Registering Markers Captured with a Digital Camera

You can use images captured with a digital camera to register markers.

Recommended Conditions for Capturing Markers

  • Number of pixels to capture: Approx. 2000 megapixels (5760×3840 pixels) / File format: JPEG / Focal length (35 mm equivalent): 20–28 mm (X–X in)
  • Shooting mode: Aperture Priority AE (Av) / Image stabilizer: Off / Focus mode: Manual focus
  • Aperture value: F8 / ISO speed: ISO 1600 / White balance: Auto

Printing and Capturing a Calibration Pattern

When using this function, print and capture a calibration pattern with the following procedure in advance.

  1. Select the calibration pattern.

    Windows 11

    • Click the [Start] button.
    • Click [All apps], and select [Canon MREAL Platform 2025.x] > [Utility].

    Windows 10

    • Click the [Start] button.
    • Click [All apps], and select [Canon MREAL Platform 2025.x] > [Utility].

  2. Select the calibration pattern.

    • Select [Calibration Pattern(MB-3B)] or [Calibration Pattern(MB-4)].

  3. Print on paper that matches the size of the calibration pattern.

    Note

    • Affix cardboard or similar material to the back so that the calibration pattern does not warp.
    • Printing is not necessary if you have an MREAL marker board.

  4. Place the calibration patterns on the floor.

  5. Capture the calibration patterns.

    • From directly above (A), make adjustments so that all of the calibration patterns fit in the screen and then capture them.
    • From the directions of (B) to (E), make adjustments so that the screen is full of calibration patterns centered on the six patterns at the center and then capture them.
    • Capture at least three images in one direction, and up to a total of 24 images.

Capturing Markers

After capturing the calibration patterns, capture the markers.

  • Place the markers to register with the origin marker (A) at the center.

  • Capture all of the markers so that first the origin marker (A) is placed in the screen, and then a marker placed in the screen in the last capture is placed in the screen as with (B) and (C).

  • You can expect to improve the reading accuracy for camera tracking by repeatedly capturing while changing the capture angle as shown below.

  • When capturing is finished, save the captured images on the PC.

Registering Markers

  1. Select [Basic Settings] in the MREAL Configuration Tool window.

  2. Select [Use Marker Tool] in [Define World Coordinate System], and click [Start Tool].

  3. Select [Use the Recorded Image File] and click [OK] in the following window.

    • Camera Parameter Tool launches and a window for selecting a marker image appears.
    • Select multiple images from the calibration patterns captured in “Printing and Capturing a Calibration Pattern”, and click [Open]. Do not select the images of “markers” captured in “Capturing Markers”.

    • Click [OK] in the following window.

  4. Click [Calculate] in the displayed window.

  5. When the following window appears, click [Close].

  6. Check the calculation results and click [Apply] if there is no problem.

  7. Click [OK] in the following window.

  8. Select the [Edit Mode] tab in the Marker Tool window.

  9. Delete the unused marker information.

    • When the world coordinate system (camera) is selected, select a marker displayed in the [Marker Name] list, then right-click and select [Delete from Marker Definition].

  10. Register the origin marker.

    • Right-click in the [Marker Name] list area and select [Add MREAL Marker].
    • Enter the ID and size of the marker you decided to use as the origin marker in the [Add MREAL Marker] window.
    • Select [Origin Marker] from the [Input Type] list, and click [OK].

  11. Select the [Calibration Mode] tab in the Marker Tool window.

    • The window for selecting the marker image appears.
    • Select the marker image, and click [Open].

  12. Click [Calculate] in the displayed window.

  13. When the following window appears, click [Close].

  14. Click [Apply] then [OK] in the Marker Tool window.