Camera calibration is crucial for unlocking advanced features and achieving precise camera movements and focus. This process involves adjusting your camera's settings to ensure it operates correctly within our ecosystem, affecting pan, tilt, and zoom speeds, along with focal and zoom calibration. This article will guide you through the calibration process, explain its importance, and provide tips for successful calibration.
Why calibrate your camera?
While you can still use the Joystick and basic camera functions without calibrating your camera, Calibration unlocks several key features designed to enhance the functionality and control of your camera. These features include:
Auto Tracking
Click to Center
Cine Center
Cine Frame
Fast Frame
Joystick or Zoom Tools Control
How to Calibrate/Recalibrate Your Camera
The process typically takes between 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the camera model. Follow these steps to complete the calibration process.
Accessing Calibration Settings: Navigate to the advanced settings of your camera by clicking the settings icon on the source card or double-clicking the source card and selecting "Calibrate."
Initiating Calibration: Upon accessing the advanced settings, locate and press the "Calibrate" button at the top. A modal will appear with tips and tricks for successful calibration.
Calibration Process: After starting the calibration, your camera will undergo a routine encompassing pan, tilt, and zoom speed adjustments, focal calibration, and zoom calibration. A progress indicator will display the completion percentage.
Completion: Once calibration reaches 100%, the settings are automatically saved, and you won't need to recalibrate unless necessary.
Tips and Best Practices:
Ensure the camera is pointing at a scene with various details or visual objects.
Avoid pointing the camera at a blank wall or scenery with fewer details.
Do not walk in front of the camera during the calibration process.
Ensure the camera has enough detail to distinguish between objects at its maximum zoom distance.
Zoom the camera to its full distance and find an area with lots of detail before starting the calibration.
Calibration Failures
If calibration fails, the system is designed to provide you with options to address the issue and complete the calibration successfully. Here’s what happens and the steps you can take:
Retry Calibration: The system will allow you to retry the calibration process. If the calibration failed at a certain percentage, say 50%, when you retry, it will only need to complete the remaining steps, not start from scratch. This feature saves time and focuses on resolving the specific issues that caused the failure.
Use a Generic Driver: If recalibrating isn't an option due to the environment or if it fails repeatedly, you have the option to use a generic driver. This generic calibration uses a combination of preset inputs, such as the zoom range of your camera and some initial values that might have been captured during previous attempts. While this won’t provide a calibration that’s 100% tailored to your specific camera and environment, it enables you to use most of the platform's features and tools until you can recalibrate your camera in a more suitable setting.
Environment and Scene Adjustment: Calibration success heavily depends on the environment and the scene the camera is pointed at during the process. If calibration fails, consider adjusting the scene to include more details or ensure it has enough variation and light. Avoid pointing the camera at blank walls or scenes with minimal contrast or features. Also, ensure no movement in front of the camera, such as people walking by, as it can disrupt the calibration process.
Zoom and Focus Details: Make sure that at its maximum zoom, the camera still captures a scene with enough detail for the calibration to work. This might require adjusting the camera's position or choosing a different scene altogether.
Contact Support: If you're unable to resolve the calibration issues through the above steps, reaching out to support is a recommended course of action. The support team can provide additional tips, guidance, or even remote assistance to ensure successful calibration.
Key Points to Remember
One-Time Process: Calibration is generally a one-time requirement per camera but can be redone if needed.
Pre-Calibrated Sources: Some sources might already be calibrated by us, indicated by a warning symbol or icon in the source tray and advanced settings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need to recalibrate my camera frequently?
No, once calibrated, your camera should not need recalibration unless there are significant changes to the camera's environment or setup.
What happens if calibration fails?
If calibration fails, you can retry the process. The system will attempt to complete the calibration from the point of failure.
Can I use my camera while it's being calibrated?
It's best not to use the camera during calibration to ensure the process is not interrupted.
What if my camera cannot be calibrated in my current environment?
You can use a generic driver as a temporary solution until you can recalibrate your camera in a more suitable environment.
How can I tell if my camera is properly calibrated?
Successful calibration is indicated by the completion of the process to 100% and the availability of advanced features like auto-tracking.
Camera calibration is essential for using advanced features and ensuring accurate camera control. By following the step-by-step guide and tips provided in this article, you can successfully calibrate your camera and take full advantage of the software capabilities. If you encounter any issues, don't hesitate to reach out to support for assistance. For further assistance, reach out to our support team for calibration help and tips.