Develop Reference

using camera.hardware reduces image quality

I have been following two links to create custom camera for my application. I have been successful in opening the camera. The problem is that it reduces that image quality. The links I have been following are these:
http://www.coderzheaven.com/2011/12/28/how-to-create-a-custom-layout-for-your-camera-in-android/
http://blog.rhesoft.com/2015/04/02/tutorial-how-to-use-camera-with-android-and-android-studio/
and my code is:
Camera Activity:
public class CameraSetter extends Activity {
public Context context;
public int CAMERA;
// ImageView photo_setter;
private Camera mCamera = null;
private CameraView mCameraView = null;
public CameraSetter() {
}
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
TypefaceProvider.registerDefaultIconSets();
setContentView(R.layout.camera_preview);
Initialize();
}
private void Initialize() {
//photo_setter = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.imview_camera_setter);
try {
mCamera = Camera.open();//you can use open(int) to use different cameras
} catch (Exception e) {
Log.d("ERROR", "Failed to get camera: " + e.getMessage());
}
if (mCamera != null) {
mCameraView = new CameraView(this, mCamera);//create a SurfaceView to show camera data
FrameLayout camera_view = (FrameLayout) findViewById(R.id.camera_view);
camera_view.addView(mCameraView);//add the SurfaceView to the layout
}
//btn to close the application
ImageButton imgClose = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.imgClose);
imgClose.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View view) {
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
and my cameraview class is:
public class CameraView extends SurfaceView implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
private SurfaceHolder mHolder;
private Camera mCamera;
public CameraView(Context context, Camera camera) {
super(context);
mCamera = camera;
mCamera.setDisplayOrientation(90);
//get the holder and set this class as the callback, so we can get camera data here
mHolder = getHolder();
mHolder.addCallback(this);
mHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_NORMAL);
}
#Override
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder) {
try {
//when the surface is created, we can set the camera to draw images in this surfaceholder
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
mCamera.startPreview();
} catch (IOException e) {
Log.d("ERROR", "Camera error on surfaceCreated " + e.getMessage());
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder, int i, int i2, int i3) {
if (mHolder.getSurface() == null)//check if the surface is ready to receive camera data
return;
try {
mCamera.stopPreview();
} catch (Exception e) {
//this will happen when you are trying the camera if it's not running
}
//now, recreate the camera preview
try {
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(mHolder);
mCamera.startPreview();
} catch (IOException e) {
Log.d("ERROR", "Camera error on surfaceChanged " + e.getMessage());
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder) {
//our app has only one screen, so we'll destroy the camera in the surface
//if you are unsing with more screens, please move this code your activity
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.release();
}
}
Can I increase the image quality using the same code or I have to do something else?

problem is solved by adding in surfacechanged:
Camera.Parameters parameters = mCamera.getParameters();
parameters.setFlashMode(Camera.Parameters.FLASH_MODE_AUTO);
parameters.setFocusMode(Camera.Parameters.FOCUS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_PICTURE);
parameters.setJpegQuality(100);
parameters.setRotation(90);
List<Camera.Size> sizes = parameters.getSupportedPictureSizes();
Camera.Size size = sizes.get(0);
for(int j=0;j<sizes.size();j++)
{
if(sizes.get(j).width > size.width)
size = sizes.get(j);
}
parameters.setPictureSize(size.width, size.height);
Display display = ((WindowManager) getContext().getSystemService(Context.WINDOW_SERVICE)).getDefaultDisplay();
if (display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_0) {
mCamera.setDisplayOrientation(90);
} else if (display.getRotation() == Surface.ROTATION_270) {
mCamera.setDisplayOrientation(180);
}
mCamera.setParameters(parameters);

