Knowledge Base

Configure the Digital Camera

Aim: To adjust settings in a Basler GigE camera or USB 3.0 camera, like the video frame rate, video frame resolution, and exposure time, within the camera software.

• You can also change most of these settings within EthoVision XT. See Adjust Camera Settings in EthoVision XT.
• IMPORTANT: Do not use pylon Viewer to record video! Always use EthoVision XT or MediaRecorder.

Main Actions

• Procedure (General)
• Set the Video Resolution
• Set the Camera Frame Rate
• Center the Camera View
• Set the Pixel Format
• Adjust the Camera Exposure Time
• Adjust the Camera Gain
• Adjust the White Balance
• Save the Camera Settings
• Do a Factory Reset on the Basler GigE Camera

Procedure (General)

1. Make sure EthoVision XT (and MediaRecorder, when present on the computer) are not running.
2. In the Apps screen, choose Basler > pylon Viewer.
   pylon Viewer is installed only if you selected to install the Basler camera drivers during installation of EthoVision XT. See Install EthoVision XT.
3. From the Windows menu of pylon Viewer select Features - All.
4. In the Devices panel, double-click the item Basler under GigE or USB depending on the camera you have.
   If an error message Failed to download... appears, it is probably caused by the mismatch between IP addresses of camera and Ethernet interface. Adjust the IP addresses and when ready click the Refresh button in pylon Viewer. See Assign IP Addresses.
5. To preview the camera image, click the Continuous Shot button on the toolbar.
   IMPORTANT: Do not use the Record button if you want to record video! This creates very large files. Always use EthoVision XT to record video.
6. Under Features - All, expand the camera name and choose the settings category that you would like to adjust. See the instructions that apply in the following sections.
   NOTE: To be able to adjust the settings, click the Stop button first.
7. After you have adjusted the camera settings, save them under Configuration Sets. See Save the Camera Settings.
8. When working with multiple cameras, repeat the procedure for each camera.

Set the Video Resolution

1. In the Features panel, open the Basler camera item and then the AOI Controls item (Image Format Control for USB 3.0 cameras).
2. You can set the resolution by adjusting the Width and the Height.
   • Recommended: 1280 x 960 or 1280 x 1024.
   • When using multiple cameras you may need to limit the resolution, also depending on the frame rate and the tracking methods you intend to use. See suggestions for GigE cameras and USB 3.0 cameras.
3. Save the settings. See Save the Camera Settings.

Set the Camera Frame Rate

1. In the Features panel, under Category, open the camera item and then click Acquisition Controls.
2. Select Enable Acquisition Frame Rate.
3. Next to Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz], enter the frame rate you require (frames per second).
4. To check that the frame rate is stable, click the Continuous Shot button on the toolbar.
   Under the live video window, locate the resulting frame rate. This is the frame rate that the camera can sustain with the current settings. Check that this matches the value you have just set.
5. Save the camera settings.

Center the Camera View

Follow this procedure to make sure the camera view is centered. Alternatively, you can use part of the original camera image by operating the Offset controls.

1. In the Features panel, open the Basler camera item and then the AOI Controls item (Image Format Control for USB 3.0 cameras).
2. Select both options Center X and Center Y.
3. Save the camera settings.

NOTE: If you want to have the camera image off center, for example to focus on one region of interest, do the following in pylon Viewer:

1. Under Features > AOI Controls de-select Center X and Center Y.
2. Click the Stop button.
3. De-select Center X and/or Center Y.
4. If the Width and Height of the image are set to the maximum values, reduce those values so you have room for the offset adjustment (see below).
5. Move the X Offset and Y Offset sliders.
6. Click the Continuous Shot button and check the live camera view.
7. When you are satisfied with the new off-center camera view, save the camera settings. For more details, see the camera documentation.

Set the Pixel Format

Pixel format is the format in which video data sent out by the camera sensor is represented and analyzed by EthoVision XT.

1. Click the Stop button.
2. In the Features panel, under Category, open the camera item and then click Image Format Controls.
3. Select the Pixel Format:
   • For monochrome cameras, choose Mono 8.
   • For color cameras, choose Bayer RG 8. See also Settings for the Color Camera.

IMPORTANT: Mono 8 corresponds to the option Y800 in EthoVision XT. See Adjust Camera Settings in EthoVision XT > Format tab.

Source: EthoVision XT 19 Help, Noldus Information Technology