Adjusting camera settings

Adjusting camera settings

Optimal Camera Settings for License Plate Recognition:

  • Autofocus: Set the autofocus area to cover the license plate and click Autofocus. Fine-tune the focus manually if necessary to ensure the license plate appears sharp and clear.

  • Wide Dynamic Range: Disable this setting to prevent overexposure in high-contrast scenes.

  • Contrast: Set the contrast value to 65.

  • Local Contrast: Set the local contrast to 65. This reduces noise during nighttime while maintaining sufficient visibility of license plates. Adjust this value if required, but be aware that it may increase noise levels.

  • Tone Mapping: Set the tone mapping value to 20.

  • IR-Cut Filter: Set it to "Auto" to allow the camera to automatically adjust the IR-cut filter based on lighting conditions.

  • Max Shutter: Set the maximum shutter speed to 1/500 to optimize image sharpness and clarity.

  • Max Gain: Adjust the maximum gain to 21 dB to achieve an optimal balance between reducing motion blur and controlling noise levels. If license plates appear overexposed, decrease the max gain to 9 dB.

  • Lock Aperture: Disable this setting to allow the camera's iris to operate in automatic mode, especially if the vehicle is exposed to direct sunlight.

One lane 

FULL HD resolution  

Two lanes 

  • North American and GCC plates, 4K resolution

  • EU + South African plates,

FULL HD resolution  


Pixel density, achieved with 4K camera resolution for EU + South African plates, allows capturing the width of three lanes.
However, due to the limited performance of the IR backlight during nighttime, installation for covering three-lane traffic is not recommended. 

License Plate Size:
Navigate to the camera's installation settings.
Enable the pixel counter and check that the width of a single-row license plate is not less than about 130 pixels
(See Recommended License Plate Size for different plate types)
Adjust the camera's position if needed to meet these size requirements.

Recommendations on mounting and adjusting.

  1. Ensure that the camera is equipped with IR LEDs if license plate recognition is required during nighttime operation.

  2. The shutter speed must be set high enough to suppress glare from vehicle headlights at night.
    Typically, a value around 1/1000 is recommended.
    Please note that excessively high shutter speeds may blur or obscure fine details,
    especially the edges of characters or shadows on the license plate.

  3. When selecting the camera mounting location, take sunrise and sunset angles into consideration.
    Direct sunlight can significantly distort the image.

  4. If the camera is mounted on a roadside pole, verify the stability of the pole under real traffic conditions.
    Some poles may vibrate noticeably when heavy vehicles or convoys pass by,
    which can make license plate recognition extremely unreliable or impossible.

  5. After optimizing the camera settings for daytime conditions, always verify performance at night, and vice versa.
    Lighting conditions can have a substantial impact on recognition results,
    and settings that work well in daylight may not be suitable after dark.

  6. If you are unsure how many pixels the license plate occupies in the image,
    capture a full-frame screenshot and measure it using a graphic editing tool such as Photoshop.
    Most image editors provide ruler or measurement tools suitable for this purpose.
    Or simply check it on the camera - Navigate to the camera's installation settings.
    Enable the pixel counter and check.

  7. It is generally recommended to reduce or disable WDR.
    While these settings often improve overall image appearance, they can blur small but critical details such as the edges of license plate characters.


By following these steps and fine-tuning the camera settings,
you can optimize license plate visibility and enhance the accuracy of license plate recognition within CAMMRA AI.


At night, when the camera is automatically or manually set to black-and-white night mode, the Make, Model, Recognition (MMR),
and color detection functionalities are disabled.
Consequently, make, model, vehicle type, and color information cannot be captured during night time.


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