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Intermediate8 min read

Lighting for high-speed imaging

With exposures of microseconds, light is the scarcest resource: use continuous flicker-free sources, high-intensity LED or pulsed laser, and calculate the exposure before recording.

Why light runs short

At 10,000 fps the exposure is under 100 µs; the light reaching the sensor is thousands of times less than in ordinary video.

Flicker

Lamps connected to the power line oscillate at 120 Hz and show up as pulsing; use LEDs with a DC driver or sources designed for high speed.

Laser

In welding and other processes with intense glare, pulsed laser illumination with a bandpass filter makes the arc invisible and the weld pool visible.

Heat

Powerful sources heat the sample; prefer LED and turn the light on only during capture.

Calculate

Use the Academy exposure calculator with the camera's rate, exposure and sensitivity.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use ordinary studio lighting?

Only if it is LED with a flicker-free driver and high power; tungsten on the power line pulses and shows up in the video.

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