Introduction to Camera3D The Camera3D node defines the viewpoint from which the 3D scene is rendered. Understanding camera projections, positioning, and movement is essential for creating engaging 3D experiences.
Only one camera can be active per viewport. Cameras register in the nearest Viewport node when ascending the tree.
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:7
Basic Camera Setup var camera = Camera3D . new () add_child ( camera ) # Position the camera camera . position = Vector3 ( 0 , 5 , 10 ) # Make it look at a target camera . look_at ( Vector3 . ZERO , Vector3 . UP ) # Make it the active camera camera . make_current ()
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:72-75
Projection Types Godot supports three camera projection modes:
Perspective
Orthogonal
Frustum
The default projection where distant objects appear smaller (realistic 3D). camera . projection = Camera3D . PROJECTION_PERSPECTIVE camera . fov = 75.0 # Field of view in degrees camera . near = 0.05 camera . far = 4000.0
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:207-209, 186-192, 204-205, 183-184 No perspective distortion - objects stay the same size regardless of distance. camera . projection = Camera3D . PROJECTION_ORTHOGONAL camera . size = 10.0 # View size in world units camera . near = 0.05 camera . far = 4000.0
Useful for 2D-like 3D games (isometric, side-scrollers). See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:125-132, 210-211 Custom asymmetric frustum for advanced effects. camera . projection = Camera3D . PROJECTION_FRUSTUM camera . frustum_offset = Vector2 ( 2.0 , 1.0 )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:115-123, 194-196 Field of View (FOV) Controls how wide the camera can see in perspective mode:
# Vertical FOV (default: 75 degrees) camera . fov = 90.0 # Wider view camera . fov = 60.0 # Narrower view # Keep aspect determines if FOV is vertical or horizontal camera . keep_aspect = Camera3D . KEEP_HEIGHT # FOV is vertical (default) # or camera . keep_aspect = Camera3D . KEEP_WIDTH # FOV is horizontal
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:186-192, 201-202
The default 75° vertical FOV equals approximately:
91° horizontal in 4:3
102° horizontal in 16:10
108° horizontal in 16:9
122° horizontal in 21:9
Near and Far Planes Define the camera’s visible distance range:
# Near plane (closest visible distance) camera . near = 0.05 # Default camera . near = 0.1 # Reduce Z-fighting, less close-up detail # Far plane (farthest visible distance) camera . far = 4000.0 # Default camera . far = 1000.0 # Reduce for better depth precision
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:204-205, 183-184
Very small near values (below 0.05) can cause Z-fighting artifacts. Very large far values reduce depth buffer precision.
Making a Camera Active # Set as current camera camera . current = true # or camera . make_current () # Check if camera is active if camera . is_current (): print ( "This camera is rendering" ) # Deactivate this camera camera . clear_current ()
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:172-174, 72-75, 13-18
Camera Positioning Methods Using set_perspective # Set perspective mode with custom parameters camera . set_perspective ( 70.0 , 0.1 , 500.0 ) # Parameters: fov, near, far
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:135-142
Using set_orthogonal # Set orthogonal mode with custom parameters camera . set_orthogonal ( 20.0 , 0.1 , 500.0 ) # Parameters: size, near, far
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:125-132
Using set_frustum # Custom frustum for special effects camera . set_frustum ( 10.0 , Vector2 ( 1 , 0 ), 0.1 , 100.0 ) # Parameters: size, offset, near, far
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:115-123
Camera Offset Adjust the camera viewport without moving the camera:
# Horizontal offset camera . h_offset = 2.0 # Vertical offset camera . v_offset = 1.0
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:198-199, 213-214
Frustum and Culling Get Frustum Planes # Get the six frustum planes var planes = camera . get_frustum () # Returns: [near, far, left, top, right, bottom] for plane in planes : print ( "Plane normal: " , plane . normal )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:45-48
Cull Mask Control which visual layers the camera renders:
