How to Configure NI-IMAQ and the PXI/PCI-1408 or 1409 IMAQ Hardware to Acquire StillColor Images?
Primary Software: Driver Software>>NI-IMAQ
Primary Software Version: 2.2
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Problem: How do I configure NI-IMAQ and my PXI/PCI-1408 or 1409 to acquire StillColor images?
Solution: In order to acquire a StillColor image, you need to configure your 1408 or 1409 IMAQ board and your camera in the Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) interface for NI-IMAQ. There are two types of cameras that you can use to acquire a StillColor image: RGB and Composite.
For an image with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, StillColor Composite Mode acquires images at rates of up to 2 frames/sec, while StillColor RGB Mode acquires images at rates of up to 10 frames/sec.
Use the following steps to configure your 1408 or 1409 IMAQ board for StillColor Composite Mode:
- Select your 1408 interface from the configuration tree of MAX, right click on it, and then choose Properties from the shortcut menu.
- Once you are in the Interface Properties Window, click on the Operating Mode tab, and select the options: Standard for the Slave Acquisition Mode, and Composite for the StillColor Mode. Then save your changes by clicking onto the Apply button and press the OK button to close the Properties Window.
- Once you are back in the MAX environment, click on the + sign next to the device name. This will give you access to the interface’s channel information.
- Select the first channel, right-click on it, and select Camera from the shortcut menu. Then choose the format of the color Video Signal you are acquiring with your camera: NTSC for Japan or USA, PAL for Europe.
- Select the same channel again, right-click on it, and select Properties from the shortcut menu. Once you are in the Interface Properties Window, click on the Color tab, and select the option RGB 32 Bit for the Image Representation. Then save your changes by clicking on the Apply button, and press the OK button to close the Channel Properties Window.
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At this point you should be able to click on the Snap button to acquire a StillColor image in Snap Mode, or on the Grab button to acquire a StillColor image in Grab Mode.
Use the following steps to configure your 1408 or 1409 IMAQ board for StillColor RGB Mode:
- Select your 1408 interface from the configuration tree of MAX, right click on it, and then choose Properties from the shortcut menu.
- Once you are in the Interface Properties Window, click on the Operating Mode tab, and select the options: CSYNC External for the Slave Acquisition Mode, Channel 2 (that is the G channel) as CSYNC Source, and RGB as StillColor Mode. Then save your changes by clicking onto the Apply button and press the OK button to close the Properties Window.
- Once you are back in the MAX environment, click on the + sign next to the device name. This will give you access to the interface’s channel information.
- Select the first channel, right-click on it, and select Camera from the shortcut menu. Then choose the format of the color Video Signal you are acquiring with your camera: NTSC for Japan or USA, PAL for Europe.
- Select the same channel again, right-click on it, and select Properties from the shortcut menu. Once you are in the Interface Properties Window, click on the Color tab, and select the option RGB 32 Bit for the Image Representation. Then save your changes by clicking on the Apply button, and press the OK button to close the Channel Properties Window.
- At this point you should be able to click on the Snap button to acquire a StillColor image in Snap Mode, or on the Grab button to acquire a StillColor image in Grab Mode.
Related Links: KnowledgeBase 129FDHQQ: How Can I Improve my StillColor Acquisition?KnowledgeBase 129AJKQQ: What Types of Video Does StillColor Support?National Instruments Image Acquisition and Vision Support Homepage
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Report Date: 12/06/1999
Last Updated: 08/29/2008
Document ID: 1S5EB26U