Switch to Front Camera and Back Camera not working

My application freezes when I call switchCam method in my code.something must be wrong there, but i cant understand what is the problem.Can someone help me out there what is the actual problem in my code.
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private Camera mCamera = null;
SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder=null;
private CameraView mCameraView = null;
int currentCameraId = 0;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
this.getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN,
WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_FULLSCREEN);//int flag, int mask
openCam();
//setCameraDisplayOrientation(MainActivity.this, currentCameraId, mCamera);
}
public void openCam() {
try {
mCamera = Camera.open();//you can use open(int) to use different cameras
} catch (Exception e) {
Log.d("ERROR", "Failed to get camera: " + e.getMessage());
mCamera = Camera.open();//you can use open(int) to use different cameras
}
if (mCamera != null) {
mCameraView = new CameraView(this, mCamera);//create a SurfaceView to show camera data
FrameLayout camera_view = (FrameLayout) findViewById(R.id.camera_preview);
camera_view.addView(mCameraView);//add the SurfaceView to the layout
}
}
public void switchCam(View view){
int camNum = 0;
camNum = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
int camBackId = Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_BACK;
int camFrontId = Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT;
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"Hi Cam"+camNum,Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
Camera.CameraInfo currentCamInfo = new Camera.CameraInfo();
//if camera is running
if (mCamera != null){
//and there is more than one camera
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.release();
//swap the id of the camera to be used
if(currentCameraId == Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_BACK){
currentCameraId = Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT;
}
else {
currentCameraId = Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_BACK;
}
mCamera = Camera.open(currentCameraId);
//setCameraDisplayOrientation(MainActivity.this, currentCameraId, mCamera);
try {
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
mCamera.startPreview();
}
}
CameraView class is here
public class CameraView extends SurfaceView implements SurfaceHolder.Callback{
private SurfaceHolder mHolder;
private Camera mCamera;
int currentCameraId=0;
public CameraView(Context context, Camera camera) {
super(context);
mCamera = camera;
//get the holder and set this class as the callback, so we can get camera data here
mHolder = getHolder();
mHolder.addCallback(this);
mHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_NORMAL);
}
#Override
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder) {
try {
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
mCamera.startPreview();
}catch (IOException e) {
Log.d("ERROR", "Camera error on surfaceCreated " + e.getMessage());
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width, int height) {
mCamera.startPreview();
if(mHolder.getSurface() == null)//check if the surface is ready to receive camera data
return;
try{
mCamera.stopPreview();
} catch (Exception e){
//this will happen when you are trying the camera if it's not running
}
try{
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(mHolder);
mCamera.startPreview();
} catch (IOException e) {
Log.d("ERROR", "Camera error on surfaceChanged " + e.getMessage());
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.release();
}
}
It will be my very pleasure if you share any link with me that can help me out for taking picture too .Thanks in advance :)

Preview camera frame not capturing Android

I have the code setup (obviously not correctly but it seems ok)
My test code for capturing frame is like this:
frameCallback = new Camera.PreviewCallback() {
public void onPreviewFrame(byte[] data, Camera camera) {
System.out.println("preview frame captured");
But this onPreviewFrame is never ran, as the print statement tests.
The weird thing is, the preview is showing up perfectly on my surface. i.e- I can see it on my screen and there is no errors. Why isn't onPreviewFrame being called then?
Here is all my code for reference:
public class HuntActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback{
Camera camera;
SurfaceView surfaceView;
SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder;
Camera.PreviewCallback frameCallback;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_hunt);
surfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);
surfaceHolder = surfaceView.getHolder();
surfaceHolder.addCallback(this);
surfaceHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
frameCallback = new Camera.PreviewCallback() {
public void onPreviewFrame(byte[] data, Camera camera) {
System.out.println("preview frame captured");
}
};
}
#Override
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) {
try {camera = Camera.open();
} catch (RuntimeException e) {
System.err.println(e);
return;
}
camera.setPreviewCallback(frameCallback);
Camera.Parameters param;
param = camera.getParameters();
param.setPreviewSize(800, 480);
camera.setDisplayOrientation(90);
camera.setParameters(param);
try {
camera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
camera.startPreview();
} catch (Exception e) {
System.err.println(e);
return;
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width, int height) {
refreshCamera();
}
#Override
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
camera.stopPreview();
camera.release();
camera = null;
}
public void refreshCamera() {
if (surfaceHolder.getSurface() == null) {return;}
try {camera.stopPreview();
} catch (Exception e){}
try {
camera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
camera.startPreview();
} catch (Exception e) {}
}

refreshCamera();
Do not call that function there. It will stop the preview functionality before you can use it.
Move following code to onSurfaceChanged() and use the width and heigth parameters
Camera.Parameters param;
param = camera.getParameters();
//param.setPreviewSize(800, 480);
param.setPreviewSize(width, height);
... and the rest of those lines...
Never hardcode resolutions like 800x480

try to unlock
camera.unlock();
camera.reconnect();
frameCallback.setPreviewCallback(mCallback);

Capturing Photo from SurfaceView

I'm trying to capture an image from a SurfaceView custom camera. I have set up the initial code but I don't know how to call the 'take photo' method so that I can see the preview on the surface.
Currently this code displays the preview in realtime. I need to take the picture and access the byte[] array
Please help me complete the code:
private SurfaceView mSurfaceView;
private SurfaceHolder mSurfaceHolder;
private Camera mCamera;
#Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_camera);
captureImage = (ImageButton) findViewById(R.id.captureImage);
mSurfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);
captureImage.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
#Override
public void onClick(View v) {
//this button press should take the picture
}
});
mSurfaceView.getHolder().addCallback(this);
mSurfaceView.getHolder().setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
mCamera = Camera.open();
}
#Override
public void onPause() {
super.onPause();
mCamera.stopPreview();
}
#Override
public void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
mCamera.release();
}
#Override
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder) {
try {
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(mSurfaceView.getHolder());
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format, int width, int height) {
Camera.Parameters params = mCamera.getParameters();
List<Camera.Size> sizes = params.getSupportedPreviewSizes();
Camera.Size selected = sizes.get(0);
params.setPreviewSize(selected.width,selected.height);
mCamera.setParameters(params);
mCamera.setDisplayOrientation(90);
mCamera.startPreview();
}
#Override
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder) {
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.release();
mCamera = null;
}
I need to get the bytes [] data so that I can convert the image to a base64 string. How do I call the necessary methods to take the picture using the code above?

