Reducing the video resolution (the number of pixels captured per line and column) allows capturing more video frames in a given size of frame buffer memory. From the PIXCI® Image Viewer, click:
Click:Capture Adjustments Res(olution)
and draw the new desired area to be captured by left clicking and dragging over the displayed image. Click:Set Video Window
to accept the new capture resolution. Note: Changing the capture resolution will destroy any images previously captured in the frame buffers!OK
The
shows the number of frame buffers available with the current selections.Capt(ure) Frame Buffers
The selections under the PIXCI® Image Viewer:
are automatically saved when the PIXCI® frame grabber is closed, and/or XCAP is exited. When the PIXCI® frame grabber is next opened, clicking (from the XCAP Main Window):Adjustments
Choose:PIXCI® PIXCI® Open/Close Camera & Format
to use the previous video setup, or choose:Open w. last used Video Setup
to start afresh with the default video format and resolution.Open w. default Video Setup
XCAP integrates controls for both the PIXCI® frame grabber and the SILICON VIDEO® 10C6, 10M6, 10C-CL, 10M-CL cameras within the Capture & Adjust window. The left side of the Capture & Adjust window contains controls for the PIXCI® frame grabber. The right side of the Capture & Adjust window provides camera specific controls.
The Gain allows adjusting the camera's gain. Increased gain allows capturing dark scenes, but at the expense of slightly decreased image quality (increased random noise); Whenever possible, increase illumination or increase exposure instead of increasing gain. The Digital Gain allows adjusting the camera's post A-D digital gain.
The Exposure allows adjusting the camera's exposure (shutter) period. When using AC powered lighting, an Exposure which is a multiple of half of the power line's period (i.e. 16.6/2 msec. in the U.S. and other locations using 60 Hz, 20.0/2 msec. in Europe and other locations using 50 Hz) is suggested to prevent varying image brightness due to the illumination's cyclical change of brightness. Selecting Exp. Mult. of 1/50 or Exp. Mult. of 1/60 automatically forces the Exposure to a multiple of the corresponding period.
The Scan Direction allows adjusting the direction in which pixels are read-out, allowing inversion or mirroring of the image.
The AOI Left, AOI Width, AOI Top, and AOI Height allow selecting an area of interest which is read-out and captured. Capturing fewer columns or fewer lines decreases the image size and allows a faster frame rate. If Center Aoi L(eft)-R(ight) or Center Aoi T(op)-B(ottom) is selected, the AOI Left or AOI Top, respectively, is automatically adjusted so as to center the capture AOI, the AOI Width or AOI Height, within the camera's field of view.
The Subsampling allows selecting subsampling (decimation) of the AOI by a factor of ×2 or ×4 horizontally and by a factor of ×2, ×4, ×8, ×16, or ×32 vertically, producing an image of lower resolution with smaller size, and allowing a faster frame rate. The (Subsample) with Binning allows selecting whether the Subsampling uses averaging of pixels in each subsampled group rather than decimation, to reduce random noise. The (Subsample) with Binning is only available with a Subsampling selection of 2×2 or 4×4.
For SILICON VIDEO® 10C6 and 10M6, the Pixel Clock allows specifying the pixel clock rate. A faster pixel clock increases the allowable frame rate, but with reduced image quality (increased fixed pattern noise); a slower pixel clock increases the allowable exposure periods for longer integration and greater sensitivity. For SILICON VIDEO® 10C-CL and 10M-CL, the pixel clock frequency is fixed.
The Video Mode allows selecting Free-Run or Controlled GRRR (Global Reset, Rolling Readout) frame mode. In Free-Run mode the camera exposure and read-out is free-running; continuously exposing and sending frames to the frame grabber at a constant frame rate without need of a trigger. In Controlled GRRR (Global Reset, Rolling Readout) modes the Controlled Frame Rate, Continuous, and Single Shot provide frame rate and triggering control through the PIXCI® SI, SI1, SI2, or SI4 frame grabber. The Controlled GRRR (Global Reset, Rolling Readout) mode provides shorter delay from trigger to exposure, but expects use of strobed flash illumination.
The Strobe Mode and Strobe Period allows enabling an output strobe to synchronize a flash or other external device to the camera's exposure. The Strobe Polarity allows inverting the output strobe.
For most common conditions:Capture Adjustments Color (or Clr)
Cover the camera's lens and click:Customize
Finally point the camera at a white target (but preferably not a target using fluorescent brighteners) and click:Black Balance
White Balance
Select whether gain, digital gain, or exposure, or any combination, should be modified to darken a too-bright image or brighten a too-dark image:Capture Adjustments AGC
Using only gain adjustments avoids increased blur due to moving objects when exposure is increased. Using only exposure adjustments avoids increased pixel noise at high gain settings. If selecting more than one adjustment, theAGC Adjusts Gain AGC Adjusts Dig. Gain AGC Adjusts Exposure
allows selecting whether gain, digital gain, or exposure should be adjusted first for an image which is too dark (the opposite is done for an image which is too bright); again trading off image blur versus noise. Finally click:AGC Adjust Priority
to enable AGC.AGC On
For the SILICON VIDEO® 10M6 and 10M-CL monochrome cameras, unavoidable differences in the characteristics of the four taps, unique to each camera and sensor, may also cause the image to have a ''checkerboard'' or ''grainy'' appearance.
To enable software compensation for the most common, bright, unresponsive pixels, from the PIXCI® Image Viewer, click:
SelectCapture Adjustments FFC
Close the lens' aperture or install the lens cap. Click:Pixel Normalization: Offset
and selectExtract Offset Ref.
Normalization On
To also correct for the less common and less visible dark unresponsive pixels, instead select:
Close the lens' aperture or install the lens cap. Click:Pixel Normalization: Offset & Defect
Uncover and open the lens and point the camera at an even grey or white (but not saturated) target. Click:Extract Offset Ref.
and selectExtract Defect Ref.
Normalization On
For the SILICON VIDEO® 10M6 and 10M-CL monochrome cameras, to enable software compensation for the checkerboard or grainy appearance, Select:
Uncover and open the lens and point the camera at an even grey or white (but not saturated) target. Click:Pixel Normalization: Tap Balance
and selectExtract Balance Ref.
It may be difficult to arrange for the entire camera's field of view to be ''flat''; use:Normalization On
to select a relatively flat portion of the image before tap balancing.Set Tap AOI
To select software compensation for bright, unresponsive pixels, dark unresponsive pixels, and checkerboard or grainy appearance, instead select:
Close the lens' aperture or install the lens cap. Click:Pixel Normalization: Offset & Gain & Defect
Uncover and open the lens and point the camera at flat grey or white target, with even illumination (but not saturated). Click:Extract Offset Ref.
and selectExtract Defect Ref. Extract Gain Ref.
Normalization On