Video Settings

__prod_name can control the video settings of your capture device directly, there is no need for a separate calibration application. The video settings are shown as a section of the properties page when a video tracker is selected in the properties tree.

Video Settings Section


1. Capture Device Name This is the name of the capture device associated with this video tracker acquisition entity as it is reported to Windows. You may have more than one capture device with the same name, so the hardware ID is provided to uniquely identify the capture device.
2. Capture Device Hardware Identification This is a unique identification for the capture device associated with this video tracker acquisition entity. You may use this hardware ID to create video tracker acquisition entities in your configuration files.
3. Input Type The video selection drop down list is only available when __prod_name is not recording data. This selection will determine what connection your video camera is using to feed images to the computer. __prod_name supports the following connection types: If you select an input type that your capture device does not support, __prod_name will return this setting to its previous value.

SVideo Uses a 4 pin connection to transfer video signal. It gives better image quality than composite because it transmits luminance and color information on separate wires. The remaining two wires are ground.
GigE Uses an ethernet network connection to transfer video frames. GigE cameras are high-performance industrial cameras.
Composite Generally uses a coaxial wire with either a BNC or an RCA connection. Composite signals transmit all image information over a single wire. This results in a less accurate image than SVideo.
4. Video Format The video format selection drop down list is only available when __prod_name is not in acquisition mode. This selection will determine how the analog video signal is processed by the capture device. If you select a video format that is not supported by your capture card, __prod_name will return this setting to its previous value.

NTSC Uses NTS_M video formatting with 33ms frame intervals (30FPS). Used throughout North and South America, Japan, and Oceania
PAL Uses PAL_B video formatting with 40ms frame intervals (25FPS). Used throughout the rest of the world. Except in along the Mediterranean, where SECAM is used.
5. Resolution This setting specifies the dimensions of the video image (width x height). Only values that are returned by the capture card or camera are listed. Not all resolutions listed will work with all video settings. If you select a resolution that will not work with the current values of the other video settings, __prod_name will inform you that the resolution you selected will not work, and return the resolution to its previous value.
For GigE cameras, higher resolutions might require a decrease in frame rate. Changing the value of a resolution might therefore change the available frame rate.
6. Frame Rate This setting specifies the frame rate at wich the video images are captured. Not all cameras support a frame rate other than the default of 30. For some GigE cameras, the frame rate is dependent on the resolution. For higher resolutions, the maximum frame rate might be below that maximum supported by the camera. If you select a frame rate that will not work with the current values of the other video settings, __prod_name will inform you that the frame rate you selected will not work, and return the frame rate to its previous value.
6. Audio Input Volume
This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box.
7. Audio Monitor Mute
The audio signal coming in from the microphone can be muted by selecting the check box.
8 7 . Saturation Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Saturation refers to the intensity of a color signal. Adjusting this setting will increase/decrease the intensity of all color information evenly. If a signal is more red than blue or green, increasing saturation will show more of an effect on the red component than any other component. If the color enable control is turned off, the saturation setting will have no effect on the image. Saturation is sometimes referred toascolor. This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
9 8 . Hue Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Hue control will adjust all the colors in the signal according to the following formula . Where σ is saturation, μ is brightness, R is the RGB color value and φ is hue. This adjustment essentially skews the image towards green (lower values) or violet (higher values). Hue is sometimes referred to as tint. This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
10 9 . Contrast Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Contrast adjustment will intensify the boundaries between different luminance values. Increasing the contrast will make those boundaries more distinct, while decreasing contrast will tend to give the image a more muted look. This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
11 10 . Brightness Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Brightness adjustment will increase the values of the RGB signals in the color evenly, shifting the image towards white (high values) or black(low values). This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
12 11 . Sharpness Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Sharpness dictates the number of pixels to use for color transitions. When an image switches between two distinct colors abruptly (say red and black), the video signal attempts to smooth that transition by adjusting a few pixels on the boundary of the color change. Adjusting the sharpness will either increase (lower values) or decrease (higher values) the number of pixels used for this transition. This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
13 12 . Gamma Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Gamma adjustment is an attempt to linearize the power-law relationship between the encoded luminance and actual desired brightness. If the actual source luminance is L, gamma will adjust the luminance encoded by the capture card to L^(1/gamma). This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
14 13 . White Balance Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Adjusts the perception of True White . Since video is an analog signal, the capture device cannot exactly replicate the true colors being captured. Adjustment of the white balance will change the value of True White , so that whenever a pure white image is shown to the camera, it will be processed with the True White encoded value. All other colors that are processed will be adjusted according to True White . This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
15 14 . Backlight Compensation Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Backlight compensation is an attempt by the capture device to filter out unwanted backlighting. This is not supported by most capture devices. This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.
16 15 . Gain Setting This setting can be adjusted by either moving the slider right (for higher values) or left (for lower values), or by typing a value between 0 and 100 into the entry box. Any values entered greater than 100 will automatically be changed to 100. Increasing the gain will increase the value of the raw video signal by a DC offset. Most capture devices rely on the camera to perform this adjustment. This setting is not available if it is not supported by your capture card or camera.