Knowledge Base

Camera Settings

Configuring the GigE Camera in Pylon Viewer

If you will be using multiple GigE cameras in EthoVision XT at the same time and in the same experiment, you need to configure each camera and they must all have the same settings. Remember to save the settings for each camera.

You will know when your camera settings are optimal when there are no Missing Samples or Interpolated Samples in EthoVision XT.

All of the settings below can also be done in EthoVision XT, but they then only apply to that one experiment, as the settings are not stored in the camera drivers. It is strongly recommended to apply these settings in Pylon Viewer rather than in EthoVision XT to ensure that the settings are stored in the driver for future experiments.

The settings described below are stored in the digital camera, not in EthoVision XT. When working with multiple cameras, repeat the procedure for each camera.

Do not use the Pylon Viewer software to record video. Always use EthoVision XT or Media Recorder.

The most common adjustments you may need to make include:

• Camera gain: Increasing the gain will brighten the image.
• Pixel format: Change this setting if you have a color camera that is giving only a black and white image.
• Center the camera: Change this setting if the image appears to be off to one side, not centered in front of the camera.
• White balance: Use this setting to correct an image with a color cast. It can especially help when using color marking in EthoVision.
• Camera exposure time: Increasing exposure will brighten the image, but too high an exposure results in a high proportion of missed samples, gaps in the track, and potentially trials ending prematurely.

General Procedure

1. Make sure EthoVision XT and Media Recorder, if present on the computer, are not running.
2. Start the Basler Pylon Viewer software that comes with the camera. The Basler Pylon Viewer software is installed automatically when you install the camera drivers.
3. Choose Tools, then Options, and check that the User level is set to Expert or Guru.
4. In the Devices panel, double-click the item Basler under GigE or USB depending on the camera you have.
5. To preview the camera image, click the Continuous Shot button on the toolbar. Do not use the Record button to record video. This creates very large files. Always use EthoVision XT.
6. Under Features, open the Basler GigE camera chosen in the previous step and choose the settings you would like to change. Follow the instructions in the subsections below that apply. To be able to adjust the settings, click the Stop button first.
7. Save the settings as described in the Save Camera Settings section below.

Adjusting Camera Gain

This applies to both color and black and white Basler cameras. Increasing the gain will brighten the image.

Increasing gain also increases image noise. Only increase gain if no other option is available to improve image brightness. For example, first make sure that the lens aperture is at maximum, and that lighting is adequate.

1. In the Features panel, click Analog Control.
2. From the Gain Auto list, select Off.
3. Next to Gain (Raw), select the value you require. A higher Gain results in a brighter image but also more noise and a grainy image. This value is typically low, often no higher than 2. Use Exposure to brighten the image further if needed.
4. Save the settings as described in the Save Camera Settings section below.

Setting the Pixel Format

1. Under Image Format Controls, locate Pixel Format and select the appropriate option from the drop-down list:
   • Select Mono8 for black and white (monochrome) cameras.
   • Select Bayer RG 8 for color cameras.
2. Save the settings as described in the Save Camera Settings section below.

To identify which camera you have, look at the model number on the camera. It will look something like acA1300-60xx:

• Where xx = gm, the camera is black and white (monochrome).
• Where xx = gmNIR, the camera is black and white (monochrome) with Near Infrared.
• Where xx = gc, the camera is a color camera.
• All DanioVision units come with a black and white (monochrome) camera.

Centering the Camera

This procedure ensures the camera view is centered.

If you center the camera view in EthoVision XT, the settings are not stored in the camera drivers. Setting this in Pylon Viewer ensures the settings are stored in the drivers for future experiments.

1. In the Features panel, open the Basler camera item and then the AOI Controls item.
2. Select both options Center X and Center Y. If you bought your GigE camera elsewhere or from Noldus but did not buy a PC at the same time, also set Width to 1280 and Height to 960.
3. Save the settings as described in the Save Camera Settings section below.

Adjusting White Balance

If you have a color camera, you also need to adjust its white balance.

1. Click Color Improvements Control.
2. Point the camera at a piece of white paper so that the camera image is entirely white. Click in the field next to Balance White Auto and select Once from the list.
3. Save the settings as described in the Save Camera Settings section below.

Adjusting Camera Exposure Time

The exposure time (or shutter time) is the time the camera shutter is kept open to let light in. The exposure time limits the maximum achievable frame rate. If the sum of the exposure time and the time needed for reading the chip (readout time) is greater than the time between consecutive video frames, the next frame may be dropped, resulting in a lower frame rate and missed samples during tracking.

You will apply the following settings via Acquisition Control:

• Exposure mode
• Exposure Auto
• Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz]
• Exposure Time (Abs) [us]

1. In the Features panel, open the Basler camera item and then double-click Acquisition Controls.
2. Set the Exposure mode to Timed.
3. Set the Exposure Auto to Off.
4. Set the Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz] to 25 or 30.
5. Set the Exposure Time (Abs) [us] by entering the exposure time you require in microseconds, then press Tab or click another field to confirm.
   • This value will vary between 2000 and 15,000 depending on your lighting needs and Gain setting.
   • For Zebrafish larvae, enter 4000 or 2000 depending on the video resolution chosen.
   • In all other cases, you may choose a higher value. Faster animals require shorter exposure times.
   • If using DanioVision with a GigE camera: if resolution in EthoVision is 1280 x 960, use an exposure time of 4000. If resolution is 640 x 480, use an exposure time of 2000. Use the highest resolution that allows all wells to be seen on screen in EthoVision.
   • The ideal range of exposure will likely be anywhere from 2000 to 10,000 depending on resolution, frame rate, and lighting.
   • If lighting in the room is low, you will likely need a higher exposure (try 8,000 up to as high as 15,000).
   • It is unlikely you will need anything above 20,000 as motion blur has been observed in rodents at this setting.
   • When tracking in IR with an NIR GigE camera, you may need an exposure setting around 30,000 in order to brighten the image enough for tracking in EthoVision.
6. To check that the exposure time is compatible with the chosen frame rate, click the Continuous Shot button on the toolbar. At the bottom of the live video window, locate the resulting frame rate. This should match the value set for Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz]. Noldus recommends 25 or 30.

   If the resulting frame rate is lower than the Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz], either lower the exposure time (this will make the video image darker; open the lens diaphragm to compensate), or lower the video resolution. Repeat until you see the expected frame rate.

   A higher exposure setting will result in a brighter image, while a lower exposure setting will result in a darker image. However, too-high exposure will result in dropped frames, and too-low exposure may result in an image that flickers or changes rapidly between light and dark. The brightness of the image will also be affected by the aperture setting on the lens and by the camera gain. When adjusting the camera lens, the aperture adjustment will be labeled Open-Close or O-C. Turning it towards Open will brighten the image, while Close will darken the image.

7. Save the settings as described in the Save Camera Settings section below.

Saving Camera Settings

If you have multiple GigE cameras, make sure to save the settings for each camera.

1. Click the Stop button.
2. In the Features panel, open the Configuration Sets item.
3. From the Configuration Set Selector list, select User Set 1.
4. Next to User Set Save, click Execute. The camera settings are now saved under User Set 1.
5. From the Default Startup Set list, select User Set 1. This means that the camera always starts with the settings contained in User Set 1.
6. Close Pylon Viewer.

These settings will be used each time you start up EthoVision XT.

You can also save different settings for the same camera in User Set 2 and User Set 3. Under Default Startup Set, select which set you want EthoVision to use.

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Source: EthoVision XT 17.5 - GigE Install and Setup