I need help with something that has to do with InfraRed

[ForTheWin]

So we can't see IR, but some things can. My video camera, for example. Is there a way any of you know how to make an IR projector that could light up a room for my camera, but not to anyone's eyes? Thanks

[keith]

I believe the only way is to wear a lens filter; or alternatively to create special dust in the room, so that IR light will appear.

[Alan the Great]

What you need is an IR illumination kit, or an IR spotlight.

These generally consist of several IR LEDS, all pointed in the same direction. Be careful, though... you can't see IR light, but it can still harm your eyes. Make sure it's off when you're not using it.

Here's one:

http://www.bgmicro.com/images/LED1007.jpg

http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10866

[Case]

your all right but also all wrong in a sense.... ALL CCD based cameras can see IR Light in ALL SPECTRUMS but ccd cameras usually have a filter to prevent IR from entering the CCD i believe i wrote a large post somewhere on these forums about this...

But any way if your cam does not have this filter or if you remove it (usually plastic or glass over the ccd in the cam) you can get IR Filter and a IR Illuminator. IR Light exists normally from the moon and sun but if your in a room with no light you will 100% need a IR Illuminator and to improve light outside you will need a illuminator as well...

But here is were Alan is wrong and keith in a sense... see there’s different spectrums of IR and every IR Filter will filter only in a special range of spectrums. The BG Micro kit links above is 940nm so you need a filter that will give you at LEAST 100 NM range below and above 940nm . They make filters with a HUGE range but they are more expensive and dont have the best quality or light transfer rate thats why its best to get a filter specifically in your range.

bhphoto.com has a huge range of IR Filters.

If you tell me specifically the camera in question I can go into further detail .

That’s where we need to start to figure out what the camera has, No ir filter or a Color RGB Filter that allows IR ect. Than figure out what it IR Tolerance range is. Than get a IR Filter for its range or the range you will be illuminating in that is within the cameras range.

[Alan the Great]

Ah, I assumed you'd taken the IR filter off of your camera.

It differs from camera to camera, but if you paid more than 20 bucks it's probably a little glass square. Cheap cameras often have it painted on the lens assembly.

There are many tutorials all over the internet on how to remove it, but generally it centers around opening hte camera, removing the lens assembly, and lifting off the IR filter.

A word on opening cameras: If the camera has a flash, there will be about 300 volts of capacitor in there. Discharge this with a plastic handled screwdriver, or you'll get a nasty surprise.

[Case]

well see here is the thing alan he might not need to remove the filter becuase there are COlor filters that let RGB trough but ALSO IR and than there Color filters that block IR it goes both ways so he may not even need to remove the filter this is where testing comes in.

Great way to find out is to go into a dark room with a TV Remote and see if you can photograph the IR LED Flashing as u mash buttons.

[Alan the Great]

Well, no matter what filter you put on it, you will see a significant decrease in performance over one with the IR filter removed.

For instance, if you have the filter in and you do the aforesaid remote experiment, the remote will be a little blinky dot.

If you repeat it with the IR filter off, the remote becomes a flashlight.

Though it is possible to see some IR through the filter, most of it gets filtered out. It would be very impractical, and require quite a bit of IR lighting to use a camera with an IR blocking filter as an IR camera.

Long story short, remove the filter. Normal light images will still look fine, possible slightly off color, but IR will instantly become bluish while light.

To see something really cool, take your IR modified camera and look at a toaster. Very Star Wars esque, but I can't think why.

[Case]

he ir drop from a RGB+ IR filter is nominal

it all depends on the application you intend to use the camera for. with a RGB+IR filter if he chooses he wants to use the cam for both he can slap on a IR Filter on the LENS to remove RGB and only allow IR but if he wants to switch back he can just be removing the main filter instead of opening the camera every time...

[Alan the Great]

I was saying that the camera will never see very much IR with a filter still on, regardless of any additional filters.

You wouldn't have to open the camera for normal pictures; just put an IR filter on it!

By the way, that guy probably isn't coming back. I'm enjoying the discussion on IR though.

Edit: By an IR filter, I mean a filter that blocks IR light.

[keltinator]

You should look on eBay or elsewhere for something called an IR emitter. These contain arrays of infrared LED's that only the camera can see.

[Alan the Great]

If IR LEDs have the same voltage rating as white (blue?) LEDs, wouldn't it be possible to get a cheap LED flashlight and replace the white diodes with IR types?