WipFrag Image Capture and Sampling Guide

1. Getting Good WipFrag Results

Good WipFrag results begin with images that are clear, properly scaled, and representative of the material being measured.

Before capturing an image, ask:

• Can I clearly see the particles I need to measure?
• Does this image represent the material I am measuring?
• Am I using the correct scaling method?

For large or variable samples, capture multiple representative images rather than relying on a single photograph.

General Capture Rules

REMEMBER

WipFrag can only measure what the camera can see. If a particle cannot be clearly distinguished in the original image, it cannot be reliably measured from that image.

2. Terrestrial Images – Piles, Stockpiles, and Bulk Material

Sample the pile – don’t just photograph it

Muckpiles and stockpiles are rarely uniform. Coarse material may collect toward the toe or edges of the pile, while smaller material may collect elsewhere or become hidden beneath the surface. The same principles also apply when analyzing joint planes with WipJoint.

Capture several representative areas rather than photographing only the easiest or most obvious location.

For a large pile:

• Capture several areas across the pile, do not take several images of the same area.
• Include both central and outer areas where practical.
• If the pile is being excavated, capture newly exposed material as it becomes available (if possible).
• Keep images from the same pile, blast or sample grouped together for analysis.

For general rockpile work, five or more representative images is a useful starting point. Use more when the pile is highly variable or when oversized particles are especially important.

Where practical, capture hundreds of visible particles in each image. Avoid framing so tightly that one large particle dominates the view.

Position the camera

Face the material as directly as practical and fill the frame with broken material.

Keep the camera reasonably square to the material surface. Stand far enough back to reduce perspective distortion, and use optical zoom when needed to fill the frame from a better or safer working position.

Avoid close, wide-angle photographs of sloped piles. They exaggerate the particles nearest the camera and make the farther material appear smaller.

Choose the right viewing distance

Work close enough to clearly see the particles that matter, but far enough back to capture a representative area.

If you are too far away, smaller particles may disappear into the image. If you are too close, the image may exclude larger particles or too much of the pile.

For broad size distributions, capture additional closer or wider views rather than expecting one image to represent every particle size equally well.

Scaling terrestrial images

Use the scaling method that matches how the image was captured.

Keep physical scales clearly visible and place them where they do not hide important material.

REMEMBER

You do not require scale reference objects to use WipFrag. The built-in Auto Scale feature is extremely powerful. Try it out a few times to see how it works for your device type.

3. UAV / Drone Images – Large-Area Capture

UAV imagery is useful for large piles, blasts, stockpiles, and other areas that are difficult to represent with ground-based photographs.

For WipFrag orthomosaic analysis, focus on three things: complete coverage, sufficient overlap, and enough image detail to see the particles that matter.

Plan the flight

Cover the entire area you intend to analyze, including its edges.

For an automated mapping flight:

• Point the camera straight down (90°).
• Use approximately 80% image overlap in the direction of travel and between adjacent flight lines.
• Use a regular grid or mapping flight pattern.
• Keep a consistent altitude during the mapping pass.
• Capture sharp still images without motion blur.

Choose the right altitude

As a practical starting point, 20–40 m above the material works well for many applications.

Adjust the altitude for the camera, particle size, area being covered, and terrain

Flying higher covers more area but reduces particle detail. Flying lower provides more detail but requires more images and careful coverage.

Fly low enough that the particles you care about remain clearly visible.

Check flight conditions

Choose conditions that allow the UAV to remain stable and produce sharp, evenly exposed images.

Avoid strong wind, rain, poor visibility, heavy glare, deep shadows, or other conditions likely to produce blurred or poorly exposed images.

Before leaving the site, check the images for sharpness and complete coverage whenever practical.

Scaling UAV imagery

A physical scale object is not normally required for WipFrag’s UAV orthomosaic workflow.

Refer to the WipFrag User Manual for the current orthomosaic creation, scaling, and analysis procedure, or check out the UAV orthomosaic tutorial on our YouTube channel.

4. Underground Image Capture

Underground image capture follows the same basic principles as field photography, but lighting and working distance need extra attention.

Start with a safe viewpoint

Work from a safe position with a clear view of the material.

Do not enter unsupported ground, an active heading, or unstable material just to improve an image or place a scale.

Use broad, even lighting

Use enough light to keep particle boundaries visible without creating deep shadows or bright hot spots.

Where practical:

• position one light to each side of the camera;
• elevate the lights;
• aim them across the material rather than directly from the camera position; and
• use broad, portable light sources such as LED panels.

This creates more even illumination while still leaving enough shadow to distinguish neighbouring particles.

Avoid direct camera flash

Do not rely on a built-in or camera-mounted flash as the main light source. Light coming from close to the lens can flatten the image and make particle boundaries harder to see.

A single strong light from one side can create the opposite problem by producing large dark shadows.

Use multiple broad light sources where practical.

Stabilize the camera

Use a tripod or other stable support when lighting is limited.

A sharp image with a longer exposure is better than a handheld image with motion blur.

Capture large headings and piles in sections

Do not move so far away that the particles you care about become too small to see just to fit the entire area into one image. Instead, capture the area in several repeatable sections and combine the analyses where appropriate.

