How to Create Animated Flythroughs of 3D Models in Agisoft Metashape

Agisoft Metashape is widely known for its photogrammetry capabilities, but many users don’t realize it also includes basic animation tools. With the camera track feature, you can create professional-looking flythrough animations directly within Metashape, ideal for presentations, reports, or online showcases.

Why Create 3D Flythroughs?

Animated flythroughs add life to your 3D models. Whether you’re working in architecture, archaeology, land surveying, or construction monitoring, animated videos can:

Showcase terrain or object models from various angles
Guide stakeholders through a specific inspection path
Visually explain model features in online portfolios or client meetings
Create promotional content or instructional visuals

Step 1: Prepare Your 3D Model

Before creating an animation, make sure your model is complete:

Generate a textured 3D model or DEM
Ensure all chunks are aligned and merged (if needed)
Use shaded or textured display mode for best visual output
Optionally, simplify the mesh or texture resolution for smoother performance

Step 2: Enable Animation Tools

Metashape’s animation toolbar is hidden by default. To activate it:

Go to View → Animation → Show Animation Panel
The animation track will appear at the bottom of your screen

Step 3: Create Keyframes for Camera Movement

Flythroughs are created by moving the camera between “keyframes”—camera positions that define your path.

Rotate, pan, or zoom to your desired first view
Click “Add Frame” in the animation toolbar to save that view
Move the camera to a new position, then click “Add Frame” again
Repeat to build a full camera path

You can adjust the timing between frames or delete/reorder them if needed. The transition between keyframes is smooth and interpolated automatically.

Step 4: Preview Your Animation

Click the Play button in the animation panel to preview the motion. You can pause, scrub through the timeline, or tweak camera angles to refine the flow.

Step 5: Export the Flythrough as a Video

Once your camera path is ready, export the animation as a video:

Go to File → Export → Export Animation
Choose format: MP4, AVI, or MOV
Select resolution (e.g., 1920×1080 for Full HD)
Set frame rate (recommended: 24–30 FPS)
Define output duration (e.g., 15–60 seconds)

Rendering may take a few minutes, depending on model complexity and output resolution.

Tips for Better Results

Use textured view for more realistic animations
Keep the camera steady with smooth transitions between frames
Highlight important features by zooming or rotating around them
Test different paths to find the most cinematic route

Bonus: Export Camera Path to Blender or After Effects

Want more control or post-production effects? You can export the animation camera path:

Go to Tools → Export → Export Cameras
Choose format: FBX or Alembic for compatibility with 3D apps
Import into Blender, After Effects, or Unity for enhanced rendering and overlays

Common Use Cases

Archaeology: Fly over excavation sites or ruins
Construction: Showcase building progress or site layout
Tourism & Culture: Promote landmarks with virtual tours
Surveying: Walk clients through terrain or DEM models

Conclusion

Creating 3D flythrough animations in Agisoft Metashape is easier than you think. With just a few keyframes and exports, you can transform your 3D models into engaging visual stories. Whether you’re presenting to a client, publishing online, or archiving for research, animations are a powerful way to showcase your photogrammetry work.