SPOT 4.1 Basic and Advanced Software Manual for SPOT Insight ...

Ch. 17 – Using Other Mac Imaging Application in Basic Mode(cont.)Image TypeStereo/macro–no glintsStereo/macro–shiny glintsStereo/macro-metallic glintsDescriptionMatte specimens without bright glints.Shiny specimens with bright glints.Metallic specimens with intense glints.BrightnessEnter a Brightness value between .24 and 34.A brightness value of 1, the default value, gives you the correct image brightness for most images. TheBrightness control allows you to overexpose or underexpose (darken or lighten) the image area. In manycases, an image has varying levels of brightness; to see a specific area better you might want to lighten ordarken the image. When using the Brightness control, the SPOT camera uses an algorithm that combinesgain and exposure time to provide the fastest possible image update rate (shutter speed) in live mode:• When overexposing images to make them brighter (i.e., entering values greater than one), the camerafirst selects the highest possible gain before lengthening the exposure time. Because gain alsobrightens an image, less exposure time is needed.• When underexposing images to make them darker (i.e., entering values less then one) the camera usesthe lowest possible exposure time before lowering the gain.Quality/Speed (Auto)Use the slider to balance speed and quality when previewing dim images.• Moving the slider toward the Quality side increases image quality and decreases frame rates.• Moving the slider toward the Speed side increases frame rates and decreases image quality.The Quality/Speed measurement corresponds to the Auto-Gain limit setting, which allows you to set anupper limit on the gain options that will be available during the Auto-Exposure process.• When the slider is at the left-most point, the Auto-Gain Limit gives you higher quality pictures, butlengthier exposure times.• When the slider is at the right-most point, the Auto-Gain Limit allows the camera to select from allavailable gain options. This shortens exposure times, but decreases image quality.Refer to the “Auto-Gain Limit” section in Ch. 5 – Preparing to Take a Picture for a detailed explanation ofgain and exposure.GammaEnter a Gamma value between .1 and 4.Gamma adjustment smoothly lightens darker areas of an image without burning out bright areas orlightening black areas. This is especially useful for capturing/editing images with a wide range ofbrightness values (dynamic range) such as fluorescence specimens or macroscopic objects with glints, (e.g.,printed circuitry).• Values between 1 and 4 lighten the darker areas of the image.• Values between .1 and 1 darken the mid-tones of the image.Gamma adjustments on live images are made in the RGB color space, the only color space whereadjustments can be made quickly enough to keep up with live imaging. Refer to Ch. 5 – Preparing to Takea Picture for more details on gamma adjustment and color spaces.User Guide to the SPOT Insight Camera 305