5. Lab Samples, Trays, and Microscopy

For controlled samples, the priority is repeatability. Keep sample preparation, camera position, lighting, and scale consistent between comparable analyses.

Prepare the sample

Spread the material so the particles you need to measure are visible.

Do not arrange particles by size or remove particles simply to make the image easier to analyze. The photographed material should remain representative of the sample.

If particles overlap enough to hide their boundaries, reduce the sample depth or divide the material into multiple representative portions.

Capture directly from above

Position the camera perpendicular to the tray or sample surface.

For repeated testing, use a fixed camera stand or tripod where practical. Keep the camera height, field of view, lighting, and sample area consistent from one analysis to the next.

Use even lighting

Use diffuse, even lighting across the full sample.

Avoid strong directional shadows, reflections, bright hot spots, or uneven illumination.

Scale the image

For a flat tray or sample, use a Single Scale placed on the same plane as the material.

Top-down images can also be captured using the supported Auto Scale workflow. Refer to the WipFrag User Manual for Auto Scale instructions.

For microscope images

The same principles apply at microscopic scale: clear particles, known scale, consistent capture conditions, and representative sampling.

• Keep the particles of interest clearly resolved and in focus.
• Use a scale appropriate to the microscope magnification.
• Keep magnification consistent when comparing samples.
• Use even illumination across the field of view.
• Avoid overexposure that causes neighbouring particles to merge visually.
• Capture several representative fields of view rather than selecting only the cleanest or easiest areas.
• Keep sample preparation consistent between comparative analyses.

6. Before You Leave the Sample

WipFrag Capture Checklist

Before moving on, confirm:

• Representative — Did I capture the material according to the sampling plan rather than choosing only what looked interesting?
• Enough coverage — Have I captured enough images to represent the sample area?
• Sharp — Can I clearly distinguish the particles of interest?
• Properly framed — Is the image mostly filled with the material being measured?
• Good lighting — Are particle boundaries visible without excessive shadow, glare, or overexposure?
• Correct scale — Am I using Auto Scale, Single Scale, Dual Scale or the UAV workflow appropriately?
• Full size range — Can I see the particle sizes that matter, or do I need additional closer or wider images?
• Organized — Do I know which images belong to this sample, pile, blast, flight, or project?

MORE INFORMATION

For step-by-step instructions on Auto Scale, Distance Scale, Single Scale, Dual Scale, UAV orthomosaic creation, merging analyses, edge detection and other WipFrag software functions, refer to the latest WipFrag User Manual, the WipFrag 4 FAQ or visit our Videos library for tutorials.

7. Additional Information

Accounts, Subscriptions and Credits

Visit wipwareaccount.com/register to make a free WipWare Account. Your WipWare Account contains your WipFrag subscription and/or image credits, plus your cloud-synchronized analysis files.

If you already have an account, you can log in at wipwareaccount.com/login. There you can change your account details, manage the devices connected to your WipWare account and explore other options. Ensure you log in to your WipWare Account inside WipFrag to access your paid features, use your cloud storage and synchronize your analysis files.

Contact your regional WipWare representative to purchase or renew your subscription, or to add more credits to your account. You may also purchase or renew online with PayPal or a credit card by visiting wipwareaccount.com/store. There is no auto-renewal available for WipFrag subscriptions.

SOFTWARE UPDATES

Ensure you keep WipFrag up to date! Regular updates are provided for WipFrag via Internet.

Field Equipment Examples

Note: Mobile devices must have an internal GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer for full functionality.

Smartphones
Apple iPhone 12 Google Pixel 6a Samsung Galaxy S21 5G -or- A53 5G	Economical smartphones that meet basic requirements
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra	Premium smartphones with larger screens and better cameras, sensors, and processors

Tablets
Apple iPad Pro (5th Gen)  [Cellular] Samsung Galaxy Tab A11 -or- S10 Lite	Economical tablets that meet basic requirements
Apple iPad Pro M4  [Cellular] Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra -or- S9 FE	Premium tablets with larger screens and better cameras, sensors, and processors

Digital Cameras
OM System Tough TG-7	Rugged economy field camera; waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, has GPS
OM System TCON-T01	TG-7 accessory; optional teleconverter accessory for longer optical reach
Sony RX10 IV	Long-range superzoom camera; professional, non-ruggedized

Drones / UAVs
DJI Mini 5 Pro	Manual flight drone; economy, sub-250g class
DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise	Recommended drone; premium, turnkey, compatible with automatic flight
Skydio X10 -or- X10D	Restricted / compliance drone; for NDAA / Blue UAS / Green UAS / etc.

Laser Distance Measuring Devices / EDMs
Bosch BLAZE GLM165-22 –or- 27C	Economy; construction-grade
Leica DISTO X1	Recommended; longer range, higher confidence

Underground Lights
ULANZI VL200	LED light panel; portable, lightweight, USB-charged or powered battery

Tripods / Light Stands
ULANZI MT-89	Telescopic tripod; portable, lightweight, semi-rugged, universal mount

ABOUT FIELD EQUIPMENT EXAMPLES

These examples are based on devices that consistently provide the best user experience. WipWare does not explicitly endorse these products.