Check "jpegCallback" in my example:
public class CameraActivity extends ActionBarActivity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
Camera camera;
SurfaceView surfaceView;
SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder;
PictureCallback jpegCallback;
#Override
protected void onCreate(#Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_camera);
surfaceView = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);
surfaceHolder = surfaceView.getHolder();
// Install a SurfaceHolder.Callback so we get notified when the
// underlying surface is created and destroyed.
surfaceHolder.addCallback(this);
// deprecated setting, but required on Android versions prior to 3.0
surfaceHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
jpegCallback = new PictureCallback() {
public void onPictureTaken(byte[] data, Camera camera) {
FileOutputStream outStream = null;
try {
outStream = new FileOutputStream(String.format("/sdcard/%d.jpg", System.currentTimeMillis()));
outStream.write(data);
outStream.close();
Log.d("Log", "onPictureTaken - wrote bytes: " + data.length);
} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
}
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Picture Saved", 2000).show();
refreshCamera();
}
};
}
public void captureImage(View v) throws IOException {
//take the picture
camera.takePicture(null, null, jpegCallback);
}
#Override
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder) {
try {
// open the camera
camera = Camera.open();
} catch (RuntimeException e) {
// check for exceptions
System.err.println(e);
return;
}
Camera.Parameters param;
param = camera.getParameters();
// modify parameter
List<Camera.Size> sizes = param.getSupportedPreviewSizes();
Camera.Size selected = sizes.get(0);
param.setPreviewSize(selected.width,selected.height);
camera.setParameters(param);
try {
// The Surface has been created, now tell the camera where to draw
// the preview.
camera.setDisplayOrientation(90);
camera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
camera.startPreview();
} catch (Exception e) {
// check for exceptions
System.err.println(e);
return;
}
}
#Override
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder, int i, int i1, int i2) {
// Now that the size is known, set up the camera parameters and begin
// the preview.
refreshCamera();
}
#Override
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder surfaceHolder) {
// stop preview and release camera
camera.stopPreview();
camera.release();
camera = null;
}
public void refreshCamera() {
if (surfaceHolder.getSurface() == null) {
// preview surface does not exist
return;
}
// stop preview before making changes
try {
camera.stopPreview();
} catch (Exception e) {
// ignore: tried to stop a non-existent preview
}
// set preview size and make any resize, rotate or
// reformatting changes here
// start preview with new settings
try {
camera.setPreviewDisplay(surfaceHolder);
camera.startPreview();
} catch (Exception e) {
}
}
}

