Fixed Focal Length Camera Calibration: Integrated Framer Visualization

These instructions will walk through calibrating the Wizard Wink camera or other fixed lens camera. For information on using a zoom lens camera, see the “Camera Zoom Calibration” document.

To achieve consistent measurements via the software, it is essential that the camera be level with the design table surface. If the camera is not level, the software may not measure accurately.

Moving or Disturbing the Camera

Calibration must be repeated whenever the camera is moved. Potential changes include changing camera height above the design table or bumping the mounting stand or camera and knocking it off level.

Install the camera on camera mount (pole or ceiling).

If mounting monitors to the countertop camera pole please do so prior to attaching and leveling the camera. The camera lens must be level and parallel to the design table below.

Place a small level on the horizontal and vertical planes of the camera.

If needed, use the side thumb screw to adjust the level of the camera.

Connect the camera to the computer.

Launch IF Visualization.

Click Acquire From Camera button from Step 1: Load an Image.

Place a rectangular object like a print target onto the design table and place it so it is centered in the viewing frame.

Use the zoom level slide bar on the camera remote capture screen to zoom in to the piece of paper. Make sure that the edges of the object are equal distance from the edge of the viewing frame. If they are not, the camera is not level, or it is not directly above the work surface, or the work surface itself is not level.

If needed, use the side thumb screw to adjust the level of the camera until the rectangular object appears rectangular in the camera’s field of view.

Gently turn the lens to bring the image into focus.

Set Initial Measurement Scale

Click Acquire From Camera button.

Place a ruler or tape measure horizontally across the field of view of the camera on the design table.

Click Take Picture.

Now click Set New Scale and drag a box horizontally from one edge of the ruler to the other.
To draw the box, click and hold the left mouse button at the left edge of the ruler (the zero point) and drag the mouse across the image releasing the mouse button at the right end of the ruler. Take as long of a measurement as possible as this improves the software’s measurements.

A box opens requesting the width measurement - enter the number of inches that was measured in this box (the example below is 24 inches).

Click OK. The initial measurement scale for the default zoom point is now set.

Measure a Piece of Art

Click Acquire From Camera button from Step 1: Load an Image.

Position a piece of art under the camera and center it in the field of view.

Click Take Picture.

Click Next to proceed to Step 2: Apply Regions.

Click Set Art Region button.

Draw a selection box around the art.

The dimensions of the image displays on the width and height boxes under the set art region button.

The dimensions of the image should be approximately the same as the measurements taken with the ruler, within 1/8 inches. If the dimensions are correct and the image still appears “square,” then the camera is calibrated at this specific fixed zoom point.

Measurements in Retail Management

Optional. This is a feature of IF Retail Management.

Complete a test framing project design in IF Visualization.

Click Send to IF-RM on Step 3: Visualize Project screen.

IF Retail Management will open to the custom ticket screen and display the project from IF Visualization.

Confirm the project dimensions are correct and the same as they were in IF Visualization.

Calibration Complete

After successfully following these steps, the camera is now calibrated and will remain calibrated as long as the camera mounting is not physically moved. If the camera mounting is moved, the entire procedure must be repeated.

When saving a project being worked on to the database or to a file, the scale setting is saved with the project. Thus, if using different zoom points and recalling a project from storage may require the scale to be set again for the next new project started. For fixed zoom, the software only remembers one scale value and that value will be changed when loading a prior project from storage.