Selection Guides

Line Scan Camera Lighting Setup

Plan line scan camera lighting by material width, web speed, exposure time, line light geometry, lens field width, encoder synchronization and edge-to-center uniformity.

Line scan camera product photo for lighting setup guide

Direct answer

Line Scan Camera Lighting Setup

A line scan camera lighting setup should be designed around material speed and exposure first. Confirm web width, line rate, encoder synchronization, smallest defect, surface reflectivity, line-light length, lens field width and uniformity before choosing the camera or light.

Quick answer

What is the short answer for line scan camera lighting setup?

Design the light around the moving material, not the camera catalog. Stable line scan inspection needs enough exposure, uniform edge-to-edge light and encoder timing that preserves image scale.

Quick answer

What should be confirmed before RFQ?

Encoder synchronization stabilizes continuous inspection.

Quick answer

What evidence should Deyi Vision review?

Check edge, center and corner brightness.

Key takeaways

What this page should help engineering teams decide.

Line lighting must match material speed and exposure.
Encoder synchronization stabilizes continuous inspection.
Check edge, center and corner brightness.

Product families commonly involved.

Key point

Line scan lighting starts with exposure time.

Continuous inspection has less tolerance for weak light because the material keeps moving. The lighting setup should calculate line rate, web speed, exposure time, aperture and required defect contrast before choosing a line light.

Key point

Uniformity across the web is a commissioning-critical detail.

Wide film, paper, metal strip and textile inspection can fail when the center and edges receive different illumination. The setup should check line-light length, working distance, angle, diffuser route and lens shading together.

Key point

Encoder synchronization protects image geometry.

If material speed changes, encoder-triggered acquisition keeps pixel aspect ratio and defect shape stable. A line scan camera with encoder input should be reviewed whenever speed variation or web tension affects image scale.

Key point

Surface behavior decides bright-field, dark-field or backlight.

Matte webs, glossy film, transparent sheets, metal strip and textured textile need different light angles. Dark-field can reveal scratches and raised defects, while backlight can support edge or silhouette checks.

Selection framework

Use this guide as a pre-RFQ decision filter, not as a part-number shortcut.

Machine vision selection is usually stable when the project starts from the inspection condition instead of a catalog model. Before requesting a quote, define what must be detected or measured, how the part moves, what surface behavior affects contrast and which factory constraint cannot change.

For line scan camera lighting setup, the engineering team should translate the requirement into testable inputs: sample images, target tolerance, line speed, field of view, working distance, mounting envelope and the current failure mode. That gives the factory enough evidence to map the request to camera, lighting, optics, reader or 3D routes.

Decision matrix

Three checks before locking the route.

Web speed

Higher speed reduces exposure time and requires stronger or strobed line lighting.

Material width

Line-light length and lens field width must cover edge-to-edge inspection uniformly.

Encoder setup

Use encoder synchronization when speed varies or geometry must remain stable.

Comparison table

Use these data points to turn the concept into an RFQ-ready decision.

Factor	Practical rule	RFQ impact
Web speed	Higher speed reduces exposure time and requires stronger or strobed line lighting.	Send speed range, line rate target and exposure limit.
Material width	Line-light length and lens field width must cover edge-to-edge inspection uniformly.	Send web width, target resolution and edge defect requirements.
Encoder setup	Use encoder synchronization when speed varies or geometry must remain stable.	Send encoder pulse rate, roller diameter and speed variation.
Surface reflectivity	Glossy or metallic surfaces often need controlled angle, diffusion or dark-field routing.	Send real material samples or videos under current lighting.
Defect size	Small defects require enough pixels, contrast and exposure stability at production speed.	Send smallest defect size, acceptable false reject rate and sample images.

Common mistakes

Problems that slow down selection.

Selecting by model number before the inspection target is measurable.
Treating lighting as an accessory instead of the main contrast-control tool.
Ignoring fixture stability, part variation and operator maintenance workflow.

Factory handoff

What Deyi Vision reviews after receiving the project details.

The factory route review starts by checking whether the image can be made stable with lighting and fixture control. Then the camera, lens, reader or 3D sensor route is sized against speed, resolution, interface and installation constraints.

If you already have a Keyence, Cognex, Basler, OPT, LMI, Hikrobot or barcode-reader reference, include it as a benchmark. Deyi Vision uses the reference to understand the application class; final selection still depends on real samples and production limits.

Guide to RFQ

Have a real part, sample image or production constraint?

Use the guide to frame the question, then send the details so engineering can recommend a route.

Request engineering RFQ

Guide FAQ

Questions related to line scan camera lighting setup.

Ask engineering

What lighting is used for line scan cameras?

Most line scan systems use a dedicated line light, but the angle and geometry can be bright-field, dark-field, backlight or diffused depending on material and defect type.

Why does a line scan camera need an encoder?

An encoder synchronizes image acquisition with material movement so defect shape and pixel scale stay stable when conveyor or web speed changes.

How do I avoid uneven illumination in web inspection?

Check line-light length, working distance, diffuser route, lens shading and edge-to-center intensity with the real material width before shipment.

What should I send for a line scan lighting RFQ?

Send web width, speed range, smallest defect, material finish, sample images, encoder details, working distance, mounting limits and whether the quote includes camera, lens and light.