PGI Feature Set#

The PGI feature set allows you to optimize the quality of your images.

The main purpose of the PGI feature set is to optimize images to meet the needs of human vision. It combines up to four image optimization processes.

Using the Feature#

How It Works#

Depending on your camera model, a selection of the following image optimizations will be performed:

Noise Reduction#

The noise reduction (also called "denoising") reduces random variations in brightness or color information in your images.

Improved Sharpness#

This optimization increases the sharpness of the images. The higher the sharpness, the more distinct the contours of the image objects will be. This is especially useful in applications where cameras must correctly identify numbers or letters.

5×5 Debayering#

5×5 debayering (also called "demosaicing") carries out color interpolation on regions of 5×5 pixels on the sensor and is therefore more elaborate than the "simple" 2×2 debayering used otherwise by the camera.

Color Anti-Aliasing#

Color errors, especially on sharp edges and in sections of the image with high spatial frequencies, are a common side effect of debayering algorithms. Even colorless structures can suddenly appear to have color. The color anti-aliasing optimization analyzes and corrects the discolorations.

For more information about the PGI image optimizations, see the Better Image Quality with Basler PGI white paper.

Enabling the PGI Feature Set#

The implementation of this feature varies by camera series:

• ace 2 Pro and dart R Cameras
• ace U/L Cameras
• dart Classic/E and pulse Cameras

ace 2 Pro and dart R Cameras#

To enable the PGI image optimizations on Basler ace 2 Pro and dart R cameras:

• If your camera is a mono camera, PGI image optimizations are enabled automatically when any of the following parameters isn't set to its default value:
  • NoiseReduction
  • SharpnessEnhancement
  • BslScalingFactor (if available)
• If your camera is a color camera:
  1. Make sure that the BslDemosaicingMode parameter is set to Auto.
  2. Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer color pixel format, i.e., to one of the available RGB, BGR, or YUV pixel formats.

ace U/L Cameras#

To enable the PGI image optimizations (if available) on Basler ace U and L cameras:

• If your camera is a mono camera, set the PgiMode parameter to On.

• If your camera is a color camera:

  1. Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer color pixel format, i.e., to one of the available RGB, BGR, or YUV pixel formats. On some camera models, the PGI feature set is only available for one of the YUV pixel formats.
  2. Set the DemosaicingMode parameter to BaslerPGI.

dart Classic/E and pulse Cameras#

To enable the PGI image optimizations (if available) on Basler dart Classic, dart E, and pulse cameras:

1. If your camera is a color camera, set the pixel format to a non-Bayer color pixel format, i.e., to one of the available RGB, BGR, or YUV pixel formats.
2. If you want to manually configure noise reduction, set the PgiMode parameter to On_ManualNoiseReduction. You can now configure noise reduction and improved sharpness.
3. If you want the noise reduction to be applied automatically, set the PgiMode parameter to On_AutomaticNoiseReduction. You can now configure improved sharpness.

Setting the PGI Image Optimizations#

Once you have enabled the PGI feature set, you can configure the individual image optimization processes.

Which image optimizations are available and can be configured depends on your camera model.

Configuring Noise Reduction#

If this optimization is configurable, set the NoiseReduction parameter to specify the desired noise reduction. The higher the parameter value, the more noise reduction is applied.

If this optimization is not configurable, noise reduction is applied automatically.

Noise reduction is best used together with improved sharpness. If the parameter value is set too high, fine structure in the image can become indistinct or even disappear.

Configuring Improved Sharpness#

If this optimization is configurable, set the SharpnessEnhancement parameter to specify the desired level of sharpness. The higher the parameter value, the more sharpening is applied.

If this optimization is not configurable, sharpness is improved automatically.

In most cases, best results are obtained at low parameter value settings and when using noise reduction at the same time.

Configuring 5×5 Debayering#

If available, 5×5 debayering is performed automatically whenever the PGI feature set is enabled. You can't configure this optimization.

Configuring Color Anti-Aliasing#

If available, color anti-aliasing is performed automatically whenever the PGI feature set is enabled. You can't configure this optimization.

Specifics#

Show all camera models

Sample Code#

ace 2 Pro and dart R Cameras#

// Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer format (color cameras only)
camera.PixelFormat.SetValue(PixelFormat_RGB8);
// Configure noise reduction
camera.BslNoiseReduction.SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness
camera.BslSharpnessEnhancement.SetValue(1.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer format (color cameras only)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "PixelFormat").SetValue("RGB8");
// Configure noise reduction
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "BslNoiseReduction").SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "BslSharpnessEnhancement").SetValue(1.0);

// Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer format (color cameras only)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.PixelFormat].SetValue(PLCamera.PixelFormat.RGB8);
// Configure noise reduction
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.BslNoiseReduction].SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.BslSharpnessEnhancement].SetValue(1.0);

