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Preset Camera Positions

Setting and Calling Presets​

Presets let you save commonly used camera shots and recall them when needed. On supported PTZOptics cameras, each preset stores the camera's pan, tilt, and zoom position along with the image settings active when the preset is saved.

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Automatic Modes Remain Active: If auto exposure, auto white balance, or auto focus is enabled, the camera may continue adjusting the corresponding settings after the preset is recalled. These settings will need to be disabled manually before saving a preset if you want the preset to retain specific settings.

Before You Begin​

Set the room lighting to the conditions you expect to use during production. Changing the lighting after creating your presets may affect exposure, white balance, and the consistency between shots.

tip

Evenly distributed lighting is generally easier to work with because it reduces large differences in brightness and color across the room.

Starting from the camera's default image settings can provide a useful baseline, but it is not required. If the camera is already producing the desired image, you can use the current settings as your starting point.

Step 1: Save Your First Preset​

Using the Horizon Web UI (Recommended)​

  1. Open the Horizon Web UI and locate the live preview and PTZ controls.
  2. Zoom out to a wide view of the room.
  3. Pan and tilt the camera toward the center of the primary shooting area.
  4. Adjust the exposure, white balance, focus, and other image settings until you are satisfied with the image.
  5. Locate the Preset Control section and select Set.
  6. Type 1 as the preset number and press Enter on your keyboard to confirm the selection.
  7. Select Call, enter 1, and confirm that the camera returns to the expected position and image settings.

Using the IR Remote​

If you do not have access to the Horizon Web UI, you can establish Preset 1 with the IR remote:

  1. Use the arrow and zoom buttons to create a wide, centered view of the primary shooting area.
  2. Adjust the camera's image settings through the on-screen display as needed.
  3. Press [PRESET], followed by [1], to save the position and image settings.
  4. Press [HOME] to recall Preset 1 and confirm that the camera returns to the expected position and image settings.
Match the image, not necessarily the settings

Different areas of a room may require different exposure or color settings. The settings do not need to be identical across every preset. The resulting images should look consistent when switching between shots.

For easier comparison, monitor every shot on the same display. You can also capture a reference image of Preset 0 or compare the shots in production software such as OBS or vMix.

warning

Saving a preset to an occupied number replaces the previously stored shot.

Step 2: Calling Presets​

Using the Horizon Web UI​

1. Locate the Preset Control section.
2. Select Call.
3. Enter the preset number and confirm the selection.

Using the IR Remote​

Press the desired number button to recall Presets 0–9.

Using a PTZ Controller​

Select the preset number and use the controller's preset-call command. The exact procedure varies by controller, so refer to the controller's documentation for the correct button sequence.

note

The Horizon Web UI and compatible PTZ controllers can access preset numbers beyond the ten presets available directly from the IR remote.

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Automatic Modes and Preset Interaction:

If Image Presets are disabled, when the camera recalls the start location, stop location, or target-lost preset, it will only move to the saved position. The camera will continue using the current image settings and will not recall any image parameters from the preset.

If Image Presets are enabled, when one of those presets is recalled, the camera will restore both the saved camera position and the image settings stored with that preset.

Clearing Presets​

Clearing Presets with the Horizon Web UI​

Click the Pencil icon in the bottom right corner of the Preset Control section to open the Edit Presets dialog. From there, you can click the Trash icon next to a preset to clear it.

Clearing Presets with the IR Remote​

Clearing an Individual Preset​

1. Press [RESET]. 2. Press the number of the preset you want to clear.

Clear All Presets​

1. Press [RESET]. 2. Press [RESET] again.

warning

Clearing all presets cannot be undone. Confirm that you no longer need any of the saved camera positions before clearing them.