> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://stage-precision.gitbook.io/grid/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://stage-precision.gitbook.io/grid/camera-calibration/before-you-start/choosing-the-right-calibration-tool.md). # Choosing the Right Calibration Tool Grid Studio provides different calibration, alignment, and repositioning tools depending on the physical setup, the available input data, and the part of the system that needs to be created, updated, applied, or reused. This page helps you choose the correct tool before starting the calibration process. A good way to select the correct workflow is to ask: 1. What type of camera setup am I using? 2. Which reference type is available? 3. Which calibration data already exists? 4. What has changed in the physical setup? 5. Which result should the tool create, update, apply, or reuse? ## Tool Categories Grid Studio calibration tools can be grouped into two main categories: ### Calibration and Alignment Tools Calibration and alignment tools are used to create or update calibration data, such as Lens Profiles, Alignment Profiles, axis calibration data, or screen placement information. These tools are typically used when setting up a camera system for the first time, when calibration data needs to be recreated, or when an important part of the physical setup has changed. {% content-ref url="/pages/GKLKyZGAgGrJZbMh71qy" %} [Calibration and Alignment Tools](/grid/camera-calibration/before-you-start/choosing-the-right-calibration-tool/calibration-and-alignment-tools.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ### Repositioning Tools Repositioning tools are used when existing calibration data is already available, but an object, screen setup, camera system, or parent folder needs to be moved or aligned again. These tools usually do not solve the complete camera system again. Instead, they update a specific part of the setup, such as screen placement or a parent transform. {% content-ref url="/pages/tOqfAGb5N6XmKyhZg3BE" %} [Repositioning Tools](/grid/camera-calibration/before-you-start/choosing-the-right-calibration-tool/repositioning-tools.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## Result Types at a Glance | Result type | Meaning | | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Lens Profile** | A reusable Project Tree object that describes lens behavior such as distortion, focal length behavior, Center Shift, or Nodal Shift. | | **Global Lens Parameter Optimization** | Optional refinement of selected global lens parameters, usually based on an existing Lens Profile. This is not the same as a full Lens Calibration. | | **Alignment Profile** | A Project Tree object that describes how the camera, tracking data, lens, and reference setup relate to the virtual scene. | | **Calibration Screen Placement / Shape** | Updates the placement, orientation, or shape of existing Screen objects. The tool does not create the Screen objects themselves. | | **Axis Calibration Data** | Calibration data written to an Axis object, rail object, pole object, or related movement object. | | **Camera Object Values** | Calibration values written directly to the Camera Object instead of creating Lens or Alignment Profiles. | | **Parent / Object Transform** | Offset values applied to a parent folder or parent object to reposition an already calibrated camera system. | *** ## Required Data Legend The following matrices show which input data or project objects are required for each tool.
SymbolMeaning
✅Required
◐Optional or only required when a specific option is used
❌Not required
*** ## Required Data/Objects Matrix ### Calibration and Alignment Tools
ToolMedia InputCalibration ScreensManual MarkersPosition DataRotation DataLens Encoder DataLens ProfileAlignment ProfileCamera ObjectAxis Object
Lens & Tracking Calibration✅✅❌✅✅✅❌❌❌❌
Lens & Tracking Calibration (Rotation Only)✅✅❌❌✅✅❌❌❌❌
Lens Calibration✅✅❌❌❌✅❌❌❌❌
Tracking Alignment✅✅❌✅✅✅✅❌❌❌
Alignment with Markers✅❌✅✅✅✅✅❌❌❌
Axis-Pole Calibration✅✅❌✅✅✅❌❌❌✅
Simple Static Calibration✅✅❌❌❌❌❌❌✅❌
Simple Static Calibration with Marker✅❌✅❌❌❌❌❌✅❌
{% hint style="info" %} In the tool requirements, **Manual Markers** refers to workflows that use **Measurement Point** objects from the Project Tree. {% endhint %} {% content-ref url="/pages/GKLKyZGAgGrJZbMh71qy" %} [Calibration and Alignment Tools](/grid/camera-calibration/before-you-start/choosing-the-right-calibration-tool/calibration-and-alignment-tools.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ### Repositioning Tools
ToolMedia InputCalibration ScreensManual MarkersPosition DataRotation DataLens Encoder DataLens ProfileAlignment ProfileCamera ObjectParent Folder
Focusing on Points✅❌✅❌✅✅✅❌❌❌
Reposition from Marker✅❌✅◐✅◐◐◐✅◐
Reposition from Screen✅✅❌◐✅◐◐◐✅◐
Screen Reposition Without Profile✅✅❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Screens Alignment✅✅❌✅✅✅✅✅❌❌
{% content-ref url="/pages/tOqfAGb5N6XmKyhZg3BE" %} [Repositioning Tools](/grid/camera-calibration/before-you-start/choosing-the-right-calibration-tool/repositioning-tools.md) {% endcontent-ref %} *** ## Result Matrix Legend The following matrices show what each tool can create, update, or apply.
