Datavideo DVK-100 User Guide

DVK-100

CHROMA KEY

Rev: 020306

User Guide

http:// www.datavideo-tek.com

Contents

Warnings and Precautions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4

Warranty -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

What is in the package ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6

Backdrops --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6

Lighting ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6

White Balance ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

Functions ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

Front Panel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

Rear Panel ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

Installation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Setting Up ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

Connections----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

Power ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

Cameras ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13

Background Video ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14

Monitors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15

Output --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16

Using the DVK-100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

Powering Up------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17

Chroma Keying------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17

Edge Adjustment (Shrink)--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18

Subject Density---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

Spill Adjustment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

Window Adjustment ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20

Settings Lock ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21

Reset ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21

Luma Keying ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22

Luma Key Installation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22

Luma Key Settings ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23

Colour Processor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26

Still  Freeze Frame ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26

GPI Control ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 27

RS 232 Information ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 28

Specifications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29

Optional Accessories ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30

Service and Support ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31

Warnings and Precautions

1. Read all of these warnings and save them for later reference.

2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on this unit.

3. Unplug this unit from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp

cloth for cleaning.

4. Do not use this unit in or near water.

5. Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The unit may fall, causing serious damage.

6. Slots and openings on the cabinet top, back, and bottom are provided for ventilation. To ensure safe

and reliable operation of this unit, and to protect it from overheating, do not block or cover these

openings. Do not place this unit on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface, as the ventilation openings on

the bottom of the cabinet will be blocked. This unit should never be placed near or over a heat register

or radiator. This unit should not be placed in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is provided.

7. This product should only be operated from the type of power source indicated on the marking label of

the AC adapter. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your Datavideo dealer or

your local power company.

8. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this unit where the power cord will be

walked on, rolled over, or otherwise stressed.

9. If an extension cord must be used with this unit, make sure that the total of the ampere ratings on the

products plugged into the extension cord do not exceed the extension cords rating.

10. Make sure that the total amperes of all the units that are plugged into a single wall outlet do not

exceed 15 amperes.

11. Never push objects of any kind into this unit through the cabinet ventilation slots, as they may touch

dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill

liquid of any kind onto or into this unit.

12. Except as specifically explained elsewhere in this manual, do not attempt to service this product

yourself. Opening or removing covers that are marked Do Not Remove may expose you to

dangerous voltage points or other risks, and will void your warranty. Refer all service issues to

qualified service personnel.

13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer to qualified service personnel under the following

conditions:

a. When the power cord is damaged or frayed;

b. When liquid has spilled into the unit;

c. When the product has been exposed to rain or water;

d. When the product does not operate normally under normal operating conditions. Adjust only

those controls that are covered by the operating instructions in this manual; improper adjustment of

other controls may result in damage to the unit and may often require extensive work by a qualified

technician to restore the unit to normal operation;

e. When the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged;

f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.

Warranty

Datavideo warrants that the equipment it manufactures shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of product purchased. If equipment fails due to such defects, Datavideo will, at its option, repair or provide a replacement for the defective part or product. Equipment that fails after the warranty period, has been operated or installed in a manner other than that specified by Datavideo, or has been subjected to abuse or modification, will be repaired for time and material charges at the Buyers expense. This warranty does not affect your statutory rights within the Country of purchase.

For EU Customers only - WEEE Marking.

This symbol on the product indicates that it will not be treated as household waste. It must be handed over to the applicable take-back scheme for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. For more detailed information about the recycling of this product, please contact your local Datavideo office.

What is in the Package

1 x DVK 100 Chroma Key Unit

1 x User Guide (this document)

1 x Power Supply (12V 3.0A)

1 x Power Cord

2 x S-Video (Y/C) Plug to Plug Cable 1.2m

1 x BNC Plug to Plug Cable 1.2m

Introduction

The Datavideo DVK-100 is a two camera live chroma keyer. It has many advanced features which can give excellent results even from less than perfect Chroma Key setups. Although the DVK-100 is equipped with excellent edge controls it is always best to start with the best keyable image your setup is able to produce. Please read these advisory notes before using the DVK-100 as the camera, backdrop and lighting setups all play an important role in producing the best result.

