The eCapture Pro Live View

The Live View in eCapture Pro is the primary interface for configuring, monitoring, and interacting with live camera streams. It allows users to group and manage cameras, adjust camera settings, and initiate pipeline execution for real-time image acquisition. A pipeline in eCapture Pro refers to the workflow for acquiring, processing, and saving image data from cameras. It includes all steps from camera configuration to data storage, enabling streamlined and automated data capture during high-speed imaging workflows.

Notes About Live View Preview Images:

• The Live View in eCapture Pro displays a low-resolution "preview" image to ensure smooth performance during real-time monitoring, while full-resolution images are streamed for processing and recording. This design balances responsiveness with usability, preventing performance issues caused by high-resolution streaming.
• Users can adjust the preview resolution via the Camera Display Settings button. However, higher resolutions may slow the application and are not recommended.
• Compared to previous eCapture software, the preview quality may appear lower because eCapture Pro prioritizes performance during live monitoring. Full-resolution data remains unaffected, ensuring high-quality processing and recording.

The Live View is divided into three sections:

• Image Display Groups View Panel: Manages camera grouping and display layout.
• Camera View Panel: Displays live camera streams and pipeline control options.
• Camera Parameters Panel: Configures individual camera settings, provides advanced tools for analysis, and fine-tunes image quality.

Figure: The Live View is the primary interface for configuring, monitoring, and interacting with live camera streams

For information about other views, the Global Toolbar, and the Global Status Bar, see the eCapture Pro User Interface Overview.

Purpose of the Live View

The Live View helps users:

• Monitor Camera Feeds: View and organize live streams from connected cameras.
• Group and Manage Cameras: Create and configure display groups for efficient monitoring of multiple cameras.
• Control Camera Settings: Adjust resolution, framerate, exposure, and other parameters directly.
• Initiate Pipelines: Start real-time image acquisition workflows for data recording or processing.

Image Display Groups View Panel

The Image Display Groups View Panel, located on the left, enables users to manage camera grouping and display organization.

• Toolbar: The panel features a toolbar with controls to:
  
  • Add a new group using the Add Group Button (+ icon).
  • Remove a group or cameras from a group using the Delete Button (trash icon).
  • Configure the display of camera streams with the Stream Controls (camera icon) to enable or disable camera views.
• Users can create and name groups (e.g., "DefaultGroup") to organize cameras for specific tasks.
• Each group can include multiple cameras, with options to enable or disable individual streams.
• Group management tools include adding new groups, removing groups, and assigning cameras to groups, simplifying the monitoring of multiple cameras.

Camera View Panel

The Camera View Panel, in the center, provides live previews of the selected cameras and controls for pipeline execution.

• Each camera in the selected group displays its live stream or indicates its status (e.g., "Streaming Disabled").
• Toolbar: The panel includes a toolbar with tools for:
  
  • Toggling full-screen view for cameras.
  • Zooming in or out on the camera feed.
  • Enabling hand controls for panning within the live view.
• Users can monitor live feeds to assess real-time performance or focus.
• Below the live streams, the Pipeline Controls allow users to:
  
  • Set the project and capture name for data recording.
  • Choose the recording mode (e.g., Continuous or Single Capture).
  • Start the pipeline by clicking the Start Pipeline button, initiating data acquisition.

This section provides immediate feedback on camera performance and pipeline activity, ensuring that recordings are accurate and efficient.

Camera Parameters Panel

The Camera Parameters Panel, located on the right, provides a comprehensive set of tools for configuring individual camera settings, analyzing images, and optimizing capture quality.

• Basic Settings: Users can adjust essential camera parameters such as:
  
  • Resolution (Width and Height): Define the image size for the capture.
  • Pixel Format: Select the desired color encoding (e.g., BayerRG).
  • Acquisition Mode: Choose between modes like Continuous for ongoing streaming or Single Frame.
  • Trigger Mode and Source: Configure triggering (e.g., software or hardware-based) to control when frames are captured.
  • Exposure: Set the exposure time for adjusting brightness.
  • Framerate: Define the number of frames captured per second.
  • Digital Gain: Enhance image brightness digitally for low-light conditions.
  • Line Time: Adjust the timing of line-based acquisition (important for specific applications).
  • Ptp Mode: Configure Precision Time Protocol settings for synchronization between multiple devices.
• Accessing Additional Parameters: While the panel prominently displays favorite parameters for quick access, users can configure less commonly used parameters by searching for them in the Settings Search Bar or navigating through the advanced menus. This flexibility ensures complete control over all camera capabilities, even those not visible in the default view.
• Advanced Tools and Toolbar:
  
  • The panel includes quick access to tools like:
    
    • Initialization Tool: Reset or apply preconfigured settings to the camera.
    • Histogram: Provides a graphical representation of image intensity distribution, helping users balance exposure and contrast.
    • Focus Tool: Assists in achieving precise image sharpness by analyzing focus details in real-time.
    • LUT (Look-Up Table): Adjusts color grading and tone mapping for enhanced image visualization.
  • A search bar at the top allows users to quickly locate and configure advanced settings.

The Camera Parameters Panel ensures precise control over camera behavior, allowing users to fine-tune image quality and optimize settings for specific workflows. This comprehensive set of options, including access to both favorites and advanced parameters, makes the Live View adaptable to a wide range of high-speed imaging applications.

How the Live View Panels Work Together

The Image Display Groups View Panel organizes and selects the cameras for monitoring. The Camera View Panel provides real-time feedback on camera performance and allows users to start pipelines for data acquisition. Meanwhile, the Camera Parameters Panel ensures users can fine-tune individual camera settings, access additional parameters, and analyze image quality with advanced tools. Together, these sections provide a seamless interface for live monitoring and configuration, enabling efficient and accurate workflows for high-speed imaging.