Tutorial — Shot Designer

Shot Designer by Hollywood Camera Work is a powerhouse for directors and DPs, turning complex scene blocking into professional camera diagrams, animations, and shot lists in minutes. 1. The Core Canvas: Interaction & Blocking The app functions as a live canvas where you interact with objects through simple gestures: Menus: Tap any object to open its menu (indicated by a + sign) for advanced options. Rotation: Use the rotation handle to orient characters or cameras. You can add multiple rotations to insert turns, which automatically draw directional arrows. Copying: Long-press any object to instantly create a duplicate. Movement: To make a character walk, select "walk to" or "walk from" in their menu and tap the start and end points on the canvas. Refine paths by adding control points—just tap a walk arrow or long-press the path line. 2. Camera Work & Tracking Precision camera movement is the heart of the app: Tracks: Similar to character walking, use "track to/from" to create camera movements. Complex Paths: You can add multiple points to a track for curved or multi-point movements. Cameras will "snap" to existing tracks if you drag and drop them onto one. The 180-Degree Rule: Add an Axis Line between characters to help maintain your line of action. You can attach cameras to this line so they maintain their formation as you move your characters around the set. 3. Integrated Set & Lighting Design Instead of just a blank void, you can build or import your actual filming location: Wall Tool: Build floor plans with a simple tap. You can extrude new sections or add control points to create curved or sophisticated wall shapes. Openings: Doors and windows act as "negative objects" that automatically cut holes into your walls and stick to them when moved. Backgrounds: Import existing floor plans or location scouting photos as JPEGs to block directly on top of reality. Lighting: Use a library of professional lighting icons to create clear, readable diagrams for your crew. 4. Animation & The Timeline One of the most powerful features is the ability to animate your blocking : Scene Previsualization: Use the Timeline to set specific positions for actors and cameras at different times. Auto-Animation: The software automatically creates the movement between your keyframes, allowing you to watch the scene's progression in real-time. For a visual breakdown of getting your first scene started: Shot Designer Quick Start Tutorial Hollywood Camera Work YouTube• Oct 13, 2012 5. Automated Shot Lists & Storyboards As you build your diagram, Shot Designer is secretly writing your paperwork for you: Shot List: Every camera you place is added to a shot list. Tapping a shot in the list highlights it in the diagram. You can rearrange the list to change your shooting order. Storyboards: You can import storyboard frames and "attach" them to specific cameras. If you move the camera, the storyboard frame moves with it. Exporting: Pro users can export diagrams and shot lists as PDFs or Excel (CSV) files to share with the production team. To see how the shot list and diagram work together: Shot Designer Shot List Tutorial Hollywood Camera Work YouTube• Oct 13, 2012 Pro Tip: Scene Freezes If you want to experiment without losing your original plan, use Scene Freezes (Pro version). This creates a snapshot of your work, letting you explore new ideas and quickly revert back if the "bold new vision" doesn't pan out. Pro versions or a specific guide on lighting diagrams ? Main :: Shot Designer - Hollywood Camera Work

Mastering the Shot: A Beginner’s Guide to the Shot Designer Tool By [Your Name/Studio Name] Whether you are storyboarding a cinematic trailer, planning a stealth mission, or choreographing a complex multiplayer spawn system, visual clarity is king. This is where Shot Designer enters the chat. For those unfamiliar, Shot Designer (often used in conjunction with tools like ShotPro or similar cinematic planning software) is a digital tool used to create overhead diagrams, camera maps, and shot lists. It bridges the gap between a director’s vision and a level designer’s logic. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the core workflow of using Shot Designer to plan a simple three-shot action sequence. Step 1: The Canvas & The Character Open your Shot Designer project. You’ll be greeted by a 2D top-down grid.

Add your Actor: Drag the "Character" icon onto the grid. Label them (e.g., "Hero" or "NPC_01"). Set the Environment: Use the "Draw" tools to quickly sketch walls, cover, and objectives. Don’t worry about art fidelity—this is about blocking.

Pro Tip: Use different colors for different elevations. Red for high ground, blue for low ground. Step 2: Placing Your First Camera Instead of guessing where to put the camera, we place it logically. shot designer tutorial

Select the Camera icon from the toolbar. Click on the grid where the physical camera rig sits. Drag the arrow extending from the camera to point at your character.

You have now defined a "Shot." Notice how the tool automatically calculates the Focal Length (e.g., 35mm, 85mm) based on how wide you drag that arrow. A short arrow = Close up. A long arrow = Wide shot. Step 3: The 180-Degree Rule (And How the Tool Saves You) The most common mistake in visual storytelling is crossing the "Line of Action."

The Problem: If you place Camera A on one side of the actors and Camera B on the opposite side, the characters will appear to swap places on screen. The Solution: Shot Designer highlights the "Line" in red. As long as your cameras stay on the same side of that line, the edit will work perfectly. Shot Designer by Hollywood Camera Work is a

Move your second camera around. Watch the tool warn you if you cross the line. It’s like having a cinematographer looking over your shoulder. Step 4: Building the Shot List Diagramming is only half the power. Shot Designer exports data.

Go to List View . You will see a spreadsheet containing:

Shot Number (1, 2, 3) Camera Height (Low, Eye-level, High) Lens Size (24mm, 50mm) Duration (Est. seconds) Rotation: Use the rotation handle to orient characters

Add notes to each shot: "Camera pans right as hero draws weapon."

Step 5: Exporting to the Team A diagram on your hard drive is useless. You need to communicate.