Camera

new Camera()

The camera is defined by a position, orientation, and view frustum.

The orientation forms an orthonormal basis with a view, up and right = view x up unit vectors.

The viewing frustum is defined by 6 planes. Each plane is represented by a Cartesian4 object, where the x, y, and z components define the unit vector normal to the plane, and the w component is the distance of the plane from the origin/camera position.
Example:
// Create a camera looking down the negative z-axis, positioned at the origin,
// with a field of view of 60 degrees, and 1:1 aspect ratio.
var camera = new Cesium.Camera(scene);
camera.position = new Cesium.Cartesian3();
camera.direction = Cesium.Cartesian3.negate(Cesium.Cartesian3.UNIT_Z, new Cartesian3());
camera.up = Cesium.Cartesian3.clone(Cesium.Cartesian3.UNIT_Y);
camera.frustum.fovy = Cesium.Math.PI_OVER_THREE;
camera.frustum.near = 1.0;
camera.frustum.far = 2.0;
Demo:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 74

Members

constrainedAxis :Cartesian3

If set, the camera will not be able to rotate past this axis in either direction.
Default Value: undefined
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 192

defaultLookAmount :Number

The default amount to rotate the camera when an argument is not provided to the look methods.
Default Value: Math.PI / 60.0
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 172

defaultMoveAmount :Number

The default amount to move the camera when an argument is not provided to the move methods.
Default Value: 100000.0;
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 165

defaultRotateAmount :Number

The default amount to rotate the camera when an argument is not provided to the rotate methods.
Default Value: Math.PI / 3600.0
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 179

defaultZoomAmount :Number

The default amount to move the camera when an argument is not provided to the zoom methods.
Default Value: 100000.0;
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 186

direction :Cartesian3

The view direction of the camera.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 117

readonlydirectionWC :Cartesian3

Gets the view direction of the camera in world coordinates.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 586

frustum :Frustum

The region of space in view.
Default Value: PerspectiveFrustum()
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 155

heading :Number

Gets or sets the camera heading in radians.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 627

readonlyinverseTransform :Matrix4

Gets the inverse camera transform.
Default Value: Matrix4.IDENTITY
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 526

readonlyinverseViewMatrix :Matrix4

Gets the inverse view matrix.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 558

maximumTranslateFactor :Number

The factor multiplied by the the map size used to determine where to clamp the camera position when translating across the surface. The default is 1.5. Only valid for 2D and Columbus view.
Default Value: 1.5
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 199

maximumZoomFactor :Number

The factor multiplied by the the map size used to determine where to clamp the camera position when zooming out from the surface. The default is 2.5. Only valid for 2D.
Default Value: 2.5
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 206

position :Cartesian3

The position of the camera.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 105

readonlypositionWC :Cartesian3

Gets the position of the camera in world coordinates.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 572
The right direction of the camera.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 141

readonlyrightWC :Cartesian3

Gets the right direction of the camera in world coordinates.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 614

tilt :Number

Gets or sets the camera tilt in radians
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 660

transform :Matrix4

Modifies the camera's reference frame. The inverse of this transformation is appended to the view matrix.
Default Value: Matrix4.IDENTITY
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 90

up :Cartesian3

The up direction of the camera.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 130

readonlyupWC :Cartesian3

Gets the up direction of the camera in world coordinates.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 600

readonlyviewMatrix :Matrix4

Gets the view matrix.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 542

Methods

cameraToWorldCoordinates(cartesian, result) → Cartesian4

Transform a vector or point from the camera's reference frame to world coordinates.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian4 The vector or point to transform.
result Cartesian4 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector or point.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 810

cameraToWorldCoordinatesPoint(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3

Transform a point from the camera's reference frame to world coordinates.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The point to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed point.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 828

cameraToWorldCoordinatesVector(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3

Transform a vector from the camera's reference frame to world coordinates.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The vector to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 846

clone() → Camera

Returns a duplicate of a Camera instance.
Returns:
A new copy of the Camera instance.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 2036

flyTo(options)

Flies the camera from its current position to a new position.
Name Type Description
options Object Object with the following properties:
Name Type Default Description
destination Cartesian3 The final position of the camera in WGS84 (world) coordinates.
direction Cartesian3 optional The final direction of the camera in WGS84 (world) coordinates. By default, the direction will point towards the center of the frame in 3D and in the negative z direction in Columbus view or 2D.
up Cartesian3 optional The final up direction in WGS84 (world) coordinates. By default, the up direction will point towards local north in 3D and in the positive y direction in Columbus view or 2D.
duration Number 3.0 optional The duration of the flight in seconds.
complete function optional The function to execute when the flight is complete.
cancel function optional The function to execute if the flight is cancelled.
endTransform Matrix4 optional Transform matrix representing the reference frame the camera will be in when the flight is completed.
convert Boolean true optional When true, the destination is converted to the correct coordinate system for each scene mode. When false, the destination is expected to be in the correct coordinate system.
Throws:
  • DeveloperError : If either direction or up is given, then both are required.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 2011

flyToRectangle(options, endTransform)

