Video Quality
The True Measurement of
Video Quality:
Pixel vs. TVL
Introduction
• This section will bring you through the
following concepts about:
1. What are the 3 resolution standards in
CCTV industry-Pixels, TVL and scan lines
2. The key to more image details-Pixels
3. The true measurement of video quality-TVL
Agenda
● What’s Crucial in a Surveillance Scene Image?
● How Do I Measure the Amount of Details I Can Get?
--Resolution
--Scan Line: NTSC & PAL
--Pixels
--From Analog to Digital
--Why Mega Pixels Matters
--HD Resolution in Surveillance Cameras
--More than the Pixels
--The Factors Influencing Video Quality
--TV Lines
--How to Measure the TVL Value
● Conclusion
What’s Crucial in a Surveillance
Scene Image?
● Details = Information = Evidence
How Do I Measure the Amount of
Details I Can Get?
Resolution
● How do we measure the image details the camera can
produce?
“Resolution”
● Measurement
Example Measurement System
525 lines (NTSC) Scan line Analog
540 TV lines TV line Analog / Digital
1280X1024 pixels Pixel Digital
Scan Line: NTSC & PAL
● Scan line:
Horizontal rows displaying an image on CRT screens
● Standards:
NTSC 525 lines; PAL 625 lines
● Scanning method
- Interlaced scanning 1,3,5… then 2,4,6 …
- Progressive scanning 1,2,3,4,5,6…
Pixels
● Pixel : smallest units of a digital image
Example
1280 x 1024 pixels
= 1,310,720 pixels
= 1.3 Megapixels (MP)
Original Enlarged
● Higher number of pixels = more details
25X25 50X50 100X100
From Analog to Digital
● Video display quality was limited due to the
incapability of CRT display devices
● Analog signal + Encoder = Digital signal
More details can be seen on digital
display devices
Analog Digital
Analog Camera Encoder
Digital
IP Camera Digital Display
Standard Scan Lines Resolution Name Pixels ( WxL)
NTSC 525 lines 720 x 480 (NTSC)
D1
720 x 576 (PAL)
PAL 625 lines
Why Megapixel Matters
● The growth of pixel number in CCTV industry
Resolution Name Pixels ( WxL) MP
Analog
D1 720 x 480 (NTSC) 0.3
Cameras 720 x 576 (PAL) 0.4
+ Encoder SXGA 1280X1024 1.3
Network QXGA 2048X1536 3
cameras
8960
XY
Non-mega
pixel
Mega pixel
HD Resolution in Surveillance Cameras
● “High Definition” video format
A higher, standardized display format using the
resolution aspect ratio as 16:9
Better than the NTSC/PAL format
Best matches human eyes
4:3 ● Display Aspect Ratio
4:3 General TVs
16:9 HDTVs
16:9
● Standard requirements
Aspect ratio, resolution, scanning, frame rate
Resolution Name Pixels ( WxH) Display Ratio
VGA 640X480 4:3
HD 720p 1280X720 16:9
SXGA 1280X1024 4:3
Full HD 1080p 1920X1080 16:9
● HD visual outcome
= HD resolution video + HD display device
HD Video HD Display Device
More than the Pixels
● Higher number of pixels DOES NOT guarantee better
video quality!
250X130 pixels 375X295 pixels
● Some high megapixel cameras in the market MAY
produce image with low clarity even if its lens is well-
adjusted!
Miss needed details
Waste bandwidth and storage space
The Factors Influencing Video Quality
● The process of an image being produced by a camera:
Image
Com- Decom-
Objec Senso Signal
Lens pressio pressio Image
t r Processo
n n
r
● The direct outcome of the image production
The snapshot
TV Lines
● TVL = the maximum number of alternating light +
dark lines that can be resolved on the image
The numeric value representing the accumulated
effort = lens + sensor + ISP + compression
Practical for both analog CCTV and IP surveillance
Width
Example
400 TV Lines
Height
=200 distinct vertical dark lines +
200 distinct vertical white lines
● Higher number of TVLs
= More detailed and clear image
How to Measure the TVL Value
You only need the 4 things:
1. Your camera
2. A printed TVL resolution chart
3. A PC
ISO 12233
4. A TVL checker software
(e.g. Olympus Hyres 3.1)
Conclusion
Important Facts about Video Quality
● High megapixels promise more details to be
included in an image
● High definition visual outcome
= HD video (720p, 1080p)+ HD display device
● TVL= true measurement of final video quality
Fair and Accurate
TVL testing is affordable and simple