We would strongly recommend the use of a three chip (3 CCD) camera for chroma effect shooting. The extra image clarity that a three chip camera produces greatly improves the quality of the keying. It is also best to use S-Video (Y/C) cables wherever possible. An S-Video signal offers better colour separation than a Composite video signal, and again this greatly improves the quality of the keying.

Backdrops

There are many different possibilities when it comes to setting up a Chroma Key Studio. In a permanent set up the use of Green Screen or Blue Screen Paint is ideal. Painting a wall is the cheapest way of producing a Green or Blue backdrop and there are several suppliers of specialist backdrop paint which is exactly the right shade and texture for keying purposes. For a less permanent arrangement cloth is an excellent option. Again there are specialist manufacturers producing Green and Blue Screen cloth which is the right shade and texture to give excellent keying results. Cloth is quick to setup, and roll away, and is far more durable than paper. Cloth is also less likely to fade than paper, and generally gives far better performance. It is important to ensure there are no creases or folds in the backdrop as these may produce areas of uneven lighting. Another alternative well worth considering is the range of backdrops from Reflecmedia www.relecmedia.com. Reflecmedia produce unique backdrops which are embedded with tiny glass beads. These backdrops are used in conjunction with LED LiteRings that mount on the lens of the camera. The unique properties of the backdrop will allow you to get away with having the odd crease line, and the whole system is extremely quick to set up. If you are looking for a portable system you will be hard pushed to beat the Reflecmedia systems.

Lighting

Lighting of your chosen backdrop is extremely important; the more even the lighting on the backdrop the better the finished result. Lighting setups for the foreground will vary according to the effect youre after, but as far as chroma keying backdrops are concerned even lighting with no hotspots or shadow areas is the aim. This is easiest to achieve with a set up something like this:

In the diagram you will see we recommend a minimum of 1m between subject and backdrop, it is always easier to get even lighting if this distance is greater, so please think of 1m as the absolute minimum. The foreground lighting on the subject will obviously vary according to the effect that you are looking for and as long as the backdrop is evenly lit this should not be a problem.

Lighting for Reflecmedia is a little different. The backdrop requires no lighting as the LiteRing, which is mounted on the camera provides all the lighting for the backdrop. A Reflecmedia setup would be more like this:

More in-depth details of Reflecmedia lighting setups are available from the Reflecmedia website: www.reflecmedia .com

White Balance

White Balance is extremely important when setting up a chroma key studio. The camera must be correctly white balanced to prevent the subject picking up any colour cast from the background. Of course the white balance settings will vary according to the type of lighting you are using, but neutral whites are the all important target.

To set the white balance you will need a white reference card (or a sheet of white paper). Focus the camera on the reference card and light it evenly using the main light. Set the cameras iris / aperture so that the card is correctly exposed. Use the Auto White Balance function, or set the white balance manually so that the card appears white. If in any doubt about how to white balance your camera, please refer to your camera instruction manual for details.

Functions

The DVK-100 has three inputs (two camera inputs and one background input). Each of the inputs can be set to Y/C (S-Video) or Composite. All the outputs, one Y/C (S-Video) and two Composite, are simultaneously live. We recommend that Y/C is used for the camera inputs wherever possible.

Front Panel

CAM-1 and CAM-2 are used to select the input that you want to use or setup. The active input will be illuminated in red. Each camera input has individual settings. The settings are non-volatile (they remain stored even when the DVK-100 is switched off). The settings for both cameras can be locked by pressing and holding either camera button for two seconds. When locked the active camera button will turn amber instead of red

The Adjustment Knob is used to alter whichever function is active. The unity position, indicated in green is the neutral setting. The adjustment scale is marked in nominal settings from -3 to +3. The adjustment can also be used to reset any value to factory default; activate the function you want to reset by pressing the appropriate function button, and then push the adjustment knob in, you will see the LED meter return to unity.

The Arrow Buttons adjust the window size and the left and right edge. The spill button adjusts the colour balance of the keyed image; it enables you to correct any colour imbalance that remains on the foreground image once the backdrop has been keyed out.

The window size can be set to remove any unwanted garbage from the foreground image. Often your backdrop does not fill the whole screen, particularly if you want your subject to appear small in the finished image. You can use the Up / Down / Left / Right arrows to make the keying window smaller so that only your backdrop is being keyed.

