My image is too dark using a Basler camera

Solution #1: Open the Aperture on the Lens More

1. Twist the aperture ring on the camera lens toward “Open” until the image reaches the desired brightness in your Noldus software.

Solution #2: Increase the Gain and/or Exposure in Pylon

1. Close your Noldus software (e.g., MediaRecorder or EthoVision XT).
2. Open the Basler Pylon Viewer software. This can typically be found on your desktop or in the Start menu under Basler.

• Note: Pylon Viewer is installed automatically with the camera drivers.

3. Go to Tools > Options and set User Level to Expert or Guru.

4. In the Devices panel, double-click the Basler device listed under GigE or USB.
5. In the Features panel, open the Basler camera section and double-click Analog Controls.

• Note: If the Features panel is not visible, go to Window > Features to enable it.

Increasing the Gain

6. Under Analog Control, increase Gain (Raw) to a value up to 2.

• Note: Higher gain brightens the image but may increase noise or graininess.

7. Click Continuous Shot to see the live video with your changes.

Increasing the Exposure

8. Ensure Exposure Auto is set to Off.
9. Set the Exposure Time (Abs) [us] to your desired value (in microseconds) and press Tab to confirm.

• Note: Higher exposure = brighter image. Too high may drop frames. Too low may cause flickering.

Recommended exposure ranges:

• Non-DanioVision: 8,000–25,000 (depending on lighting and gain)
• IR Lighting (NIR GigE): ~30,000
• DanioVision: 4,000 (1280×960) or 2,000 (640×480)

10. Click Continuous Shot again to verify the new frame rate.

11. Check that the actual frame rate matches your Acquisition Frame Rate (Abs) [Hz] setting (typically 25 or 30). If it's lower, stop Continuous Shot and try one of the following:

• a. Lower the exposure time and increase Gain instead
• b. Open the lens diaphragm if not already done
• c. Lower the video resolution under AOI Controls by reducing Width and Height

• Note: Lowering resolution zooms in the image. Ensure Center X and Center Y are enabled.

Repeat the above adjustments until the desired frame rate is achieved.

Save Camera Settings to User Set

13. Once satisfied with gain and exposure settings, stop Continuous Shot.
14. Open Configuration Sets:

14. Select User Set 1 from the Configuration Set Selector
15. Click Execute next to User Set Save
16. Set User Set 1 as the Default Startup Set
17. Close Pylon Viewer

• Note: These settings will now load automatically each time Noldus software starts.

Tip: You can save additional configurations to User Set 2 and User Set 3. Use the Default Startup Set option to choose which one should load by default.