Barco Precision Quick start guide

Brand: Barco

Model: Precision

Type: Quick start guide

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Precision – quickstart guide 2.0

This document describes a simple walk-through procedure to demonstrate the Barco Precision

auto-alignment tool.

WHAT IS PRECISION? 2

WHERE IS IT SUITABLE? 2

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED? 2

WHICH CAMERAS CAN I USE? 2

WHICH RESOLUTIONS ARE SUPPORTED? 2

HOW DOES IT WORK? 2

LICENSE 3

INSTALLATION 4

STEP-BY-STEP SETUP 4

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What is Precision?

Precision is an automated camera-assisted system for warping and edge-blending. Any multi-

channel system will eventually drift over time, creating the need for a re-alignment. This can be

a time consuming, disruptive and difficult task. With Precision you can achieve perfect blends at

the click of a button and the whole operation takes only a couple of minutes.

Where is it suitable?

Precision is perfect for any multi-channel system projecting onto a flat or cylindrical surface. It

can be used together with the Barco WB2560, WB1920 and MCM-100 image processors. Any

combination of channels is supported, horizontally and vertically. 1x2, 2x1, 1x3, 2x3, 3x3 etc.

Precision also supports image stacking of any number of channels, for increased brightness,

redundancy or passive stereoscopic 3D installations.

What equipment do I need?

In addition to the projectors and an image generator (source) capable of producing overlap, you

need the following:

• WB-series image processor, one pr. projector. Precision can also be retro-fitted into an

installation where image processors are already installed.

• Digital camera (see list of supported cameras)*

• PC running Windows OS *

• Network communication between the PC and the WB image processors *

* not supplied by Barco

Which cameras can I use?

The following cameras and lenses are currently supported:

Logitech C920, C910, Webcam Pro 9000

Canon EOS/Rebel Series 450D/XSi, 500D/T1i, 550D/T2i, 600D/T3i

Lenses: 10-22mm, 18-55mm

Which resolutions are supported?

Precision supports resolutions of up to WQXGA (2560x1600px) pr.channel.

How does it work?

By connecting the camera to a control PC over USB, and have the control PC communicate with

the WB-series image processors over network. A set of test-images created in the WB’s are

captured by the camera and analyzed. The software will subsequently calculate a perfect mesh

for the screen surface and write the data to the image processors.

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The system supports the use of a single camera, which must remain in a fixed position. The

camera needs to capture all the channels in one image. Other than that, there is no limitation

to the number of channels.

The system will perform geometry correction, but will not do color/brightness correction.

After the initial installation is done, you can automatically re-align the projectors at the click of

a button.

The image processors take DVI in and give DVI out, but are otherwise ignorant to the rest of the

system. This means they can be used with any display device accepting DVI in, and any IG

(source) giving DVI out. The source must be able to produce overlap.

Precision is not intended for use on spherical surfaces such as domes, and does not support 3D

test-images.

License

For WB1920 and WB2560 boxes manufactured in January 1

2015 or later, no license is

required!

For older devices and for MCM-100’s, licenses are tied to the serial numbers of the image

processors, meaning one license for Precision can control one pre-determined set of image

processors.

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Installation

Precision must be installed with administrator rights on a Windows PC. You need either a HW dongle or

a valid license for the image processors.

If you use a dongle and system reports non-valid license or dongle, remove and re-insert the USB

dongle.

If you have a license, make sure to connect and establish communication with the image processors

before entering the license code.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Home page

Objective: Get started

Action: Press “Begin Setup”

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2. Warping Boxes

Objectives:

− Establish connection with WB boxes

− Set overlap size (in pixels)

− Select connection delay before image capture

o (recommended “long” when using webcam and/or RLM, “short” when using WB and/or DSLR

camera)

Action:

− Select model of WB engine

o WB2560/WB1920

o MCM-100

− Select the correct resolution (pr. channel) in the dropdown menu

− Enter the IP address for each of the image processors (if you don’t know the IP

address of the WB, press the power-button for 1 sec. to see the visual ID).

− Press the “Connect” for each of the addresses to verify that communication is

OK. The image will flicker as verification.

− Enter the correct size of the blend zone(s) in pixels. This must match what you

have set up from the IG.

− Select connection delay

− Press “Next”

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3. Projectors

Objective:

− Enter projector arrangement, set up test-images to confirm that the projectors

are correctly placed. On a 2x2 wall, they will number 1-4 from top left to bottom

right.

Action:

− Select “tiled” or “stacked”

− Select rows/columns from the dropdown menu on the right.

o Optional: Press “Toggle Projector Outlines” to display test patterns on the screen. If the channels

are in the wrong order, go back to “Warping Boxes” and change the order in which they are listed.

