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HELIX is in Early Access Preview. Some features and documentation may be non-functional or out of date.

How to Use Photo Mode#

Photo Mode lets you capture cinematic screenshots of your HELIX worlds with full control over the camera, filters, and visual effects.

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🎮 How to Enter Photo Mode#

  • Press F6 at any time to toggle Photo Mode.
  • Move with WASD.
  • Click + Drag Mouse to rotate the camera.
  • Bottom bar controls:
    • X → Take Photo
    • G → Open Album
    • Alt → Hide/Show Mouse
    • F → Free Camera
    • Tab→ Switch category
    • R → Reset value
    • H → Hide UI
    • Esc → Close Photo Mode

⚙️ Photo Mode Panels#

📷 Camera#

  • Field of View (FOV) – Adjust zoom and perspective
  • Roll – Tilt the camera sideways
  • Camera Distance – Control offset from the subject
  • Resolution – Set output resolution (default = screen resolution)

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💡 Display#

  • Brightness – Control exposure
  • Temperature – Adjust warmth/coolness (Kelvin scale)
  • Tint – Fine-tune color balance
  • Grid – Toggle reference grid
  • Hide Character – Remove your player model from the shot

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🎨 Filter#

  • Filter – Apply pre-set cinematic filters
  • Intensity – Adjust filter strength
  • Rendering – Switch rendering styles
  • Character Rotation – Rotate your character independently

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🌈 Color Grading#

  • Color Balance – Switch between Saturation, Contrast, Hue, etc.
  • Saturation Intensity – Control overall saturation
  • Red / Green / Blue – Fine-tune color channels

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🔍 Depth of Field#

  • Autofocus – Toggle automatic subject focus
  • Focus Distance – Manually set focus plane
  • Aperture (F-Stop) – Control background blur (lower = blurrier)
  • Sensor Width – Simulate different lens sizes

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✨ Screen Effects#

  • Chromatic Aberration – Lens edge color fringing
  • Aberration Offset – Adjust aberration shift
  • Sharpness – Control image clarity
  • Film Grain – Add cinematic noise
  • Vignette – Darken screen edges

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🖼️ Frames#

  • Frame – Add stylistic borders
  • Size – Adjust frame thickness
  • Red / Green / Blue – Tint the frame color

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  • Logo – Overlay a watermark/logo (e.g., HELIX)
  • Size – Adjust scale
  • Angle – Rotate logo
  • Horizontal / Vertical Alignment – Position logo

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🗂️ Album & Saved Screenshots#

All your screenshots are automatically stored in the Album:

  • Press G to open Album
  • Review your captured shots
  • Re-enter Photo Mode to take more

💾 Screenshots are also saved locally on your PC at: HELIX\SandboxGame\Screenshots

💡 Tips#

  • Use Free Camera (F) for cinematic angles
  • Combine Depth of Field + Color Grading for pro-looking shots
  • Hide UI (H) before final capture
  • Use the Album to keep your best collections organized

👉 With Photo Mode + Album + local saves, you can easily create, manage, and share high-quality screenshots of your HELIX worlds.

💡 Share Your Photos with the HELIX Community!#