SymbolMeaning
✅The tool creates, updates, or applies this result
◐Optional or only used when a specific option is enabled
❌The tool does not affect this result
For Calibration Screens, ✅ or ◐ means that the tool can update or apply the placement, orientation, or shape of existing Calibration Screen objects. The tool does not create the Calibration Screen objects themselves. *** ## Result Matrix ### Calibration and Alignment Tools
ToolLens ProfileAlignment ProfileCalibration ScreenGlobal Lens Parameter OptimizationAxis CalibrationCamera Object Values
Lens & Tracking Calibration✅✅◐❌❌❌
Lens & Tracking Calibration (Rotation Only)✅✅◐❌❌❌
Lens Calibration✅❌◐❌❌❌
Tracking Alignment❌✅◐◐❌❌
Alignment with Markers❌✅❌◐❌❌
Axis-Pole Calibration✅✅◐❌✅❌
Simple Static Calibration❌❌◐❌❌✅
Simple Static Calibration with Marker❌❌❌❌❌✅
### Result Matrix — Repositioning Tools
ToolAlignment ProfileCalibration ScreenParent / Object Transform
Focusing on Points✅❌❌
Reposition from Marker❌❌✅
Reposition from Screen❌❌✅
Screen Reposition Without Profile❌✅❌
Screens Alignment❌✅❌
*** ## Choosing by Use Case Use this table as a starting point when deciding which workflow to use. | Situation | Recommended tool | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | You are setting up a new fully tracked camera system with lens, tracking, and Calibration Screens | **Lens & Tracking Calibration** | | You are using a pan/tilt camera or a rotation-only tracking setup | **Lens & Tracking Calibration (Rotation Only)** | | You only need to calibrate the lens | **Lens Calibration** | | The lens and Calibration Screens are still valid, but the tracking system or tracker mount changed | **Tracking Alignment** | | You cannot use generated marker images and want to use measured 3D points instead | **Alignment with Markers** | | You need accurate screen placement before calibrating a limited-movement camera system, such as pan/tilt or a small jib | **Screen Reposition Without Profile**, then reuse the screen setup in the camera calibration workflow | | The camera moves on a rail, pole, axis, or rotation head setup | **Axis-Pole Calibration** | | You have a static camera and want to calibrate it from Calibration Screens | **Simple Static Calibration** | | You have a static camera and want to calibrate it from Manual Markers | **Simple Static Calibration with Marker** | | You want to create an Alignment Profile from known image points and an existing Lens Profile | **Focusing on Points** | | You want to move an already calibrated camera system in the 3D scene without changing its profiles | **Reposition from Marker** or **Reposition from Screen** | | You want to position Calibration Screens without an existing profile | **Screen Reposition Without Profile** | | You want to adjust individual Calibration Screens in an already calibrated tracked setup | **Screens Alignment** | *** ## Common Two-Step Workflows Some setups are easier and more accurate when the calibration is split into two steps. For example, pan/tilt cameras, rotation-only cameras, small jibs, or other limited-movement camera systems may not be able to observe the calibration screens from enough different perspectives. In this case, you can first use Screen Reposition Without Profile with a separate untracked camera. Move around the setup and capture the Calibration Screens from multiple viewpoints. The camera lens settings must stay fixed during this process. Do not change zoom, focus, or other lens settings while capturing the observations. After the Calibration Screen placement has been applied, the calibrated Calibration Screen setup can be reused in the actual camera calibration workflow. For example, a pan/tilt camera can then be calibrated against the already positioned screens, while the screen repositioning option in that calibration tool can be disabled. This approach is useful when the screen setup should be solved accurately once and then reused by multiple camera systems. *** ## When to Reuse Existing Calibration Data Not every change requires a full recalibration. For example, if a second camera is added to an already calibrated LED stage, the Calibration Screen setup may already be valid. In this case, the screen-related part of the workflow can usually be reused or disabled, and the calibration can focus only on the camera-specific parts. If only the tracking system or tracker mount has changed, but the lens and screens are still valid, a Tracking Alignment workflow may be enough. If only one Calibration Screen has moved, a screen repositioning or Screens Alignment workflow may be more appropriate than solving the entire camera system again. If the complete calibrated camera system needs to be moved in 3D space, a repositioning workflow can be used. This keeps existing Lens Profiles and Alignment Profiles unchanged and applies an offset to a parent folder or parent object instead. *** ## Important Notes Choosing the correct tool is only the first step. Many tools also provide options that define which parts of the setup should be solved, updated, applied, or reused. For example, some calibration tools can also calculate screen placement. If the screen setup is already valid, this part of the workflow may not need to be applied again. Before starting a calibration, always check: * which input data is available * which profiles already exist * which Calibration Screens or Manual Markers are used as reference * which part of the physical setup has changed * whether the selected tool should create new profiles, update Calibration Screen placement, update axis data, or reposition an existing parent object The following sections explain the individual calibration and repositioning tools in more detail. *** After choosing the correct tool, continue with one of the following sections: * **Calibration and Alignment Tools** for workflows that create Lens Profiles, Alignment Profiles, axis calibration data, Calibration Screen placement, or Camera Object calibration values. * **Repositioning Tools** for workflows that move Calibration Screens, parent objects, or already calibrated camera systems without solving the full setup again.