# Render all layers (default) camera . cull_mask = 0b11111111111111111111 # All 20 layers # Only render layer 1 camera . cull_mask = 0b00000001 # Render layers 1, 2, and 3 camera . cull_mask = 0b00000111 # Helper methods camera . set_cull_mask_value ( 1 , true ) # Enable layer 1 camera . set_cull_mask_value ( 2 , false ) # Disable layer 2 if camera . get_cull_mask_value ( 3 ): print ( "Layer 3 is visible" )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:166-170, 107-113, 38-42
Position Queries Check if Position is Behind Camera var world_point = Vector3 ( 10 , 0 , 5 ) if camera . is_position_behind ( world_point ): print ( "Point is behind camera" )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:57-62
Check if Position is in Frustum var world_point = Vector3 ( 10 , 0 , 5 ) if camera . is_position_in_frustum ( world_point ): print ( "Point is visible to camera" )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:65-69
Screen-World Conversions Project 3D to 2D (World to Screen) # Convert world position to screen coordinates var world_pos = Vector3 ( 5 , 2 , 0 ) var screen_pos = camera . unproject_position ( world_pos ) print ( "Screen position: " , screen_pos ) # Vector2 # Use with UI elements func _process ( delta ): var target_3d_pos = target . global_position if not camera . is_position_behind ( target_3d_pos ): label . visible = true label . position = camera . unproject_position ( target_3d_pos ) else : label . visible = false
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:144-156
Unproject 2D to 3D (Screen to World) # Get 3D world position from screen coordinates var screen_pos = get_viewport (). get_mouse_position () var world_pos = camera . project_position ( screen_pos , 10.0 ) print ( "World position at depth 10: " , world_pos )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:85-91
Ray Casting from Screen func _input ( event ): if event is InputEventMouseButton and event . pressed : var mouse_pos = event . position # Get ray origin and direction var ray_origin = camera . project_ray_origin ( mouse_pos ) var ray_direction = camera . project_ray_normal ( mouse_pos ) # Perform raycast var space_state = get_world_3d (). direct_space_state var query = PhysicsRayQueryParameters3D . create ( ray_origin , ray_origin + ray_direction * 1000 ) var result = space_state . intersect_ray ( query ) if result : print ( "Clicked on: " , result . collider )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:100-105, 93-98
Camera Attributes Customize exposure, DOF, and other effects:
# Create camera attributes var attributes = CameraAttributesPractical . new () # Auto exposure attributes . auto_exposure_enabled = true attributes . auto_exposure_speed = 0.5 # Depth of field attributes . dof_blur_far_enabled = true attributes . dof_blur_far_distance = 20.0 # Apply to camera camera . attributes = attributes
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:160-161
Environment Set custom environment for this camera:
var env = Environment . new () env . background_mode = Environment . BG_COLOR env . background_color = Color . SKY_BLUE camera . environment = env
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:180-181
Compositor Apply post-processing effects:
var compositor = Compositor . new () camera . compositor = compositor
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:163-164
Doppler Tracking Simulate doppler effect for audio:
# Enable doppler effect in _process camera . doppler_tracking = Camera3D . DOPPLER_TRACKING_IDLE_STEP # Or in _physics_process camera . doppler_tracking = Camera3D . DOPPLER_TRACKING_PHYSICS_STEP # Disable camera . doppler_tracking = Camera3D . DOPPLER_TRACKING_DISABLED
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:176-178
Camera Following Smooth camera following pattern:
extends Camera3D @export var target : Node3D @export var follow_speed := 5.0 @export var offset := Vector3 ( 0 , 5 , 10 ) func _process ( delta ): if not target : return # Calculate desired position var desired_pos = target . global_position + offset # Smoothly interpolate global_position = global_position . lerp ( desired_pos , follow_speed * delta ) # Look at target look_at ( target . global_position , Vector3 . UP )
Third-Person Camera Orbiting camera with mouse control:
