---
title: "Mask cameras"
canonical: "https://help.vicon.com/space/ShogunLive121/1253212194/Mask%20cameras"
format: markdown
---
Masking cameras (including supported video cameras) is a key step during camera calibration as it eliminates any unwanted reflections in the capture volume, so that these reflections are not mistaken for markers by the cameras. 

Before you start masking cameras, you can see reflections represented by light pixels in the **Cameras** views.

> ![Cameras views in Vicon Shogun Live, showing uncalibrated cameras before masking.](media://901f6679-134d-49bf-9618-62c2dc2b0ea9)

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During masking, blue pixels are drawn in the **Cameras** views, enabling you to see how much of the view is masked.

> ![Cameras view for a single camera in Vicon Shogun Live, showing masked pixels in blue.](media://92fdb275-636f-45f8-92df-72f325dfdfe9)

> Macro (scroll-pagebreak)


    **To mask reflections:**


1. Ensure you have removed any objects likely to cause reflections, such as the calibration device or markers, from the capture volume.
2. To ensure the required panels are displayed, in the View settings > Macro (inline-media-image)

, select **System Setup**.
3. In the **System** panel, SHIFT+click or drag to ensure all the cameras are selected, including any video cameras in your Vicon system.
4. If your Vicon system includes video cameras, in the **Video Setup** section, click **Activate Video Calibration** to start video calibration mode.
  If your system does not include video cameras, go straight to the next step.
5. On the **Camera Calibration** tab, click **Mask All**.
  The button displays **Stop** and at the top of the workspace, **Auto Mask Active** is displayed.
  In the **Cameras** views, any video cameras are displayed as black, blank screens.
  Shogun Live starts recording the data visible to each of the connected cameras. Any camera masks created are displayed as blue cells in the **Cameras** views for affected cameras. If no data is visible to a particular camera, Shogun Live does not create any masks for it. Both optical and video cameras are masked.
6. After about 5–10 seconds, select **Stop**.
7. In the **Cameras** view for each camera, ensure that any unwanted reflections are eliminated. (Each view should either be completely blank or should contain some blue pixels.)

When you've masked all the reflections, you can [capture a wand wave](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ShogunLive121/pages/1253212337).

If you need to add equipment or make other changes after you've finished masking, see [Change masking](https://vicon.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ShogunLive121/pages/2381449105/Mask+cameras#ChangeMasking).

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Change masking

If you add equipment or markers into the volume after you’ve finished auto-masking, or if you have an issue with specific camera(s), you'll need to add to any masking that you've already completed. To do this, you can keep your original masking and use further auto-masking to add to it and/or manually paint out any additional reflections.


    **To add to existing auto-masking:**


1. To display the required panels, in the View settings > Macro (inline-media-image)

, select **System Setup**.
2. If you want to apply additional masking to only some cameras, make sure you've selected the relevant cameras.
3. On the **Camera Calibration** tab, in the **Masking** section, ensure the advanced options are displayed > Macro (inline-media-image)

 and clear the **Clear Previous Masks** check box.   
This prevents your original masking from being overwritten.
4. If you want to add the new masking to selected cameras only, in the **Masking** section, click **Selected**.
  The **Selected** button now displays **Stop** and **Auto Mask Active** is displayed at the top of the Workspace.
5. When masking is complete, click **Stop**.
  In the **Cameras** views, notice the additional masking, which is displayed as blue cells.

> Macro (scroll-pagebreak)


    **To manually add masking:**


1. To display the required panels, in the View settings > Macro (inline-media-image)

, click **System Setup**.
2. In the **Camera Calibration** panel, go to the **Masking** section, display the advanced options > Macro (inline-media-image)

 and click **Manual Mask Paint**.
  **Manual Mask Painting Active** is displayed at the top of the Workspace.
3. Use the following shortcuts to select and mask:
  - To select an area: Alt+click and drag.
  - To mask: Click the pencil icon next to the pin button or press Alt+E.
  - To erase masking: Select the masked area (see above) and click the eraser or press Alt+R.
4. When you have finished manual masking, select **Stop**.

When you've masked all the reflections, you can [capture a wand wave](https://vicon-help.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ShogunLive121/pages/1253212337).