Take photo with camera on sms receive

I have this activity (MakePhotoActivity) class that takes photo when you open the application. I have set it to use front facing camera.
Then I have another class, which is a SMS broadcast receiver that is already working.
Now, I would like to make it such that on receiving sms, I want it to take photo using the current class I have. But how can I integrate them together?
As I have tried copying the methods (surfaceChanged, etc) to my broadcast receiver class, and on sms receive, I placed the code that is inside the onCreate (in MakePhotoActivity). And it is not working.
public class MakePhotoActivity extends Activity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback
{
//a variable to store a reference to the Image View at the main.xml file
private ImageView iv_image;
//a variable to store a reference to the Surface View at the main.xml file
private SurfaceView sv;
//a bitmap to display the captured image
private Bitmap bmp;
private int cameraId = 0;
//Camera variables
//a surface holder
private SurfaceHolder sHolder;
//a variable to control the camera
private Camera mCamera;
//the camera parameters
private Parameters parameters;
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
#Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
{
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
//get the Image View at the main.xml file
iv_image = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.imageView);
//get the Surface View at the main.xml file
sv = (SurfaceView) findViewById(R.id.surfaceView);
//Get a surface
sHolder = sv.getHolder();
//add the callback interface methods defined below as the Surface View callbacks
sHolder.addCallback(this);
//tells Android that this surface will have its data constantly replaced
sHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
}
private int findFrontFacingCamera() {
int cameraId = -1;
// Search for the front facing camera
int numberOfCameras = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
for (int i = 0; i < numberOfCameras; i++) {
CameraInfo info = new CameraInfo();
Camera.getCameraInfo(i, info);
if (info.facing == CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT) {
Log.d("A", "Camera found");
cameraId = i;
break;
}
}
return cameraId;
}
public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder arg0, int arg1, int arg2, int arg3)
{
//get camera parameters
parameters = mCamera.getParameters();
//set camera parameters
mCamera.setParameters(parameters);
mCamera.startPreview();
//sets what code should be executed after the picture is taken
Camera.PictureCallback mCall = new Camera.PictureCallback()
{
public void onPictureTaken(byte[] data, Camera camera)
{
//decode the data obtained by the camera into a Bitmap
bmp = BitmapFactory.decodeByteArray(data, 0, data.length);
//set the iv_image
iv_image.setImageBitmap(bmp);
FileOutputStream outStream = null;
try{
outStream = new FileOutputStream("/sdcard/Image"+System.currentTimeMillis()+".jpg");
outStream.write(data);
outStream.close();
} catch (FileNotFoundException e){
Log.d("CAMERA", e.getMessage());
} catch (IOException e){
Log.d("CAMERA", e.getMessage());
}
}
};
mCamera.takePicture(null, null, mCall);
}
public void surfaceCreated(SurfaceHolder holder)
{
// The Surface has been created, acquire the camera and tell it where
// to draw the preview.
if (mCamera == null) {
cameraId = findFrontFacingCamera();
mCamera = Camera.open(cameraId);
try {
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(holder);
// TODO test how much setPreviewCallbackWithBuffer is faster
// mCamera.setPreviewCallback((PreviewCallback) this);
} catch (IOException e) {
mCamera.release();
mCamera = null;
}
}
}
public void surfaceDestroyed(SurfaceHolder holder)
{
if (mCamera != null) {
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.setPreviewCallback(null);
mCamera.release();
mCamera = null;
}
}
#Override
protected void onDestroy() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
super.onDestroy();
if (mCamera!=null)
{
mCamera.stopPreview();
mCamera.release();
mCamera=null;
}
}
}
UPDATE: This is what I have done. Put into a service, but I get an error that says app passed NULL surface, Camera server died!, ICamera died, Error 100.
I reference the code from http://easyandroidtutorials.blogspot.in/2012/09/capture-image-without-preview-as.html and made some minor changes, still can't work.
public class CameraService extends Service
{
//Camera variables
//a surface holder
private SurfaceHolder sHolder;
//a variable to control the camera
private Camera mCamera;
//the camera parameters
private Parameters parameters;
SurfaceView sv;
private int cameraId = 0;
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
#Override
public void onCreate()
{
super.onCreate();
Log.i("Service", "Service started");
}
#Override
public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
try {
if (mCamera == null) {
cameraId = findFrontFacingCamera();
mCamera = Camera.open(cameraId);
try {
// Thread.sleep(3000);
sv = new SurfaceView(getApplicationContext());
mCamera.setPreviewDisplay(sv.getHolder());
parameters = mCamera.getParameters();
//set camera parameters
mCamera.setParameters(parameters);
mCamera.startPreview();
mCamera.takePicture(null, null, mCall);
} catch (IOException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
mCamera.release();
mCamera = null;
e.printStackTrace();
}
//Get a surface
//sHolder = sv.getHolder();
//tells Android that this surface will have its data constantly replaced
// sHolder.setType(SurfaceHolder.SURFACE_TYPE_PUSH_BUFFERS);
}
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
return Service.START_STICKY;
}
private int findFrontFacingCamera() {
int cameraId = -1;
// Search for the front facing camera
int numberOfCameras = Camera.getNumberOfCameras();
for (int i = 0; i < numberOfCameras; i++) {
CameraInfo info = new CameraInfo();
Camera.getCameraInfo(i, info);
if (info.facing == CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT) {
Log.d("A", "Camera found");
cameraId = i;
break;
}
}
return cameraId;
}
Camera.PictureCallback mCall = new Camera.PictureCallback()
{
public void onPictureTaken(byte[] data, Camera camera)
{
//decode the data obtained by the camera into a Bitmap
FileOutputStream outStream = null;
try{
outStream = new FileOutputStream("/sdcard/Image.jpg");
outStream.write(data);
outStream.close();
} catch (FileNotFoundException e){
Log.d("CAMERA", e.getMessage());
} catch (IOException e){
Log.d("CAMERA", e.getMessage());
}
}
};
#Override
public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
return null;
}
Anyone with any help on this? Thanks.

in the onReceive method of your sms broadcast reciever do this:
Intent intent = new Intent(this, MakePhotoActivity.class);
startActivity(intent);
check http://developer.android.com/training/basics/firstapp/starting-activity.html for more info on starting an activities
to take the picture in the service would require you to create a dummy surfaceview. Here's a link that should explain how to do it:
how to take camera capture without a preview from a service or thread?
if you want to disable the shutter sound:
camera.enableShutterSound(false);
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/Camera.html#enableShutterSound(boolean)