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Aim Camera and Target

Lock the camera onto a moving subject so it stays in frame even when the subject travels through the scene.

A camera with a target object stays pointed at that object as the subject moves. Set the target once; the camera tracks across the shot's animation timeline. The right tool for car follow-shots, character tracking, and any scenario where the camera should stay locked on a moving point.

Build mode with the aim target widget placed on a chair in a busy outdoor cafe scene. The target appears as a crosshair anchored to the chair's position, with the picture-in-picture overhead view in the top-left

What it does

Authoring camera tracking by hand means setting a rotation keyframe every frame the subject moves – tedious, error-prone, and a hassle to adjust. Aim Camera and Target replaces the per-frame rotation work with a single binding: this camera follows that object. Move the subject, change the subject's animation, swap the subject for a different one – the camera continues to point at whatever object is bound as the target.

How to use it

The flow crosses both Build and Compose modes. Place the target in Build, bind the camera in Compose.

1

Drop an aim target on the subject (Build mode)

In Build mode, position the aim target on the object you want the camera to follow. The target shows as a crosshair anchored to the object's position. Use the picture-in-picture overhead view to verify exact placement; the target is precise enough that off-by-a-bit becomes off-by-a-lot at long focal lengths.

Top-down framing of the cafe scene with the aim target's wireframe selection widget visible on the chair, surrounded by other props. Use this view to position the target precisely
2

Switch to Compose and open the shot

Switch to Compose mode and add a shot (or pick an existing one). The shot's camera is what's about to get bound to the target.

3

Bind the camera to the target

With the shot active, bind the camera to the aim target placed in Build. The camera rotates to point at it; if the target animates within the shot's timeline, the camera tracks live.

Compose mode with the camera locked on the chair as the subject. As the camera moves through the cafe, it stays pointed at the target without manual rotation keyframes
4

Scrub to verify

Scrub the shot's animation timeline. The camera follows the target through every keyframe – no per-frame rotation work needed.

When to reach for it

  • Vehicle follow shots. A car moving through a scene with the camera tracking it from a parallel position. Set the car as the target; move the camera position over time; the camera stays pointed at the car.

  • Character tracking. A character walking through a set, camera following at a respectful distance. Same pattern.

  • Object hand-offs. A character throws a ball; the camera follows the ball. Set the ball as target, the camera tracks the throw arc automatically.

When not to reach for it:

  • Static framings. A locked-off shot doesn't need a target – just point the camera and don't animate it.

  • Hyper-specific framings that need to drift off-target on purpose. Aim and Target locks the camera on; if you want the camera to deliberately wander off, animate the camera's rotation directly without a target binding.

Limits and known issues

  • Targets are object-level, not bone-level. You can target a character, but you can't target the character's face specifically. The camera aims at the character's pivot, which is usually near the hips. Adjust the offset to push the framing toward the head.

  • Multiple targets aren't supported. A single camera can have one target at a time. For "follow A, then transition to follow B" you'd use two shots, each with its own target binding.

  • Target swaps don't animate. Changing the target mid-shot causes a snap rather than a smooth transition. To transition between subjects, use two shots.

Related

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