Reducing the video resolution (the number of pixels captured per 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. Only the resolution's vertical height can be reduced; the width is unaffected. 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® 2KS-C and 2KS-M 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 Analog Gain allows adjusting the camera's gain. Increased gain allows capturing dark scenes, but at the expense of decreased image quality (increased random noise); Whenever possible, increase illumination or increase exposure instead of increasing gain.
The Exposure allows adjusting the camera's exposure (shutter) period.
The Number of AOIs, and AOI 1 Top, AOI 1 Height through AOI 8 Top, AOI 8 Height allow selecting one or more areas of interest which are read-out and captured. Capturing fewer lines decreases the image size, and also allows a faster frame rate. Up to eight areas of interest of different heights are allowed, but can't overlap vertically.
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.
The Controlled Frame Rate, Trigger Input, Continuous, and Single Shot provide frame rate and triggering control through the PIXCI® E8CAM frame grabber.
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, or exposure, or both, 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 using both gain and exposure adjustments, theAGC Adjusts Gain AGC Adjusts Exposure
allows selecting whether 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.AGC Adjust Priority
to enable AGC.AGC On