3.1.3
Image data output formats
All modes are provided by the xiAPI or standard interfaces using the xiAPI (please see
Each camera supports several Image Data Output Formats:
Mode
Description
XI_RAW8
8 bits per pixel raw data from sensor. [pixel byte] raw data from transport (camera output)
XI_RAW16
16 bits per pixel raw data from sensor. [pixel byte low] [pixel byte high] 16 bits (depacked) raw data
XI_MONO8
8 bits per pixel. [Intensity]
1,2
XI_MONO16
16 bits per pixel. [Intensity LSB] [Intensity MSB]
1,2
xI_RGB24
RGB data format. [Blue][Green][Red]
2
xI_RGB32
RGBA data format. [Blue][Green][Red][0]
2
xI_RGB48
RGB data format. [Blue low byte][Blue high byte][Green low][Green high][Red low][Red high]
1
xI_RGB64
RGBA data format. [Blue low byte][Blue high byte][Green low][Green high][Red low][Red high][0][0]
1
xI_RGB_PLANAR
RGB planar data format. [Red][Red]...[Green][Green]...[Blue][Blue]...
2
xI_RGB16_PLANAR
RGB16 planar data format
xI_FRM_TRANSPORT_DATA
Data from transport layer (e.g. packed). Depends on data on the transport layer
3
1
Higher CPU processing is required when this mode is selected because color filter array processing is implemented on PC. This
processing is serialized when multiple cameras is used at once. The most effective way to get data from camera is to use XI_RAW8,
where no additional processing is done in API.
2
On monochromatic cameras the black level is not subtracted in XI_MONO8 and XI_MONO16 formats by Image Processing in xiAPI, so
black level remains the same as in RAW format.
3
When using Transport Data Format, the Image Processing block from XiAPI Image Data Flow is skipped and therefore the Transport
format is the most effective data format in terms of CPU and RAM usage.
Table 31: image formats
XIMEA Technical Manual, Version: v230927
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