User manual

Phantom Camera Control Application - Help 173

4.2.5.1.4 Perform a Black Reference Calibration Adjustment

For certain types of cameras, after a camera comes up to its operating temperature, or after changing

camera settings, calibrating the camera to a black reference will help ensure you get the best possible

images from your Phantom camera.

A black reference measures the value of each pixel with no light on it (black) and stores the values in

a calibration file (called an “STG”). Later, the camera firmware can use those values to ensure that all

sensor pixels are providing the same value for equivalent amounts of light.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

NOTE

Before performing a Black Reference ensure that the EDR, Extreme Dynamic Range), Exposure

setting is set to zero, and the Auto Exposure and Image-Based Auto-Trigger features are

disabled.

Copy the factory-supplied STG file to a backup .STG folder, on the local hard drive of the

Phantom Control Unit computer, before performing the Black Reference calibration adjustment.

Click on Camera Settings.

Click the Black Reference button.

When the Black Reference informational window instructing you to "Please, cover the camera

lens." appears, cover the lens with a lens cap to ensure the sensor is in complete darkness, then

Click the OK button to start the Black Reference calibration adjustment, alternately

Click the Cancel button to cancel the Black Reference process.

RESULT: A Black Reference.. message along with a Black Reference status indicator will be displayed

in the Preview Panel of the Phantom camera the Black Reference calibration adjustments are being

performed on. The <camera serial number>.STG file will be overwritten with the new calibrations.

When the Save to camera dialogue window appears:

Click the Yes button to save the new Black Reference calibrations to the selected Phantom

camera's non-volatile memory, alternately

Click the No button to proceed without saving the new Black Reference calibrations to the

selected Phantom camera's non-volatile memory.

RESULT: A Write in camera.. message will be displayed in the selected camera's Preview Panel,

along with a Write in camera status indicator in the status bar of the selected camera's Preview Panel.