Flies the camera from its current position to a position where the entire rectangle is visible.
Name Type Description
options Object Object with the following properties:
Name Type Default Description
destination Rectangle The rectangle to view, in WGS84 (world) coordinates, which determines the final position of the camera.
duration Number 3.0 optional The duration of the flight in seconds.
complete function optional The function to execute when the flight is complete.
cancel function optional The function to execute if the flight is cancelled.
endTransform Matrix4 optional Transform matrix representing the reference frame the camera will be in when the flight is completed.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 2026

getMagnitude() → Number

Gets the magnitude of the camera position. In 3D, this is the vector magnitude. In 2D and Columbus view, this is the distance to the map.
Returns:
The magnitude of the position.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1323

getPickRay(windowPosition, result) → Object

Create a ray from the camera position through the pixel at windowPosition in world coordinates.
Name Type Description
windowPosition Cartesian2 The x and y coordinates of a pixel.
result Ray optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
Returns the Cartesian3 position and direction of the ray.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1821

getRectangleCameraCoordinates(rectangle, result) → Cartesian3

Get the camera position needed to view an rectangle on an ellipsoid or map
Name Type Description
rectangle Rectangle The rectangle to view.
result Cartesian3 optional The camera position needed to view the rectangle
Returns:
The camera position needed to view the rectangle
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1639

look(axis, angle)

Rotate each of the camera's orientation vectors around axis by angle
Name Type Description
axis Cartesian3 The axis to rotate around.
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1045

lookAt(eye, target, up)

Sets the camera position and orientation with an eye position, target, and up vector. This method is not supported in 2D mode because there is only one direction to look.
Name Type Description
eye Cartesian3 The position of the camera.
target Cartesian3 The position to look at.
up Cartesian3 The up vector.
Throws:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1403

lookDown(amount)

Rotates the camera around its right vector by amount, in radians, in the opposite direction of its up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1027

lookLeft(amount)

Rotates the camera around its up vector by amount, in radians, in the opposite direction of its right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 988

lookRight(amount)

Rotates the camera around its up vector by amount, in radians, in the direction of its right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1001

lookUp(amount)

Rotates the camera around its right vector by amount, in radians, in the direction of its up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1014

move(direction, amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along direction.
Name Type Description
direction Cartesian3 The direction to move.
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 889

moveBackward(amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along the opposite direction of the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 925

moveDown(amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along the opposite direction of the camera's up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 950

moveForward(amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 912

moveLeft(amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along the opposite direction of the camera's right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 975

moveRight(amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along the camera's right vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 962

moveUp(amount)

Translates the camera's position by amount along the camera's up vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in meters, to move. Defaults to defaultMoveAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 937

pickEllipsoid(windowPosition, ellipsoid, result) → Cartesian3

Pick an ellipsoid or map.
Name Type Default Description
windowPosition Cartesian2 The x and y coordinates of a pixel.
ellipsoid Ellipsoid Ellipsoid.WGS84 optional The ellipsoid to pick.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
If the ellipsoid or map was picked, returns the point on the surface of the ellipsoid or map in world coordinates. If the ellipsoid or map was not picked, returns undefined.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1732

rotate(axis, angle, transform)

Rotates the camera around axis by angle. The distance of the camera's position to the center of the camera's reference frame remains the same.
Name Type Description
axis Cartesian3 The axis to rotate around given in world coordinates.
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
transform Matrix4 optional A transform to append to the camera transform before the rotation. Does not alter the camera's transform.
Example:
// Rotate about a point on the earth.
var center = ellipsoid.cartographicToCartesian(cartographic);
var transform = Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(center);
camera.rotate(axis, angle, transform);
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1127

rotateDown(angle, transform)

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle downwards.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
transform Matrix4 optional A transform to append to the camera transform before the rotation. Does not alter the camera's transform.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1155

rotateLeft(angle, transform)

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle to the left.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
transform Matrix4 optional A transform to append to the camera transform before the rotation. Does not alter the camera's transform.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1236

rotateRight(angle, transform)

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle to the right.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
transform Matrix4 optional A transform to append to the camera transform before the rotation. Does not alter the camera's transform.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1222

rotateUp(angle, transform)

Rotates the camera around the center of the camera's reference frame by angle upwards.
Name Type Description
angle Number optional The angle, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultRotateAmount.
transform Matrix4 optional A transform to append to the camera transform before the rotation. Does not alter the camera's transform.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1169

setPositionCartographic(cartographic)

Moves the camera to the provided cartographic position.
Name Type Description
cartographic Cartographic The new camera position.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1377

setTransform(transform)

Sets the camera's transform without changing the current view.
Name Type Description
transform Matrix4 The camera transform.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 734

twistLeft(amount)

Rotate the camera counter-clockwise around its direction vector by amount, in radians.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1072

twistRight(amount)

Rotate the camera clockwise around its direction vector by amount, in radians.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount, in radians, to rotate by. Defaults to defaultLookAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1084

viewRectangle(rectangle, ellipsoid)

View an rectangle on an ellipsoid or map.
Name Type Default Description
rectangle Rectangle The rectangle to view.
ellipsoid Ellipsoid Ellipsoid.WGS84 optional The ellipsoid to view.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1663

worldToCameraCoordinates(cartesian, result) → Cartesian4

Transform a vector or point from world coordinates to the camera's reference frame.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian4 The vector or point to transform.
result Cartesian4 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector or point.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 756

worldToCameraCoordinatesPoint(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3

Transform a point from world coordinates to the camera's reference frame.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The point to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed point.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 774

worldToCameraCoordinatesVector(cartesian, result) → Cartesian3

Transform a vector from world coordinates to the camera's reference frame.
Name Type Description
cartesian Cartesian3 The vector to transform.
result Cartesian3 optional The object onto which to store the result.
Returns:
The transformed vector.
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 792

zoomIn(amount)

Zooms amount along the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount to move. Defaults to defaultZoomAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1291

zoomOut(amount)

Zooms amount along the opposite direction of the camera's view vector.
Name Type Description
amount Number optional The amount to move. Defaults to defaultZoomAmount.
See:
Source: Scene/Camera.js, line 1308