Record a video
You have the option to record with stimuli (manual or LED lights) if you own the Stimulus Controls module (see Using stimulus controls)
Procedure
- Click the icon
. WormLab displays the Video Capture dialog box along with the current status (e.g., Live view).
- The Capture tab is selected.
- Click the Folder button to select a folder to save your video files.
- Type a file prefix in the edit box. WormLab adds this to the beginning of the file name of each video file you capture.
Do not use slashes ( / or \ ) in the prefix.
- Optional
- Duration (hours:min:sec): Set the duration of your recording.
- Time-lapse: Set the recording interval in seconds (between 0.25 sec and 3,600 sec).
- Change Buffer value: Only consider increasing the value if your acquisition rate and resolution are high. The minimum value is 16 and the maximum value is 1024 frames.
- Check Open video after recording to load the recorded view in WormLab immediately after ending the recording.
- Press Record to start recording. Press Stop to stop recording.
Taking a snapshot during the acquisition
Click Snapshot.
- The snapshot is saved with the same file name prefix, but with a different extension (.PNG or .TIFF) and numbering system.
- The snapshot is displayed temporarily under the Capture tab; it doesn't open in the Main window.
Video Capture settings
Display clipping
Click the Display clipping button to correct illumination. White pixels are displayed in red.
- Adjust the aperture on your camera and/or lower the exposure in the Settings tab to correct imbalances.
Capture tab
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Only consider increasing the value if your acquisition rate and resolution are high. Range: 16-1024 frames.
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Set the duration of your recording.
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Set the recording interval in seconds (between 0.25 sec and 3,600 sec).
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Opens a separate window for LED light and manual stimulus management.
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Click Snapshot to take a snapshot while the video is recording.
- The snapshot is saved with the same file name prefix, but with a different extension (.PNG or .TIFF) and numbering system.
- The snapshot is displayed temporarily under the Capture tab; it doesn't open in the Main window.
Settings tab
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Use to increase or decrease the pixel intensity values displayed and captured in the video.
Increasing the brightness effectively shifts the pixel intensity upward; decreasing shifts it downward.
For best results, adjust the camera exposure rather than brightness.
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Select to inform WormLab that the camera uses a color filter. Common with color cameras that use a color mask over a monochrome sensor to create a color image.
- The values in the Color Filter drop-down list box specify the Bayer four-cell grid mask. There are always two greens in the four-cell grid color pattern. The quad grid is used to interpolate the values from the monochrome sensor to an RGB color value.
- Contact us for assistance with color filters.
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Duration of the exposure in seconds.
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Number of images captured per second. Frame rate is sometimes abbreviated as fps, or frames per second.
- A lower frame rate lets you set a longer exposure.
- For crawling worms, we recommend setting your frame rate between 5 and 15 fps.
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Use to create a brighter image without increasing the light source intensity.
An increase in gain results in an increase in noise.
- We recommend that you first adjust exposure to increase the brightness. WormLab expresses gain as dB of intensity.
- Increasing the gain intensity increases the electrical amplification of the signal.
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Gamma is a non-linear adjustment to the pixel intensity of an image. It is normally used to brighten the mid-tones.
- A higher setting may bring out some shadow detail, which can be useful in low-light situations.
- A value of 1 means that there is no adjustment.
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Select an output type. We recommend Monochrome.
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Use if the dish is upside-down.
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Select the camera's built-in video sizes and input modes from the drop-down list. Use FORMAT-7 to customize up to the maximum frame size supported by your camera.