# Pixel format and color space

Aim

To inform you about the relation between pixel format and color space used to create video.

This topic applies to

▪Basler digital cameras.

Background

▪A Pixel format is the format of the image data transmitted by the camera. For example, for monochrome cameras the default pixel format is Mono8. This means that the camera outputs 8 bits of data for each pixel in the image captured by the chip.

tip You find the Pixel format setting in the pylon Viewer software. See Configure the digital camera

▪A Color space is a specific organization of colors. Selecting a color space in the camera driver software or in EthoVision XT determines the way color information is encoded in the video file.

tip You find the Color space setting in EthoVision XT. See Adjust camera settings in EthoVision XT

There is a relation between the pixel format and the color space. When you specify the color space in EthoVision XT, the camera software may automatically change the pixel format. Follow the tables below to find which pixel format is used in your video. This is usually the format that is optimal to convert color into the selected color space.

If the starting pixel format is Mono8 or YUV422 (YUYV) Packed

When you set the color space to... |  | Then the pixel format changes to...
UYVY |  | YUV422 Packed
RGB24 |  | YUV422 (YUYV) Packed
RGB32 |  | YUV422 (YUYV) Packed
YV12 |  | YUV422 (YUYV) Packed
YUY2 |  | YUV422 (YUYV) Packed
Y800 |  | Mono8
BYRG |  | Bayer RG8

If the starting pixel format is YUV422 Packed

When you set the color space to... |  | Then the pixel format changes to...
UYVY |  | YUV422 Packed
RGB24 |  | YUV422 Packed
RGB32 |  | YUV422 Packed
YV12 |  | YUV422 Packed
YUY2 |  | YUV422 (YUYV) Packed
Y800 |  | Mono8
BYRG |  | Bayer RG8

If the starting pixel format is Bayer RG8, Bayer RG12 or Bayer GRG12 Packed

When you set the color space to... |  | Then the pixel format changes to...
UYVY |  | YUV422 Packed
RGB24 |  | Bayer RG8
RGB32 |  | Bayer RG8
YV12 |  | Bayer RG8
YUY2 |  | YUV422 (YUYV) Packed
Y800 |  | Mono8
BYRG |  | Bayer RG8

See also

▪Adjust camera settings in EthoVision XT

▪Configure the digital camera (in pylon Viewer)