Improve Webcam Video Quality
When you record a video from your webcam, or when you participate in online video conferences and chat, the quality of your webcam video image is critical to having a positive experience. At InterVU.me we found that to optimize the quality of the webcam video you need to address these three factors:
- Webcam Quality
- Lighting
- Internet Bandwidth.
Webcam Quality
It is important to have a webcam with at least 1.3Mp image resolution, 30 frames per second (fps) motion control, a good quality glass lens, auto focus, and preferably a built-in microphone. USB webcams are particularly useful as there is no software to load. Simply plug them into a USB port and the computer will recognize it automatically. No more worries about software drivers. We previously wrote an article titled Which Webcam Should I Buy? which goes into detail on the many factors to consider in purchasing a quality webcam. The good news is quality webcams which meet our specifications can be found for as low as $20. Read the article for the list of recommended webcams and sources where you can purchase them at a great deal.
Webcams built into laptops and netbooks unfortunately are not always the highest quality, and often are only 0.3M pixel resolution. They are also prone to breakage from opening and closing the clam shell. If you purchase an external webcam ensure that it works on your operating system. InterVU.me provides a free test tool to check your webcam functionality. Simply click here to test your webcam. Bookmark the link and use it whenever you need to test your webcam to make sure it is working properly. Share the link with your friends so they can also test their webcams.
Lighting
Lighting can dramatically affect the quality of your webcam video image, both in resolution and in color saturation. TV studios have strong lighting systems in place for a reason. Adjusting the location and brightness of your lighting can help if your video looks dim, grainy or washed out. The following common problems may be caused by lighting, and here are suggestions to improve the quality:
- Dim Video – There isn’t enough light in your room. Try turning on more lights, or move to an area where there is more light.
- Dim Image – This could be caused by having a bright light source behind you. The camera adjusts its sensitivity to the background instead of you. Try positioning yourself so the light source is in front of you.
- Grainy Video – While this could be caused by a low quality camera, it can also be caused (or made worse) by not having enough light. To compensate for the lack of light, cameras often adjust their sensitivity which creates more grain or “noise” in the image. Try turning another light on, or sitting closer to and facing the light source.
- Choppy video – This can be caused by not having enough light in your room, but can also be caused by not having enough bandwidth. Try turning on more lights and if you still have the problem, read the section below on Bandwidth.
- Washed Out Image – This is usually caused by a light that is too intense (example: having a light shine directly at your face). Try dimming the light, or reflecting the light off a light colored surface, like a white piece of paper on your desk.
Internet Bandwidth
If you are recording a webcam video directly on your computer Internet bandwidth is not an issue. However Internet bandwidth becomes a critical issue when conducting online video chats and video conferences. Even if you have a high speed cable Internet connection, or a T-1, available bandwidth can be less than the “maximum” and may vary during the day. Factors that influence the amount of bandwidth you have available includes other traffic on your network, the number of other people using your shared Internet connection, and whether you are downloading or streaming videos. Below are three measurements of your connection speed that will influence your video quality:
- Downstream Bandwidth – This is the amount of bandwidth you have coming to your computer from the Internet. You should have at least 1Mbps downstream bandwidth to ensure good quality video for multi-person conferences and screen sharing.
- Upstream Bandwidth – This is the amount of bandwidth you have going from your computer to the Internet. You should have a minimum of 128kbps upstream bandwidth; for the best quality video and for multi-person conversations you should have 256kbps and higher.
- Latency - This is the amount of time it takes for the traffic you send to reach its destination. If you notice it is taking a long time for your friend to respond or that you are talking over each other, this is probably being caused by high latency. Your latency should be below 250ms. Latency problems are often caused by network congestion, if you experience problems, try ending the video conversation and starting it again.
It is a good idea to test your bandwidth prior to holding an online video session. Here is a free speed-test tool. If you are sharing your Internet connections with others you may want to let them know you will be holding a video chat or conference and ask that they temporarily avoid download or uploading large files while you are on your video call. You should also avoid taxing your computer with other CPU intensive activities during the online video session. For example you should make sure your anti-virus software is not actively scanning your hard drive and taking computer memory and resources away from your video.
The service provider you use can have a major affect on the quality of your video experience. Most free services, such as Skype and instant messaging services, offer “best effort” service. Most if not all of the paid service providers will lock in the proper amount of bandwidth and fps motion control in their media servers to ensure a good experience. The paid services also offer live technical support via toll free numbers, a very useful capability when using the technology in a business situation. If you have a quality webcam, good lighting, and suitable bandwidth, but are still having webcam video quality issues, it may be time to switch your service provider.
We hope this article on improving the quality of your webcam video has been helpful, and we wish you well with your online video experience.