MedCam capture-quality score: what it means, and how to improve a photo
MedCam samples a small camera preview to look for obvious photography problems. The live score is experimental: it is not a validated measure of diagnostic accuracy, missing disease, or medical usefulness. The checks can be wrong on medical films with naturally dark areas, labels, or bright image features. Always inspect the original captured image.
Recommended capture order
- Place the entire printed film or document on an evenly lit surface. For radiographic films, a suitable backlit viewer usually gives better results than using a flash.
- Clean the camera lens and stabilize the phone. Keep printed labels and all image borders in view.
- Select the matching material type. Start the camera, allow focus and exposure to settle, then watch the live quality warnings.
- Choose Auto for a hands-free attempt, or switch to Manual whenever the automatic readiness check cannot reliably identify the film.
- After capture, zoom in and check that text, fine lines, edges, and all printed panels are legible before downloading or sharing.
What each live check looks for
| Check | What it measures | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpness | Image-edge variation in preview pixels; it cannot confirm that anatomical detail is preserved. | Clean the lens, avoid digital zoom, hold still and improve even lighting. |
| Possible glare | Bright and clipped pixel patterns that can resemble reflections. | Move direct lights, change the film arrangement slightly, and inspect the original for actual reflections. |
| Exposure | Overall brightness, clipping and contrast spread. | Use a uniform light source; avoid washed-out or extremely dark regions. |
| Movement | Differences between consecutive camera frames; no movement measurement is possible on a single uploaded still image. | Support the phone, wait for preview to settle, use the camera shutter manually if needed. |
| Framing | Approximate horizontal and vertical edge candidates; not guaranteed film-corner detection. | Fit the full film with a small border in view. Manual inspection is essential. |
Why Auto Mode can fail to take a photo
Auto capture intentionally requires multiple stable preview checks and a likely framing result. Some clear films have too few distinct boundary edges, while textured backgrounds may create false boundaries. If Auto remains waiting, use Manual Capture; a failing or passing automated check must never prevent you from saving an otherwise useful photograph.
Why MedCam may refuse to auto-capture a textured or off-centre scene
The experimental camera now compares average brightness across broad strips on both sides of a possible boundary. This can reject repeated patterns that look like edges but have no identifiable outer film boundary. It also checks estimated centering and whether an edge appears too close to the preview border. A visually clear film may still be marked uncertain; switch to Manual rather than forcing Auto. Conversely, a passing outline check does not prove the sheet is clinically readable or even that a film has been identified.
Live instructions suggest one priority at a time, such as bringing the whole sheet into view, centering it, reducing reflections or holding the phone steady. They do not measure true distance, focus accuracy, medical anatomy or radiology detail. Review the full original at zoom before sharing.
Why a score of 100 is not a medical guarantee
A high score only indicates that selected software heuristics did not flag an obvious problem in the preview. It does not prove physical scale, true pixel spacing, anatomical completeness or the readability of the original printed film. A lower-scoring photo may still be useful for sharing if the film is inspected carefully. Neither case replaces the original medical records or DICOM study.
What happens after you press Download
JPG, PNG and PDF exports are derived copies from the on-screen canvas; the original source remains separate. The experimental UMF package includes both original bytes and a processed PNG, plus checksums and processing history. A PDF export is not a diagnostic report. UMF currently has an extension collision to resolve before any international-standard claim.
Protect private information before sharing
Film labels and reports may visibly contain names and hospital numbers. Original files inside UMF may also include source metadata such as EXIF location. Review the recipient and only share medical information when necessary.
Open MedCam camera · Blur and glare techniques · Safety limitations · UMF draft specification