StarDot Technologies netcam XL User Manual page 40

The Sun
If possible, aim NetCam so that it never points directly into the sun. The
best direction is north or south. If you must point the camera in a western or
eastern direction, try to get as little sky as possible in the image. What you
want to avoid is direct sunlight -- as with any camera, or your eyes for that
matter, looking into the sun produces some of the worst images. It can also
damage the CCD sensor over time, even with the iris set properly.
There are certain imaging factors that are not controllable. Depending
on where the sun travels in relation to the camera, you may find that images
look better in the morning than the afternoon or vice versa. This is just the
reality of lighting and is normal.
The Sky, Backlighting and Dynamic Range
One thing you can do to control the quality of your images is to reduce
the likelihood of backlighting. Backlighting occurs when the background
of an image is significantly brighter than the foreground. One example is
a group of buildings in front of a bright sky. Depending on the difference
in brightness between the buildings and the sky, the buildings can become
a dark silhouette against the sky. Most cameras, as well as the human eye,
are unable to capture details in both the dark foreground and the bright
background at the same time. Dynamic range is the term used to describe
the amount of detail a camera is able to capture in both dark and light areas
at the same time. NetCam has great dynamic range, but as is the case with
most cameras, it has its limits.
Here are a few suggestions for reducing backlighting:
• Point NetCam so little or no sky is visible in the image.
• If you want sky in the image, point NetCam to the north (or south)
Indoor Lighting
The biggest advantage that indoor lighting offers is control. Unlike
outdoor lighting, there is no need to worry about a travelling light source
or a strongly backlit sky. However, that doesn't mean indoor lighting does
not have its challenges. Here are some suggestions for improving indoor
imaging.
• If light is limited, open the lens iris all the way.
• Avoid pointing the camera at regions with white walls in the
background as this may produce an undesired backlighting effect.
• Avoid pointing the camera toward a window.
• If possible, avoid mixed light sources. For example, a room with
both fluorescent and halogen lights will illuminate the room with
different color temperatures, which will be visible in the NetCam
images.
Page 40 NetCam XL