	Camera Type	Key Settings
Platformer	SIDE_SCROLLER	axis='Z', defaultDistance=15
Racing	THIRD_PERSON	defaultDistance=10, fov=70
FPS/Shooter	FIRST_PERSON	headHeight=1.7, fov=75
Puzzle	TOP_DOWN	defaultDistance=20, fov=45
RPG/Adventure	THIRD_PERSON	defaultDistance=8, fov=60

Routing Guidance

Use this skill for:

• camera type selection (third-person, first-person, top-down, side-scroller)
• FOV, clipping planes, distance settings
• genre-appropriate camera configuration

Do not use this skill for:

• lighting, fog, or post-processing (stemstudio-atmosphere)
• game rules or rendering quality (stemstudio-project-settings)
• object placement or scene building (stemstudio-objects)

Verification

After camera changes:

python scripts/get_editor_settings.py --category camera

Common Mistakes

• using "PlayerCamera" as target — the correct default name is "DefaultCamera"
• forgetting to tag the playable object with Player before using character or camera-follow behavior
• trying to detach or replace the character behavior to fix camera issues — use set_behavior_config instead
• changing camera settings without considering the intended genre or control scheme
• setting first-person camera without adjusting headHeight
• using side-scroller camera without specifying the axis constraint

When To Read More

• Need camera configuration details: ~/.claude/stemstudio-docs/editor-settings.md
• Need exact command parameters: ~/.claude/stemstudio-docs/commands-reference.md

See Also

• stemstudio-behaviors for modifying character controller attributes (lookSpeed, walkSpeed, etc.)
• stemstudio-scene for listing scene objects and finding the camera by name
• stemstudio-atmosphere for lighting and mood that complements camera
• stemstudio-project-settings for rendering quality
• stemstudio-game-design for full game setup including camera