To adjust left or right edge press and hold the Left or Right Arrow for two seconds, the button will flash. While the button is flashing you can adjust the edge detail of the subject, you will see the value on the LED meter above the adjustment knob.

The Color Processor button activates the colour processor adjustments (see below) for Foreground (Cam-1 or Cam-2) or Backgroundò The button will be illuminated red when foreground is selected.

The Color Processor Adjustments allow colour saturation, brightness, contrast and tint (NTSC only) to be adjusted for both the foreground (Cam-1 / Cam-2) and background images. The selected parameter, which will be illuminated red, is adjusted using the Adjustment Knob. Cam-1 and Cam-2 store separate values, so different colour processor settings can be used on each.

The Still button enables you to grab a freeze frame image from either the background or foreground inputs. This can be useful when setting up.

N.B. The colour processor adjustments will not function if you are holding a freeze frame.

The Reset button resets a foreground channel (Cam-1 or Cam-2) to factory default. This will reset all characteristics of a channel (COLOR PROC. /GREEN / BLUE / LUMA / LEVEL / WINDOW / SHRINK / DENSITY / SPILL)

The Chroma Key button switches the keying effect on or off. In the off position the foreground channel (Cam-1 or Cam-2) will pass directly to the output monitor, complete with backdrop. When switched on the button will be illuminated red together with the chosen keying option (Green, Blue or Luma) see below.

Green, Blue and Luma are the three keying options available. With the Chroma Key button switched on, you can select the keying option to suit your needs. The selected option will be illuminated red. When the button is illuminated red you can adjust the keying colour, to fine tune it for your studio; you can see the setting on the LED meter above the adjustment knob(although what appears on your monitor is more important).

If another adjustment has been selected, such as density or spill, the keying option light will be illuminated 50% to indicate which option you have selected.

Level or Density adjusts the range of the keyer. The button will be illuminated red when active. The value is adjusted using the adjustment knob, you will see the level on the LED meter above the knob (although what appears on your monitor is more important).

If the background is perfectly lit a low value will be adequate, if there are variances in the background a higher value will allow you to remove them.

The subject density can also be adjusted. If you press and hold the button for two seconds the button will flash, while the button is flashing you can adjust subject density. In Green or Blue modes a low value makes the subject solid, the edges will be sharper and any shadow noise will be higher, a higher value makes the subject more transparent, the edges will be softer and the shadow noise lower.

In Luma mode the subject density will adjust the white gradient of the subject

Rear Panel

The Input Select Switches can be set to CV (Composite Video) or S (S-Video (Y/C)). Always use S-Video if available. Set each input according to the video signal you are connecting.

CAM-1 and CAM-2 Video Inputs for connecting the two foreground video images. There are Composite and S-Video Inputs, at the top and Composite and S-Video Loop Through outputs below. The S-Video input can be monitored from the Composite Video Loop Through if required. Ì¸» ÍóÊ·¼»± Ô±±° Ì¸®±«¹¸ ·- ±²´§

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Background Input (BG Input) for connecting the video feed from your background source. This could be from a VTR or DVD player for example. The Composite and S-Video Inputs are at the top, and the Loop Through Outputs are below. The S-Video input can be monitored from the Composite Video Loop Through if required. Ì¸» ÍóÊ·¼»± Ô±±° Ì¸®±«¹¸ ·- ±²´§ ¿½¬·ª» ·º ¬¸» ÍóÊ·¼»± ·²°«¬ ·- «-»¼ò

The Main Video Output shows the final result of the keyer. There are two composite outputs and one S-Video (Y/C), all three are active simultaneously. It is advisable to connect a monitor to one of the outputs so that you can see exactly what the DVK-100 is outputting.

Power Switch, switches the DVK-100 on/off.

DC In. Connect the power supply to the DC In, there is a locking collar on the power supply lead which screws onto the socket to ensure a positive connection. It is also possible to power the DVK-100 from a suitable 12V Battery Pack, but please ensure that the power is regulated.

Grounding Terminal. When connecting this unit to any other component, make sure that it is properly grounded by connecting this terminal to an appropriate point. When connecting, use the socket and be sure to use wire with a cross-sectional area of at least 1.0 mm2.

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