5 Ways To Smooth Follow Camera 2d Unity Without Smooth Damp

Are you tired of your 2D Unity game camera following the player in a jerky and unnatural way? SmoothDamp is a great solution, but what if you want to achieve a smooth follow without using it? In this article, we will explore an alternative approach to create a custom camera follow script that delivers a seamless and cinematic camera movement, without relying on SmoothDamp.

Instead of using SmoothDamp, we will utilize the built-in Mathf.SmoothStep function, which provides a more efficient and customizable way to interpolate values over time. We will implement a custom script that gradually adjusts the camera’s position based on the player’s position, creating a smooth transition effect. This approach allows you to fine-tune the camera’s follow speed, acceleration, and damping, giving you complete control over the camera’s behavior.

Additionally, we will incorporate features such as camera offset, zoom, and rotation to enhance the camera’s functionality and create a more immersive experience for your players. By utilizing these techniques, you can elevate the visual quality of your 2D Unity game and provide a more polished and captivating gameplay experience.

Using Lerp for Position Interpolation

Linear interpolation (Lerp) is a simple but effective method for smoothing camera movement in 2D Unity games. Lerp gradually transitions the camera’s position from its current state to a target position over time. This creates a smooth and natural camera motion.

To implement Lerp for camera position interpolation, you can use the following steps:

1. Calculate the difference between the camera’s current position and the target position.
2. Multiply the difference by a smoothing factor to determine the amount of movement in each frame.
3. Add the movement value to the camera’s current position.

The smoothing factor determines how quickly the camera moves towards the target position. A higher smoothing factor results in a slower and smoother movement, while a lower smoothing factor results in a faster and more responsive movement.

Here’s an example of how to use Lerp for camera position interpolation in Unity C#:

Smoothdamp Alternative: Tweens and Bezier Curves

Tweens

Tweens, short for “in-betweening,” are a common technique in animation for creating smooth transitions between two or more keyframes. In Unity, we can use the DOTween library to create tweens, which provides a wide range of options for easing and interpolation methods.

To create a simple tween to move the camera smoothly, we can use the following code:

DOTween.To(() => camera.position, x => camera.position = x, targetPosition, duration);

Bezier Curves

Bezier curves are mathematical curves that define smooth paths through a series of control points. Unity provides the BezierPath class to represent and manipulate these curves.

To create a Bezier curve to follow, we can use the following code:

BezierPath path = new BezierPath();
path.SetControlPoint(0, startPosition);
path.SetControlPoint(1, controlPoint1);
path.SetControlPoint(2, controlPoint2);
path.SetControlPoint(3, endPosition);

Once the path is defined, we can use the BezierWalker class to follow the curve smoothly:

BezierWalker walker = new BezierWalker(path);
walker.speed = speed;
while (walker.t < 1)
{
    camera.position = walker.GetPointAtTime(walker.t);
    walker.t += Time.deltaTime;
}

Applying a Simple Spring Effect for Natural Dampening

To create a more natural dampening effect for the camera follow, we can apply a simple spring-like behavior to the camera’s position. This will cause the camera to gradually approach its target position, but with a slight “springiness” that adds a natural feel to the movement.

To implement this spring effect, we can use a damped spring equation:

“`
position = targetPosition – (targetPosition – position) * damping * timeStep
“`

Here, “position” is the current camera position, “targetPosition” is the target position that the camera is following, “damping” is a coefficient that controls the strength of the damping effect, and “timeStep” is the time elapsed since the last update.

The damping coefficient determines how quickly the camera will approach its target position. A higher damping coefficient will result in a faster convergence, while a lower damping coefficient will result in a slower convergence.

To implement this spring effect in Unity, we can use the following steps:

1. In the camera controller script, define a variable to store the current camera position.
2. In the `Update()` method, calculate the target camera position based on the target object’s position.
3. Apply the damped spring equation to update the camera position.
4. Assign a damping coefficient to control the strength of the dampening effect.
5. Below is an example of a simple spring effect applied to a camera follow in Unity:

“`csharp
using UnityEngine;

public class SpringCameraFollow : MonoBehaviour
{
public Transform target; // The target object to follow
public float damping = 0.5f; // The damping coefficient

private Vector3 cameraPosition; // The current camera position

void Update()
{
// Calculate the target camera position
Vector3 targetPosition = target.position + new Vector3(0, 0, -10);

// Apply the damped spring equation
cameraPosition = targetPosition – (targetPosition – cameraPosition) * damping * Time.deltaTime;

// Update the camera position
transform.position = cameraPosition;
}
}
“`

Utilizing Vector2.MoveTowards for Linear and Dampened Movement

Vector2.MoveTowards() is a useful in-built function that allows for smooth movement from one point to another. It takes three parameters: the current position, the target position, and the speed at which to move. In the context of camera following, the current position is the camera’s position, the target position is the player’s position, and the speed determines how quickly the camera catches up to the player.

To implement a simple linear movement, use Vector2.MoveTowards() with a constant speed. This will cause the camera to move towards the player at a fixed rate, regardless of the distance between them. However, if the camera is far from the player, it may move too quickly and overshoot the target. To prevent this, it is recommended to use a dampened movement instead.

Dampened Movement Formula

Dampened movement uses a formula that takes into account the distance between the camera and the player and adjusts the speed accordingly. This formula is:

The dampening factor acts as a multiplier that is applied to the difference between the current position and the target position. A higher dampening factor results in a slower movement, while a lower dampening factor results in a faster movement. By adjusting the dampening factor appropriately, you can achieve a smooth and controlled camera movement that follows the player without overshooting or lagging behind.

Camera Controls in 2D Unity: Beyond Basic Smooth Damp

Enhancing your 2D Unity camera with smooth and responsive follow mechanisms is crucial for gameplay. While the built-in Smooth Damp method offers a solid foundation, exploring other techniques can unlock even greater precision and fluidity.

Leveraging the Cinemachine Plugin for Advanced Camera Control

The Cinemachine plugin is a powerful asset for Unity developers seeking to elevate their camera systems. This comprehensive plugin offers a slew of features, including:

// Calculate new position gradually
float t = Time.deltaTime / timeInterval;
cameraTransform.position += (targetPosition - cameraTransform.position) * t;