Top Down View

Overview

The Top Down View in ACT 3 AI provides a bird’s-eye perspective of your scene. It allows creators to visualize Camera_Angles, character placement, and spatial blocking from above, ensuring precise staging for Shots and Scenes.

1. Purpose

• Plan camera positions relative to actors and environment
• Block out movement paths for Characters and Digital_Actors
• Prevent continuity errors by referencing a spatial map
• Support quick adjustments during storyboarding

2. Features

• Scene Layout Grid: View environment, props, and actor placement
• Camera Icons: Drag-and-drop camera positions with orientation arrows
• Character Tokens: Represent actors with labeled markers for clarity
• Multi-Camera Support: Display overlapping shots for comparison
• Path Tracing: Visualize walking, running, or action sequences

3. How to Use

1. Open the Editor and select **Top Down View** from the toolbar
2. Place characters on the layout using drag-and-drop tokens
3. Add cameras to define shot direction and focal length
4. Trace movement paths for Scenes and Shots
5. Sync adjustments with Timeline_&_Storyboard for preview

4. Benefits

• Quickly communicate staging to collaborators
• Combine with Lighting and Camera_Movement for full scene planning
• Saves credits by reducing the number of trial renders
• Creates a reference map for consistent visual continuity

5. Roadmap

• Auto-generate camera suggestions based on AI Wizard beats
• Integration with virtual cinematography for AI-assisted blocking
• Export top-down diagrams as PNG for presentations

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See also: Storyboard_Panels, Camera_Angles, Camera_Movement, Lighting, Scenes, Shots, Editor