/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
/* Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer format (color cameras only) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "PixelFormat", "RGB8");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure noise reduction */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "BslNoiseReduction", 0.2);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure improved sharpness */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "BslSharpnessEnhancement", 1.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Set the pixel format to a non-Bayer format (color cameras only)
camera.PixelFormat.Value = "RGB8"
# Configure noise reduction
camera.BslNoiseReduction.Value = 0.2
# Configure improved sharpness
camera.BslSharpnessEnhancement.Value = 1.0

ace U/L USB 3.0 Cameras#

// Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
camera.PgiMode.SetValue(PgiMode_On);
// Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
camera.DemosaicingMode.SetValue(DemosaicingMode_BaslerPGI);
// Configure noise reduction (if available)
camera.NoiseReduction.SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness (if available)
camera.SharpnessEnhancement.SetValue(1.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "PgiMode").SetValue("On");
// Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "DemosaicingMode").SetValue("BaslerPGI");
// Configure noise reduction (if available)
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "NoiseReduction").SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness (if available)
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "SharpnessEnhancement").SetValue(1.0);

// Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.PgiMode].SetValue(PLCamera.PgiMode.On);
// Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.DemosaicingMode].SetValue(PLCamera.DemosaicingMode.BaslerPGI);
// Configure noise reduction (if available)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.NoiseReduction].SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness (if available)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.SharpnessEnhancement].SetValue(1.0);

/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
/* Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "PgiMode", "On");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "DemosaicingMode", "BaslerPGI");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure noise reduction (if available) */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "NoiseReduction", 0.2);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure improved sharpness (if available) */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "SharpnessEnhancement", 1.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
camera.PgiMode.Value = "On"
# Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
camera.DemosaicingMode.Value = "BaslerPGI"
# Configure noise reduction (if available)
camera.NoiseReduction.Value = 0.2
# Configure improved sharpness (if available)
camera.SharpnessEnhancement.Value = 1.0

ace U/L GigE Cameras#

// Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
camera.PgiMode.SetValue(PgiMode_On);
// Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
camera.DemosaicingMode.SetValue(DemosaicingMode_BaslerPGI);
// Configure noise reduction (if available)
camera.NoiseReductionAbs.SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness (if available)
camera.SharpnessEnhancementAbs.SetValue(1.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "PgiMode").SetValue("On");
// Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "DemosaicingMode").SetValue("BaslerPGI");
// Configure noise reduction (if available)
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "NoiseReductionAbs").SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness (if available)
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "SharpnessEnhancementAbs").SetValue(1.0);

// Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.PgiMode].SetValue(PLCamera.PgiMode.On);
// Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.DemosaicingMode].SetValue(PLCamera.DemosaicingMode.BaslerPGI);
// Configure noise reduction (if available)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.NoiseReductionAbs].SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness (if available)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.SharpnessEnhancementAbs].SetValue(1.0);

/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
/* Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "PgiMode", "On");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "DemosaicingMode", "BaslerPGI");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure noise reduction (if available) */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "NoiseReductionAbs", 0.2);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure improved sharpness (if available) */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "SharpnessEnhancementAbs", 1.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Enable the PGI feature set (mono cameras only)
camera.PgiMode.Value = "On"
# Enable the PGI feature set (color cameras only)
camera.DemosaicingMode.Value = "BaslerPGI"
# Configure noise reduction (if available)
camera.NoiseReductionAbs.Value = 0.2
# Configure improved sharpness (if available)
camera.SharpnessEnhancementAbs.Value = 1.0

dart Classic/E and pulse Cameras#

// Enable the PGI feature set with manual noise reduction
camera.PgiMode.SetValue(PgiMode_Manual);
// Configure noise reduction
camera.NoiseReduction.SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness
camera.SharpnessEnhancement.SetValue(1.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Enable the PGI feature set with manual noise reduction
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "PgiMode").SetValue("Manual");
// Configure noise reduction
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "NoiseReduction").SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "SharpnessEnhancement").SetValue(1.0);

// Enable the PGI feature set with manual noise reduction
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.PgiMode].SetValue(PLCamera.PgiMode.Manual);
// Configure noise reduction
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.NoiseReduction].SetValue(0.2);
// Configure improved sharpness
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.SharpnessEnhancement].SetValue(1.0);

/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
/* Enable the PGI feature set with manual noise reduction */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "PgiMode", "Manual");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure noise reduction */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "NoiseReduction", 0.2);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Configure improved sharpness */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "SharpnessEnhancement", 1.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Enable the PGI feature set with manual noise reduction
camera.PgiMode.Value = "Manual"
# Configure noise reduction
camera.NoiseReduction.Value = 0.2
# Configure improved sharpness
camera.SharpnessEnhancement.Value = 1.0

You can also use the pylon Viewer to easily set the parameters.