Camera adjustment

LightBurn Hardware Compatibility Cameras
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1

…it’s been quite some time since this has been up here, has there been any progress on it ?
The problem of overexposure e.g. is annoying and “should” also be handled on Linux and at least under Mac OS and not be a Windows only thing.

2

On Linux, controlling exposure and brightness for cameras depends on both the application (in this case, LightBurn) and the system’s infrastructure. Unlike Windows, where APIs are standardized, Linux relies on libraries like v4l2 (Video for Linux 2) for these functionalities.

Here’s how you can resolve the issue and adjust camera controls on Linux:

1. Check if the camera supports adjustments via v4l2

Linux uses the v4l2 module to communicate with cameras. First, install the required package:

sudo apt-get install v4l-utils

Then, list the available cameras:

v4l2-ctl --list-devices

Identify your camera’s device name (e.g., /dev/video0).

2. Manually adjust exposure and brightness

Use the v4l2-ctl command to modify the camera settings. Replace /dev/video0 with your device’s correct path.

  • List available controls:

    v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --list-ctrls

  • Set brightness:

    v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl=brightness=128

  • Set exposure (absolute):

    v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl=exposure_absolute=200

  • Disable auto-exposure:

    v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl=exposure_auto=1

3. Make changes persistent

The adjustments made with v4l2-ctl are temporary. To apply them automatically on every system boot:

  • Create a script, e.g., camera-settings.sh:

    #!/bin/bash
v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl=brightness=128
v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl=exposure_auto=1
v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --set-ctrl=exposure_absolute=200

  • Make the script executable:

    chmod +x camera-settings.sh

  • Add the script to the startup manager, such as crontab:

    crontab -e

    Add the following line:

    @reboot /path/to/camera-settings.sh
1 Like
3

Hi Lucas, thank you very much for your detailed instructions. I will definitely try it on my work computer which is the Linux machine.

4

If it’s not too much trouble, please share your feedback about your experience so it can be recorded for future research on the forum.
We will no longer provide support for the program, but we uphold the Linux spirit of sharing knowledge.

1 Like
5

I will do that as soon as I have tested it. :+1: