Knowledge Base

Integrated Visualization

Note: This information is probably obsolete for EthoVision XT 19, since EthoVision XT no longer needs hardware acceleration. We keep it in the Help in the case you encounter this issue in EthoVision XT 17 or earlier.

This issue can occur in computers and laptops with two graphics cards, a primary (integrated) card and a secondary card (Graphics Processing Unit, or GPU), usually more advanced and powerful than the integrated one. The issue occurs when EthoVision XT uses a graphics card that is not given hardware acceleration.

Choose one of the two solutions. In either case the chosen card is given hardware acceleration.

Solution: Select the Integrated (Primary) Card for EthoVision XT

With this solution EthoVision XT uses the integrated card, which saves energy. You can choose that other programs use the secondary card, which requires more power.

• Method 1:
  • Open the settings for the secondary card. For example, NVIDIA Control Panel.
  • Under Manage 3D Settings, click Program Settings and click the Add button to add EthoVision XT.
  • From the list below 2. Select the preferred graphics processor for this program, select Integrated graphics. If the option is not available, follow Method 2 below.
• Method 2:
  • In Windows choose Settings. Next to Search, type graphics and press Enter. Choose Graphics Settings.
  • Click Graphics.
  • If EthoVision XT is not listed yet, under Add an app choose Desktop app, browse to the installation folder (default C:\Program Files\Noldus\EthoVision XT 19), select EthoVision.exe and click Add.
  • Click Options under EthoVision XT. In the Graphics Preference window, choose Power saving. Below this option you should see the name of the integrated graphics card. EthoVision XT will use this card to play back video.

Solution: Disable the Integrated Card in the Computer's BIOS

This solution has the disadvantage that the computer won't use the integrated graphics card, which saves energy compared with the secondary card. EthoVision XT will always use the secondary graphics card.

1. Shut down the computer and start it again. Enter the BIOS. This is usually done by pressing the F2, F12 or other keys when the first screen appears. See your PC's documentation for details.
2. Under Video, select Switchable graphics on the left, and de-select Enable Switchable Graphics, click Apply and exit the BIOS.
3. Now Windows only sees the secondary graphics card, which is given hardware acceleration. You can check that in the Windows Device Manager, under Display adapters.

The Camera Image Flickers

The underlying issue is that fluorescent and LED lighting cycles at a specific frequency, for example at 60 Hz in the US, and that frequency does not align with a frame rate of 25. Instead, use a frame rate of 30. Sometimes this is enough to resolve this issue.

If the problem persists, try the following:

1. The Exposure Time setting set in pylon Viewer or EthoVision XT is likely too low. To increase Exposure Time, see Adjust camera settings in EthoVision XT. Try something in the 4000–8000 range. If lighting is low in the room, go for a higher exposure or open the aperture of the lens.
2. If none of the above resolve the problem, then was your PC purchased from Noldus? If not, it may be insufficient to run EthoVision XT in some conditions. If you would like Noldus Support to review your PC specs, please Make a PC report for Support.

The Camera Image Lightens and Darkens

1. Check that in pylon Viewer under Acquisition Controls, Exposure Auto is set to Off.
2. Check that in pylon Viewer under Analog Controls, Gain Auto is set to Off.
3. Check that in pylon Viewer under Color Improvement Control, White Balance Auto is set to Off.
4. If none of the above resolve this, then check that your Exposure Time setting (in pylon Viewer under Acquisition Controls, or in EthoVision XT via Experiment Settings > click the camera button) is high enough (try 8000).

There Is Motion Blur in the Camera Image

The Exposure Time setting is likely too high, for example 20000 (microseconds) or higher.

1. See Adjust camera settings in EthoVision XT for how to reduce the camera's Exposure Time. The faster the subject, the lower the Exposure Time must be.
2. With a lower exposure time, the image becomes darker. You can compensate for this by increasing the lens' aperture or the camera Gain. For the latter, see Gain in Adjust camera settings in EthoVision XT.

The Camera Image Is Not in Focus

It does not matter how high the camera is mounted or whether you zoom in then focus — the image from the camera is always blurry.

The camera will not focus if the wrong type of lens is mounted:

• A C-mount lens on a CS-mount camera. The camera can be used but requires an adapter ring installed between the lens and camera.
• A CS-mount lens on a C-mount camera. In that case the camera and the lens are not compatible.

If the camera and lens have the same mount type, make sure this adapter ring has not been installed, as it will prevent correct focus.

If the solution above does not help, try resetting the camera. See Do a factory reset on the Basler GigE camera. When in doubt, contact Noldus Support.

The Camera Image Is Too Dark

This may be due to a few reasons:

• The Aperture ring on the camera lens is closed all the way.
• The Exposure Time of the camera is too low. See Adjust the camera exposure time.
• The Gain of the camera is too low. Note that if you increase the camera gain, noise also increases. See Adjust the camera gain.
• Some color cameras may have infrared block filters attached by default. In that case the IR light is blocked and the image looks dark. For Basler cameras, you can remove that filter. See Infrared-block filter.

My Video File Is Not Playing Correctly

Download and use the Gspot software to check that the video file contains header information. If a video lacks header information, playback may not be smooth in EthoVision XT.

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

We advise converting the video file to another format.

• Some MPEG-2 videos play back irregularly in the Track Editor and in the Integrated Visualization. In this case too, convert the video to another format.
• The following formats are not supported in EthoVision XT: WMV, Quick Time, FLV (YouTube), Xvid variants of the MPEG-4 format. See Video file formats.

Video Is Being Processed Poorly

Set the hardware acceleration to maximum. You can do this in the graphics card control panel.

A Black Bar Is Displayed When Zooming In to a Video File

This may happen in the Track Editor or in Integrated Visualization. When zooming in and the size or position of the video exceeds the total size of the graphic display, then on some computers the hardware acceleration needed for rendering the video will stop functioning, causing a (partially) black video. Contact Noldus Information Technology for a new video graphics card.

EthoVision XT Freezes When Playing a Video File

This may happen with MPEG-2 videos. Convert the video file to another format.

EthoVision XT Freezes in Live Video Mode

This occurs with one or more digital cameras connected simultaneously. Experience shows that the software does not freeze when you lower the resolution to e.g. 800x600.

Source: EthoVision XT 19 Help, Noldus Information Technology