Assistance in settings - 3 area's of plates

[oxnor]

Hello, I'm attempting to cover a T intersection that is 115 feet from the camera.
I'm in a state with Front plates.

I'm attempting to cover traffic traveling east, and Traveling West including turning to go North.

I have the IR on full blast, but it seems to only take effect on the top part of the image.

Is this a situation where my settings need to be adjusted, or is more IR light needed?

current settings:
Image:

1. Brightness: 50
2. Contrast: 55
3. Saturation: 40
4. Sharp: 40
5. Gamma: 45

Exposure:

1. Anit-Flicker: Outdoor
2. Mode: Manual
3. Shutter: 1/2000
4. Gain: 0, 50
5. Iris: 35
6. Exposure Compensation: 50
7. 3d nr level: 40
8. 2d nr level: 40

Thank you

 

[bigredfish]

What model is the camera?
Are you running Backlight? HLC?

What is the difference between the first 4 and that last image?

Try increasing Iris to 50-60 first

Try Gain at 65

 

[wittaj]

That is a tough angle trying to get everything.

With the much of an angle, plate reflection will be difficult, especially the newer 3M printed plates that don't reflect back to the light source like the stamped plates.

I would crank iris to 60 and gamma to 60 and see if that helps.

More IR will certainly help, but you may have to decide to focus on one direction and more cameras for the others.

 

[oxnor]

I will try to adjust the Iris and gamma.

The camera is
IPC-B52IR-Z12E-S2

 

[oxnor]

hrm.. ya, I think I'll have to aim farther away to decrease the angle.

adjusted 60/60 with following result.

 

[wittaj]

The best thing to do now is if that road isn't heavily traveled, can you have someone go take a drive and have them on the phone and have them stop when the plate is in the ideal spot for that lane and then adjust parameters until you get a clean image.

It is amazing how much parameter changes can result in a plate being readable or not. Obviously shutter speed plays a role, but contrast cranked too high or low can result in a non-readable plate as an example.

The one thing we have seen is that we all post our numbers, and nobody is running the same. So many variables involved. Some run a low sharpness like 2 and other have to run 50 as an example.

 

[bigredfish]

You may try 1/1000 also. I run 1/1000 on a Z12 where cars are traveling 20-25mph a it works fine

Are you running heavy HLC?

 

[oxnor]

great suggestions, getting better!

 

[oxnor]

Are you running heavy HLC?

I had it on and at 50. Switching to off to get more samples with various configs

 

[bigredfish]

Can you show some pics from daytime captures? Something aint right, could well be sever angle? I shooting at 100-110ft at a 30 degree angle with no problem

 

[bigredfish]

And I think you’re seeing the effect of trying to cover too much area. Daytime capture will help tell but I believe as @wittaj alluded to, you need more zoom on a tighter area

Example
Overview camera 6mm 5442

Z12 zoomed

 

[Parley]

Get a daytime plate picture. I want to see the focus. Also, one with a front plate at night to see what effect the headlights are having. That is where you might need some HLC.

 

[oxnor]

current settings, nothing modified yet.

I'll try zooming in, and adjusting the focus today.

 

[oxnor]

here's the 3rd direction of traffic

 

[oxnor]

ok, narrowed in, definitely had a focus issue last night as I was adjusting the settings.

here's daytime

 

[bigredfish]

Thats gonna help, but angle is probably your biggest adversary. IR light has to bounce back to the camera generally speaking from the direction it came.

You're also seeing that DAYTIME trailing pixelization/fuzziness blob that seems to occur with the Z12. I havent completely gotten rid of it but I've manage d to minimize it

Gimmee a minute and I'll post settings

 

[wittaj]

Yeah I think that angle will be tough if/when your state goes to the 3M printed plates.

The reflective properties are so much different and the angles we could get away with like yours with stamped/raised lettering just cannot capture the printed plates.

The newer plates are really forcing the requirement for as straight on as possible as @bigredfish posted.

Poor IR contrast in new Tennessee license plates

I've noticed an issue with nighttime capture of new 2022 Tennessee license plates. The white lettering on a blue background washes out almost completely in IR light, making the plates barely readable. Has anyone encountered similar issues with other plates? I'm wondering if additional IR...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[bigredfish]

ok, narrowed in, definitely had a focus issue last night as I was adjusting the settings.

here's daytime

Much better daytime

 

[oxnor]

Thanks @bigredfish , I'll adjust what I can after posted.

Noted @wittaj ... ugh, the perpendicular positioning is just so tough... if only I lived on a 1 way in/out road!
I'll do some scoping to see if there is a better spot while running this spot into the ground, so to speak.

 

[wittaj]

Yep, I have had to move my cameras around and get them closer and with better angles now that I am seeing more of the printed plates. It sucks!