Prime Color Camera Setup: Camera Settings
An overview of properties unique to the Prime Color Camera series.
Overview
Listed in their own category in the Devices pane, Prime Color Cameras are configured in the same manner as other OptiTrack tracking cameras.
Select a camera in the Devices pane to view its Properties in the Properties pane.
For an overview of settings applicable to all OptiTrack cameras, please see the page Properties Pane: Camera.
Color Camera Properties
Resolution
Default: 1920 x 1080
This property sets the resolution of the images captured by the selected camera.
You may need to reduce the maximum frame rate to accommodate the additional data produced by recording at higher resolutions. The table below shows the maximum allowed frame rates for each respective resolution setting.
| Resolution | Max Frame rate |
|---|---|
960 x 540 (540p) | 500 FPS |
1280 x 720 (720p) | 360 FPS |
1920 x 1080 (1080p) | 250 FPS |
Compression Mode
Default: Constant Bit Rate.
This property determines how much the captured images will be compressed.
Constant Bit-Rate
In the Constant Bit-Rate mode, Prime Color cameras vary the degree of image compression to match the data transmission rate given under the Bit Rate settings. At a higher bit-rate setting, the captured image will be compressed less. At a lower bit-rate setting, the captured image will be compressed more to meet the given data transfer rate. Compression artifacts may be introduced if it is set too low.
The Constant Bit-Rate mode is used by default and is recommended because it is easier to control the data transfer rate and efficiently utilizes the available network bandwidth.
Variable Bit-Rate
The Variable Bit-Rate setting keeps the amount of the compression constant and allows the data transfer rate to vary. This mode is beneficial when capturing images with objects that have detailed textures because it keeps the amount of compression consistent on all frames. However, this mode may also cause dropped frames if the camera needs to compress highly detailed images, spiking the data transfer rate, which may overflow the network bandwidth as a result. For this reason, we recommend using the Constant Bit-Rate setting in most applications.
Compression
The compression property sets the percentage (100%) of the maximum data transmission speed to allocate for the camera.
Bit-rate
Default: 30 MB/s
Available only while using Constant Bit-rate Mode
The bit-rate setting determines the selected color camera's output transmission rate.
The maximum data transmission speed that a Prime color camera can output is 100 megabytes per second (MB/s). At this setting, the camera will capture the best quality image, however, it could overload the network if there isn't enough bandwidth to handle the transmitted data.
Since the bit-rate controls the rate of data each color camera outputs, this is one of the most important settings to adjust when configuring the system.
When a system is experiencing 2D frame drops, one of the following system requirements is not being met:
Network bandwidth
CPU processing speed
RAM/disk memory
Decreasing the bit-rate in such cases may slow the data transmission speed of the color camera enough to resolve the problem.
Bit Rate and Image Quality
While the image quality increases at a higher bit-rate setting, this also results in larger file sizes and possible frame drops due to data bandwidth bottlenecks. The desired result may differ depending on the capture application and its intended use. The below graph illustrates how the image quality varies depending on the camera frame rate and bit-rate settings.
Tip: Monitoring data output from each camera
Gamma
Default : 28
Gamma correction is a non-linear amplification of the output image. The gamma setting will adjust the brightness of dark pixels, midtone pixels, and bright pixels differently, affecting both brightness and contrast of the image. Depending on the capture environment, especially with a dark background, you may need to adjust the gamma setting to get best quality images.
LED
Default: Off
When using the eStrobes to light the capture volume, the LED setting must be enabled on the Prime Color cameras to which the eStrobes are connected. Once enabled, the Prime Color camera will output the signals from its RCA sync output port, allowing the eStrobes to receive this signal and illuminate the LEDs.
Color Camera Presets
Presets for Color Cameras use standard settings to optimize for different outcomes based on file size and image quality. Calibration mode sets the appropriate video mode for the camera type in addition to other setting changes.
The optimal Bit Rate for each preset is calculated based on the master camera frame rate when the preset is selected. Lower bit rates result in smaller file sizes. Higher bit rates produce higher quality captures and result in larger file sizes.
Small Size - Lower Rate
Video Mode: Color Video
Rate Multiplier: 1/4 (or closest possible)
Exposure: 20000 (or max)
Bit Rate: [calculated]
Small Size - Full Rate
Video Mode: Color Video
Rate Multiplier: x1
Exposure: 20000 (or max)
Bit Rate: [calculated]
Great Image
Video Mode: Color Video
Rate Multiplier: x1
Exposure: 20000 (or max)
Bit Rate: [calculated]
Calibration Mode
Video Mode:
FS Series: Object Mode
Non-FS Series: Color Object Mode
Rate Multiplier: x1
Exposure: 250
Bit Rate: N/A
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