Top Down View

Top-Down View

Overview

The Top-Down View in ACT 3 AI provides a 2D, bird’s-eye layout of your production set. It’s designed to help you plan camera placement, actor movement, lighting, and prop positioning before or during production. This tool links directly to your script, storyboards, and timeline in the Editor Workspace.

Key Features

• 2D Map Interface: Plan every scene from an overhead perspective.
• Drag-and-Drop Placement: Move digital actors, props, cameras, and lights.
• Path Drawing: Create paths for actor movement or camera motion.
• Set Zones: Define specific areas (e.g., “living room,” “street corner”) for scene blocking.
• Integration with 3D Tools: Export to Blender or other software for advanced set design.

How to Use

1. Open your project in the Editor Workspace.
2. Switch one of the columns to Top-Down View.
3. Select a scene or shot to visualize.
4. Drag elements from the asset library:
   1. Actors
   2. Props
   3. Cameras
   4. Lights
5. Adjust their position, rotation, and scale.
6. Save your layout — it will be linked to the current shot.

Camera & Actor Tools

• Camera Tools:
  • Select lenses (wide, telephoto, macro)
  • Set height and tilt
  • Draw camera movement paths
• Actor Tools:
  • Position and rotate actors
  • Assign facial expressions or poses
  • Sync with digital actor models

Lighting Controls

• Add light sources (spotlights, softboxes, ambient light).
• Adjust intensity, color temperature, and spread.
• Mark lighting cues for different shots.

Export & Import

• Export layouts to:
  • Blender (for full 3D scene work)
  • FBX/OBJ (for import into other 3D tools)
• Import existing set designs for editing.

AI Assistance

• Use AI Wizard to auto-place cameras and actors based on your script.
• Generate layout suggestions for action-heavy sequences.
• Get AI-optimized blocking for minimal scene clutter.

Collaboration

• Multiple users can work in Top-Down View at the same time.
• Add inline comments to specific objects.
• Lock elements once approved to prevent accidental changes.

Tips for Best Results

• Keep the scene layout simple — clutter can distract during planning.
• Color-code props, actors, and cameras for quick identification.
• Save multiple layout versions for different takes.

Troubleshooting

• Objects not appearing → Check layer visibility settings.
• Actor not linked to shot → Drag actor icon to the target shot in outline panel.
• Camera path not rendering → Ensure path is saved before switching views.

See Also

• Storyboard & Panels
• Script Editor
• Editor Workspace
• Digital Actors
• AI Wizard
• Google Veo 3 Integration
• Runway Integration
• WAN AI Integration
• Build Video

Contact Us if you have any problems using our product, or if you have questions.