Q:How do I insure good image performance?
‧A:
To
obtain high quality images from a camera, a few basic rules apply.
These rules are equally applicable to network cameras as they are to
any other type of camera. Here are some simple tips for capturing good
images.
-- Use lots of light
The
most common reason for poor quality images is a lack of light.
Generally, the more light, the better the images. With too little
light, the images will become blurred and dull in color. Professional
photographers always use strong lamps.
Lux is
the standard unit for measurement for light. The table shows how much
light you can get in different kinds of conditions.
Environment
|
lux
|
Strong sunlight
|
100,000
|
Full daylight
|
10,000
|
Normal office light
|
500
|
Poorly lit room
|
100
|
At
least 200 lux is needed to capture good quality images. A high-quality
camera might be specified to work down to 1 lux. This means you can
capture an image at 1 lux; not that you will get a good image at 1 lux.
Different manufacturers use different references when they specify the
light sensitivity, which makes it hard to compare cameras without
looking at captured images.
-- Avoid back light
Bright
areas in the images should be avoided. Bright images might become
overexposed (bright white) and objects can then appear too dark. This
problem typically occurs when attempting to capture an object from
behind a window.
-- Reduce the contrast
A
camera adjusts the exposure to obtain an average level of light in the
image. When trying to capture an image of a person standing in front of
a white wall, the person generally tends to appear too dark. This
problem is easily solved by substituting the background color for gray
instead of white.
Article ID: 132, Created: July 14, 2009 at 1:40 PM, Modified: July 14, 2009 at 1:40 PM