Crane Shot

Community

kevinbadi

crane-shot

Camera starts low and rises up to reveal the full product. Great for dramatic product reveals on a pedestal.

Overview

Publisher	kevinbadi
Repository	`blender-skills`
Skill name	`crane-shot`
Stars	215
Forks	24
Bundled files	Instructions only
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by kevinbadi on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Crane Shot AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/kevinbadi/blender-skills/tree/main/crane-shot
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/kevinbadi/blender-skills.git /tmp/blender-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/blender-skills/crane-shot .claude/skills/crane-shot

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Crane Shot in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Crane Shot on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Crane Shot is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Crane Shot Camera Animation

Camera begins at a low angle looking up at the product, then smoothly rises to reveal the full product from above. Creates a dramatic unveiling effect.

When to Use

User wants a "reveal" or "unveil" shot
User says "crane", "rise up", "low to high", "dramatic reveal"
Product on a pedestal or platform

Parameters

Parameter	Default	Description
`duration`	`5`	Video length in seconds
`fps`	`24`	Frames per second
`start_height`	`-0.2`	Starting height (below product level)
`end_height`	`3.5`	Ending height (above product)
`start_distance`	`3.0`	Starting distance
`end_distance`	`4.0`	Ending distance (pulls back as it rises)

Flow

Step 1: Set Up Camera

python
import bpy, math

bpy.ops.object.empty_add(type='PLAIN_AXES', location=(0, 0, 0.05))
tgt = bpy.context.active_object
tgt.name = 'CraneTarget'

bpy.ops.object.camera_add(location=(1.0, -START_DISTANCE, START_HEIGHT))
cam = bpy.context.active_object
cam.name = 'CraneCam'
cam.data.lens = 45

trk = cam.constraints.new(type='TRACK_TO')
trk.target = tgt
trk.track_axis = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'
trk.up_axis = 'UP_Y'

bpy.context.scene.camera = cam

Step 2: Animate Crane Movement

python
TOTAL_FRAMES = DURATION * FPS

scene = bpy.context.scene
scene.frame_start = 1
scene.frame_end = TOTAL_FRAMES
scene.render.fps = FPS

# Start low
cam.location = (1.0, -START_DISTANCE, START_HEIGHT)
cam.keyframe_insert(data_path='location', frame=1)
cam.data.lens = 45
cam.data.keyframe_insert(data_path='lens', frame=1)

# Rise up and pull back
cam.location = (1.5, -END_DISTANCE, END_HEIGHT)
cam.keyframe_insert(data_path='location', frame=TOTAL_FRAMES)
cam.data.lens = 35
cam.data.keyframe_insert(data_path='lens', frame=TOTAL_FRAMES)

# BEZIER for smooth crane motion

Step 3: Render + Encode

Same pipeline — Cycles, PNG sequence, ffmpeg ProRes 4444.

bash
ffmpeg -y -framerate 24 \
  -i "~/Desktop/Blender Videos/crane_frames/%04d.png" \
  -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 4444 -pix_fmt yuva444p10le \
  "~/Desktop/Blender Videos/crane_shot.mov"

Frequently asked questions

What does the Crane Shot AI skill do?

Camera starts low and rises up to reveal the full product. Great for dramatic product reveals on a pedestal.

Why use Crane Shot on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Crane Shot is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Crane Shot in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/kevinbadi/blender-skills/tree/main/crane-shot. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Crane Shot?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Crane Shot?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Crane Shot with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Crane Shot AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by kevinbadi. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Crane Shot Camera Animation

When to Use

Parameters

Flow

Step 1: Set Up Camera

Step 2: Animate Crane Movement

Step 3: Render + Encode

Frequently asked questions

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