extends Camera3D @export var target : Node3D @export var distance := 10.0 @export var min_distance := 2.0 @export var max_distance := 20.0 @export var mouse_sensitivity := 0.3 @export var scroll_sensitivity := 1.0 var rotation_x := 0.0 var rotation_y := 0.0 func _ready (): Input . mouse_mode = Input . MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED func _input ( event ): # Mouse look if event is InputEventMouseMotion : rotation_y -= event . relative . x * mouse_sensitivity * 0.01 rotation_x -= event . relative . y * mouse_sensitivity * 0.01 rotation_x = clamp ( rotation_x , - PI / 2 , PI / 2 ) # Zoom with scroll if event is InputEventMouseButton : if event . button_index == MOUSE_BUTTON_WHEEL_UP : distance = max ( min_distance , distance - scroll_sensitivity ) elif event . button_index == MOUSE_BUTTON_WHEEL_DOWN : distance = min ( max_distance , distance + scroll_sensitivity ) func _process ( delta ): if not target : return # Calculate camera position var offset = Vector3 . ZERO offset . x = cos ( rotation_y ) * cos ( rotation_x ) offset . y = sin ( rotation_x ) offset . z = sin ( rotation_y ) * cos ( rotation_x ) offset = offset . normalized () * distance global_position = target . global_position + offset look_at ( target . global_position , Vector3 . UP )
First-Person Camera Mouse-look FPS camera:
extends Camera3D @export var mouse_sensitivity := 0.3 var rotation_x := 0.0 var rotation_y := 0.0 func _ready (): Input . mouse_mode = Input . MOUSE_MODE_CAPTURED func _input ( event ): if event is InputEventMouseMotion : # Horizontal rotation (yaw) rotation_y -= event . relative . x * mouse_sensitivity * 0.01 # Vertical rotation (pitch) rotation_x -= event . relative . y * mouse_sensitivity * 0.01 rotation_x = clamp ( rotation_x , - PI / 2 , PI / 2 ) # Apply rotation rotation . y = rotation_y rotation . x = rotation_x
Split-Screen with Multiple Cameras Create split-screen multiplayer:
# Player 1 camera var camera1 = Camera3D . new () var viewport1 = SubViewport . new () viewport1 . size = Vector2 ( 960 , 540 ) # Half of 1920x1080 viewport1 . add_child ( camera1 ) camera1 . current = true # Player 2 camera var camera2 = Camera3D . new () var viewport2 = SubViewport . new () viewport2 . size = Vector2 ( 960 , 540 ) viewport2 . add_child ( camera2 ) camera2 . current = true # Display both viewports side by side var texture_rect1 = TextureRect . new () texture_rect1 . texture = viewport1 . get_texture () texture_rect1 . position = Vector2 ( 0 , 0 ) var texture_rect2 = TextureRect . new () texture_rect2 . texture = viewport2 . get_texture () texture_rect2 . position = Vector2 ( 960 , 0 )
Camera Shake Effect extends Camera3D var trauma := 0.0 var trauma_power := 2.0 var decay_rate := 1.0 var max_offset := Vector3 ( 2 , 2 , 2 ) var max_rotation := Vector3 ( 5 , 5 , 5 ) var noise := FastNoiseLite . new () var noise_speed := 50.0 var time := 0.0 func _ready (): noise . seed = randi () noise . noise_type = FastNoiseLite . TYPE_SIMPLEX func add_trauma ( amount : float ): trauma = min ( trauma + amount , 1.0 ) func _process ( delta ): time += delta # Decay trauma over time trauma = max ( trauma - decay_rate * delta , 0.0 ) if trauma > 0 : var shake = pow ( trauma , trauma_power ) # Offset h_offset = max_offset . x * shake * get_noise_value ( 0 ) v_offset = max_offset . y * shake * get_noise_value ( 1 ) # Rotation rotation_degrees . x = max_rotation . x * shake * get_noise_value ( 2 ) rotation_degrees . y = max_rotation . y * shake * get_noise_value ( 3 ) rotation_degrees . z = max_rotation . z * shake * get_noise_value ( 4 ) else : h_offset = 0 v_offset = 0 rotation_degrees = Vector3 . ZERO func get_noise_value ( offset : int ) -> float : return noise . get_noise_1d ( time * noise_speed + offset ) # Usage: camera.add_trauma(0.5)
Debugging Cameras # Get camera transform var cam_transform = camera . get_camera_transform () print ( "Camera position: " , cam_transform . origin ) print ( "Camera forward: " , - cam_transform . basis . z ) # Get projection matrix var projection = camera . get_camera_projection () print ( "Projection: " , projection ) # Get camera RID var camera_rid = camera . get_camera_rid () print ( "Camera RID: " , camera_rid )
See doc/classes/Camera3D.xml:32-35, 20-23, 26-29
Best Practices
Adjust Near/Far Carefully
Balance between Z-fighting and visible range: # For close-up scenes camera . near = 0.1 camera . far = 500.0 # For large outdoor scenes camera . near = 0.5 camera . far = 2000.0
Different FOV for different game types: # FPS games: 90-110 degrees camera . fov = 100.0 # Third-person: 70-80 degrees camera . fov = 75.0 # Cinematic: 40-60 degrees camera . fov = 50.0
Always interpolate camera movement: # Use lerp for smooth following global_position = global_position . lerp ( target_pos , speed * delta )
Check Position Visibility
Before positioning UI over 3D: if not camera . is_position_behind ( world_pos ): ui_element . position = camera . unproject_position ( world_pos )
Use Cull Masks for Performance
3D Overview 3D coordinate systems and Node3D
Viewport Understanding viewports
Environment Environments and post-processing
Input Handling Mouse and keyboard input
Resources 