− Press “Next”

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4. Cameras

Objective:

− Establish connection with camera

− Position the camera

− Collect data

Action:

− Make sure the appropriate driver for the camera installed!

− Press “Connect to camera” if connection is not automatically established.

− Position the camera so that the complete screen surface is visible in the view-

finder.

o A webcam will produce live video, so move the camera until it is positioned correctly.

o With DSLRs you must press “Take Picture” every time you move the camera to see the result.

o The camera should be placed as close to the screen as possible, but must always capture the

entire screen surface (all channels).

− Camera settings may vary with ambient light conditions. The “Auto-Tune” is

recommended if you experience problems with the camera settings. Auto-tune

can take up to several minutes.

o 10-22mm lens should be set to 10mm (widest)

o 18-55mm lens should be set to 18mm (widest)

o DSLR cameras must be set to M for Manual

o Turn off auto-focus and IS if applicable

o For best result, place the camera perpendicular and level to the screen

o A webcam is only recommended for flat surfaces. For curved and/or larger screens, a DSLR is

recommended.

− Press “Begin Data Collection” and observe the test images being set up and

pictures taken. When complete, observe a green box on top of the page saying

“success”.

− Press “next”

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5. Screen

Objective:

− Select the appropriate screen geometry

Action:

− For a flat screen, simply select flat, then press “next”

− For a cylindrical surface, enter the screen geometry parameters.

o cylinder height

o cylinder radius

o maximum viewing angle (as seen from origo)

− Press “next”

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6. Image Boundary

Objective:

− Define the screen boundary

o Best practice is to drag the control points just outside the screen area

Action:

− Flat surface – four control points

o Drag the four control points to each corner of the screen

o Use the slide bar on top of the page to zoom in and out for higher detail and accuracy

− Curved surface – six control points

o 1, 3, 4 and 6 are the corners

o 2 and 5 are top and bottom center

o Use the slide bar on top of the page to zoom in and out for higher detail and accuracy

− Press “Update Calibration”. This step can take a couple of minutes.

o Observe the grid before/after warp being displayed

− When the image is set up, select “Management” from the left menu

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7. Management

Objective:

− Maintenance, re-calibration

− Turn calibration on/off (for whatever reason)

Action:

− Press “Re-calibrate” to perform a complete new alignment.

o When the alignment is corrupted (lamp change, cleaning, drift over time) it’s time for a re-

calibration. As long as the camera is in the same position and the screen is filled with pixels, a

complete re-calibration is performed by pressing the recalibrate button. Depending on the

amount of warp and the number of channels, the procedure typically takes <60 secs/channel.

− A shortcut to re-calibration is placed on the desktop during installation of

Precision.

− The use of re-calibrate requires the control PC to be connected to the WB’s and

the camera. In the event the control PC is removed or replaced, it will be

necessary to do a full calibration, starting with the page “Warping boxes”.

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FAQ

How many cameras can be used at the

same time

One (see the list of supported cameras)

Is perspective alignment supported

No, only orthographic

Is color and brightness calibration part

of Precision

No, only geometry

Is black level matching supported

Do I need to run ProNet.WB calibrator

in the background

Do I need to generate test images from

the IG

No, all test images are generated in the

image processors

What is the recommended size of the

blend zone

Same as for WB’s in general, 20%

Is rear projection supported

Yes

Can the camera be ceiling mounted

(upside down)

Yes. The control points in the Image

Boundary section must be flipped (pull #1 to

bottom right, #2 to bottom left)

What happens if I move the camera

during or in between alignments

You have to start over from “Cameras” and

collect the data from scratch

How many channels are supported

As many as the camera can capture in one

image

What kind of graphics card do I need

It doesn’t matter what is used on the IG, as

long as it can produce overlap

What kind of display device can I use

Any, as long as it supports digital input

(WB’s supply DVI out)

Can I use Precision on multiple

installations with one license

If the WB box is manufactured in 2015 or

later, you don’t need a license at all.

Each license is tied to the serial numbers on

the WB.

If you have two setups in the same room,

you need two licenses, or one license that

covers all the WB’s in the two setups.

Can I buy a camera from Barco

Do the WB’s need to be connected

over network to the control PC during

normal operation

No, only when performing initial setup or

recalibration.

Is the system recalibrating

continuously

No, only when triggered by the user.

How often do I need to recalibrate

When the alignment is corrupted or no

longer deemed “good enough”. It’s a

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judgment call.

Is portrait mode supported

Yes.

Barco Precision Quick start guide

Barco Precision Quick start guide

Barco Precision Quick start guide

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