Y12 Camera Streaming, Still Capture, and RAW Image Viewing Guide

This blog provides a complete workflow for configuring a Vadzo camera to stream in Y12 monochrome format using VadzoARC, capturing still images in Y12 format, and subsequently opening and viewing the captured Y12 RAW image using IrfanView on a Windows system. The guide is intended for users working with industrial monochrome cameras who require accurate visualization and validation of raw sensor data. 

Overview of the Workflow 

The overall process consists of three key stages: 

1. Configuring camera streaming and resolution in vadzoARC 

2. Capturing still images in Y12 format 

3. Opening and validating the captured Y12 RAW image in IrfanView 

This structured workflow ensures that the image data remains uncompressed, unprocessed, and faithful to the original sensor output throughout the pipeline. 

Part 1: Camera Streaming and Still Capture in Y12 Format Using vadzoARC 

Step 1: Launch vadzoARC and Select the Camera 

1. Open the vadzoARC application on the Windows system. 

2. From the menu bar, click on Devices. 

3. Select the connected Vadzo camera (for example, FALCON-2020A-MRS). 

4. Once the camera is selected, the live stream will be displayed in the main viewing window. 

At this stage, the camera is actively streaming and ready for format and resolution configuration. 

Step 2: Open Video Format Settings 

1. From the top menu, click on Video. 

2. Select Video Format. 

3. The video format configuration window will open, allowing selection of monochrome streaming formats such as Y8 and Y12. 

Selecting Y12 enables high-bit-depth monochrome streaming directly from the camera sensor. 

Step 3: Select Stream Format and Resolution 

1. In the Properties window, select the required Stream Format (Y12). 

2. Set the desired Frame Rate based on application requirements. 

3. Choose the appropriate Output Size (Resolution) from the dropdown list. 

4. Click Apply to save the selected settings. 

These settings define how the camera streams raw luminance data and directly impact image quality, bandwidth, and processing accuracy. 

Step 4: Configure Still Image Save Location 

1. From the menu bar, click on Still. 

2. Select Still Image Location. 

3. Click Browse and choose the folder where captured images should be saved. 

4. Click OK to confirm the selected folder path. 

This ensures all captured still images are stored in a known and accessible directory. 

Step 5: Select Still Image Format 

1. Navigate to Still → Still Format. 

2. Select the required image format, such as Y8 or Y12. 

3. Click Apply, followed by OK, to confirm the selection. 

Choosing Y12 ensures that still images are saved with full 12-bit luminance precision. 

Step 6: Capture Still Image 

1. From the menu bar, click Still → Still Capture. 

2. The current frame from the live stream will be captured instantly. 

3. The image is automatically saved in the previously selected folder path. 

At this point, a Y12 RAW still image is successfully generated from the live camera stream. 

Verification (VadzoARC) 

Verify that the image file is created in the selected folder and that its resolution and format match the configured stream settings. 

Part 2: Opening and Viewing Y12 RAW Image in IrfanView 

After capturing the Y12 RAW image, IrfanView is used to correctly interpret and visualize the raw sensor data. Check out our dedicated blog for How to install IrfanView Software (Installation Guide)

Step 1: Open IrfanView and Select the RAW Image 

1. Launch IrfanView from the Windows Start Menu or Desktop shortcut. 

2. Click File → Open from the menu bar. 

3. Browse to the folder where the Y12 RAW image is stored. 

4. Select the RAW (.raw) file and click Open. 

Since RAW files do not contain format metadata, IrfanView will prompt for manual configuration. 

Selecting the RAW file captured 

Step 2: RAW Open Parameters Window 

After selecting the RAW file, the “Set RAW open parameters” dialog appears. 

Configure the parameters as follows: 

• Image Width: Enter the correct image width (for example, 5120). 

• Image Height: Enter the correct image height (for example, 3840). 

These values must exactly match the resolution used during image capture. 

Step 3: Select Bits Per Pixel (BPP) Settings 

1. Under BitsPerPixel (BPP), select 12 BPP. 

2. Choose Not Normalized. 

Selecting Not Normalized preserves original pixel values in the 0–4095 range, ensuring that raw sensor data is displayed without contrast scaling. 

Step 4: Configure Miscellaneous Options 

In the Misc section: 

• Enable Vertical Flip (if required based on sensor orientation). 

• Enable Grayscale to display luminance data correctly. 

These settings ensure correct orientation and proper monochrome visualization of the Y12 image. 

Step 5: Open and View the Y12 RAW Image 

1. Click OK to apply the RAW open parameters. 

2. IrfanView will display the Y12 RAW image in grayscale. 

3. Use zoom and pan controls to inspect image sharpness, contrast, and detail. 

Verification (IrfanView) 

Confirm that the image is displayed correctly with: 

• Proper resolution 

• Correct orientation 

• Smooth grayscale transitions 

If the image appears distorted or incorrectly scaled, recheck the width, height, and BPP values. 

Conclusion 

By combining VadzoARC for Y12 camera streaming and still capture with IrfanView for RAW image visualization, users can maintain a fully transparent and accurate image pipeline. This workflow ensures that high-bit-depth monochrome data is preserved from sensor capture through final inspection, making it ideal for industrial inspection, camera evaluation, and machine vision development where precision and data integrity are critical.