Pixel Format#

The Pixel Format camera feature allows you to choose the format of the image data transmitted by the camera.

There are different pixel formats depending on the model of your camera and whether it is a color or a mono camera.

Using the Feature#

Choosing a Pixel Format#

To choose a pixel format:

1. Make sure the camera is idle, i.e., not capturing images.
2. Set the PixelFormat parameter to one of the following values (if available):
   • MonoXX (e.g., Mono10, Mono12p)
   • BayerXXYY (e.g., BayerBG10, BayerGR12)
   • YCbCrXXX, YUVXXX
   • RGB8, BGR8

Determining the Pixel Format#

To determine the pixel format currently used by the camera, get the value of the PixelFormat parameter.

Available Pixel Formats#

Mono Formats#

If a monochrome camera uses one of the mono pixel formats, it outputs 8, 10, 12, or 14 bits of data per pixel.

If a color camera uses one of the mono pixel formats, the values for each pixel are first converted to the YCbCr color model. The Y component of this model represents a brightness value and is equivalent to the value that would be derived from a pixel in a monochrome sensor. So in essence, when a color camera is set to, e.g., Mono 8, it outputs an 8-bit monochrome image.

Which mono formats are available depends on your camera model.

Bayer Formats#

Color cameras are equipped with a Bayer color filter and can output color images based on Bayer pixel formats.

If a color camera uses one of the Bayer pixel formats, it outputs 8, 10, or 12 bits of data per pixel. Each pixel is filtered to record only one of the colors red, green, and blue. The pixel data is not processed or interpolated in any way. This type of pixel data is sometimes referred to as "raw" output.

Which Bayer formats are available depends on your camera model.

YCbCr Formats#

Color cameras can also output color images based on pixel data in YCbCr (or YUV) format.

If a color camera uses this format, each pixel value in the captured image goes through a conversion process as it exits the sensor and passes through the camera. This process yields Y, Cb, and Cr color information for each pixel value.

RGB and BGR Formats#

When a color camera uses the RGB 8 or BGR 8 pixel format, the camera outputs 8 bit of red data, 8 bit of green data, and 8 bit of blue data for each pixel in the acquired frame.

The pixel formats differ by the output sequences for the color data (red, green, blue or blue, green, red).

Maximum Pixel Bit Depth#

The maximum pixel bit depth is defined by the pixel format with the highest bit depth among the pixel formats available on your camera.

Example: If the available pixel formats for your camera are Mono 8 and Mono 12, the maximum pixel bit depth of the camera is 12 bit.

Unpacked and Packed Pixel Formats#

When a camera uses an unpacked pixel format (e.g., Bayer 12), pixel data is always 8-bit aligned. Padding bits (zeros) are inserted as necessary to reach the next 8-bit boundary.

Example (simplified):

Assume that you have chosen a 12-bit unpacked pixel format. The camera outputs 16 bits per pixel: 12 bits of pixel data and 4 padding bits to reach the next 8-bit boundary.

When a camera uses a packed pixel format (e.g., Bayer 12p), pixel data is not aligned. This means that no padding bits are inserted and that one byte can contain data of multiple pixels.

Example (simplified):

Assume that you have chosen a 12-bit packed pixel format. The camera outputs 12 bits per pixel. As a consequence, data for two pixels is always spread over 3 bytes.

Specifics#

Show all camera models

Sample Code#

// Set the pixel format to Mono 8
camera.PixelFormat.SetValue(PixelFormat_Mono8);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Set the pixel format to Mono 8
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "PixelFormat").SetValue("Mono8");

// Set the pixel format to Mono 8
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.PixelFormat].SetValue(PLCamera.PixelFormat.Mono8);

/* 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 Mono 8 */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "PixelFormat", "Mono8");
CHECK(errRes);

# Set the pixel format to Mono 8
camera.PixelFormat.Value = "Mono8"

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