Problems with iMac webcam

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. After starting the Linuxtrack, unable to stabilize tracking
2. Fiddling with controls, no luck
3. Tested with face tracking and 3point IR-led clip

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Face tracking results mostly grey, weak image in tracking window (linux.gif). 
IR-Led lights don't seem to have enough power to cut through, unable to get a 
steady tracking. 

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
27" imac
3,1 GHz Intel Core i5 
20 Gt 1333 MHz:n DDR3 
AMD Radeon HD 6970M 1024 Mt 
OS X 10.8.4 (12E55)
Built-in webcam

Please provide any additional information below.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by alakerta...@gmail.com on 24 Jul 2013 at 1:12

Attachments:

• linux.gif

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hello,
I did a quick test with webcams I have available (old Creative Live! Cam Optia 
and new Logitech c270) and both seem to work fine. However I think that the 
built-in camera might use different picture encoding. Tomorrow I'll create a 
debug version, that would save few frames, so I can take a closer look.

Also given the fact, that both tracking algorithms use the same image capturing 
routines, it is probably the reason why both of them are misbehaving.
Kind regards,

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 24 Jul 2013 at 9:03

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hello,
I may have found the problem; I'm attaching updated qt_cam, which is the 
component responsible for capturing the video. Please install it as follows: 

Ctrl+click on ltr_gui and select "Show Package Contents" and navigate to 
Contents/helper; you should see a qt_cam file in there - rename it and paste 
the qt_cam file from the attachment (uncompressed, of course)

Now run ltr_gui and see, if the Camera preview makes more sense...

Kind regards,

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 25 Jul 2013 at 2:48

• Changed state: Started
• Added labels: Priority-High
• Removed labels: Priority-Medium

Attachments:

• qt_cam.zip

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I'm unable to rename the file and also unable to paste the new file in folder. 
It won't let me change my rights to read/write...

Original comment by alakerta...@gmail.com on 27 Jul 2013 at 12:04

[GoogleCodeExporter]

That is strange; when you "installed" ltr_gui, where did you put it? As for the 
changing of permissions - are you owner of the file and its parent directory?

Can you copy the ltr_gui for example to the Desktop and try there?

Kind regards,

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 27 Jul 2013 at 12:36

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Anyway, I incorporated the fix (I hope it does fix your problem) into the new 
package available on the Downloads page - it is 0.99.5...

Kind regards,

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 29 Jul 2013 at 4:53

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Yeah, I had to move the ltr_gui to desktop, after that I was able to rename the 
qt_cam. Facetracking now working. Still no help with IR-leds..

 I'm kind of in the middle of my summer holiday, it's gonna take a few weeks and then I'll try it with a new webcam, one without IR-filter

Original comment by alakerta...@gmail.com on 30 Jul 2013 at 10:28

[GoogleCodeExporter]

No problem...
Enjoy the holiday!

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 30 Jul 2013 at 10:38

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Ok, I'm back. I bought a new Microsoft Lifecam vx-800, removed the IR-filter, 
and placed a piece of negative film in front of lens and now everything works 
loud and clear. Except that I'm getting realllly low fps, I'm talking about 3-4 
frames per second, which makes the movement  quite bumpy. Webcam itself should 
be able to 30fps, so is there anything to do for this, or just to live with 
that.

Original comment by alakerta...@gmail.com on 4 Sep 2013 at 7:13

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hello,
I think that the low fps is caused by autoexposure being turned on...

If you have a VMWare or paralels, you might try to attach the camera to the 
windows machine, set the webcam in there and after detaching it from the 
virtual machine check if it works better...

The other possibility would be an application that would allow you to set 
webcam params (guvcview alike); so far I haven't noticed such free application, 
and I've been thinking of creating such application for quite a long time.

Most probably in the first iteration it would be just a commandline app; I'll 
let you know when I have something (if all goes well, I might have it still 
this week, but I can't promise)...

Kind regards,

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 4 Sep 2013 at 8:04

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Ok, I think everythings perfect now. I bought a program called Webcam Settings, 
set the auto-exposure to manual and backlight compensation off. Now I'm getting 
smooth as silk 30fps with no problems. Thanks for your help!

Original comment by alakerta...@gmail.com on 6 Sep 2013 at 9:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thank you for the information!

I'm closing the ticket now; should you encounter any more problems, feel free 
to reopen it or create another one...

Kind regards,

Michal

Original comment by f.jo...@email.cz on 11 Sep 2013 at 7:42

• Changed state: Done