Using Live View in IC Secure Desktop
Live View is where users monitor cameras in real time. This article explains how to open camera streams, arrange grid layouts, save layout presets, use digital zoom, access instant playback, and switch camera streams.
Opening Cameras
There are several ways to open a camera in Live View.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Drag and Drop | Drag a camera from the camera tree panel and drop it into a cell in the view grid. |
| Double-Click | Double-click a camera name in the camera tree to open it in the next available cell. |
| Right-Click | Right-click a camera in the camera tree and select Live View. |
| Group View | Right-click a camera group folder and select Open All to populate the grid with cameras in that group. |
Grid Layouts
IC Secure supports grid layouts for viewing multiple cameras at once.
| Layout | Cameras | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1x1 | 1 camera | Detailed single-camera monitoring. |
| 2x2 | 4 cameras | Small sites or focused areas. |
| 3x3 | 9 cameras | Mid-size systems. |
| 4x4 | 16 cameras | Larger systems. |
| Custom | Variable | Priority views where some camera cells need to be larger than others. |
To change layouts, click the layout selector in the toolbar or right-click the view area and select Layout.
Custom layouts allow some cells to be larger than others. This is useful when one or more priority cameras need more screen space while other cameras remain visible.
Layout Presets
Layout presets save camera arrangements so they can be loaded later.
To save a layout preset:
- Arrange the cameras in the layout you want.
- Click Save Layout in the toolbar, or right-click the view area and select Save Layout Preset.
- Enter a name for the preset.
- Click Save.
To load a saved preset, click the preset selector and choose the saved layout.
Presets remember the grid configuration and the cameras assigned to each cell.
Digital Zoom
Digital zoom allows users to enlarge part of a live video stream without moving the physical camera.
To use digital zoom:
- Hover over a camera tile.
- Scroll the mouse wheel up to zoom in.
- Click and drag to move around the zoomed image.
- Scroll the mouse wheel down to zoom out.
- Double-click the tile to reset the zoom if supported.
Digital zoom works by enlarging the existing video stream. It does not move the camera lens or change the camera’s optical zoom.
Instant Replay
Instant replay allows users to review recent footage from a camera without leaving Live View.
To use instant replay:
- Hover over the camera tile.
- Select Replay (play icon).
- Use the playback controls that appear at the bottom of the window.
- Click Live Now (eye icon) to return to the live stream.
Instant Replay may rewind by a default amount of time, such as 30 seconds, depending on system configuration.
Viewing Quality Switching
Most cameras provide more than one stream profile. Switching streams helps balance video quality and system performance.
| Stream | Description |
|---|---|
| Recording Resolution | Highest-resolution stream for recording. |
| Live View Resolution | Higher-resolution stream with higher bitrate. Best for detailed viewing of individual cameras. |
| App View Resolution | Lower-resolution stream with reduced bitrate. Useful for larger grid layouts where many cameras are displayed at the same time. |
To switch streams, right-click a camera tile and select the desired stream from the Viewing quality submenu.
IC Secure may use the App View stream in grid views and the Live View stream in 1x1 layouts depending on system configuration.
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