Steady
The same view from move 1 to the result. A stand that cannot be bumped is worth more than a better camera.
Recording guide · illustrated
Record it right once. Fix less later.
ChessZCam reads the moves from what the camera sees. These pictures show the setup that gives the best result — the same advice the app's own setup check gives. It takes about five minutes before round one.
If you remember three things
Steady. Whole board. Clear view.
Whole board
Four corners and a margin in the picture, nothing cut off, the far pieces fully visible.
Clear view
Even light, sharp focus, and nothing resting over the board once a move is made.
Nine rules, in pictures
Do this — avoid that.
Green is what works; rose is what makes detection harder. Click nothing: each picture is self-explanatory.
1Look down at 45°–90°
Mount the camera beside the board, looking down at it. A steep view keeps every square visible; a low, flat view lets pieces hide the ones behind them.2Show the whole board
All four corners in the picture with a small margin, and the tallest piece on the far rank fully visible. A 0.5× (wide) lens often frames the board best.3Keep the stand steady
Tape or weigh down the stand and keep it out of the players' reach. Small shifts can be realigned; a turned board or camera needs correcting by hand.4Light it evenly
Diffuse light from above. Avoid lamps and windows reflecting on the board and hard shadows across it. Matte sets with clear contrast read best.5Set the camera once
Balanced 1080p (or Creator if you publish); lock focus and exposure if your phone offers it; keep the same lens and zoom all game.6Captured pieces off the board
Place captured pieces well away from the board. Pieces standing against the edge can be mistaken for pieces still in play.7Give every move a clear moment
Hands may pass through the picture; what matters is that the new position becomes visible. Very fast exchanges and long obstructions may need a quick review.8One original file
Start before move 1 with the starting position visible, stop after the result, and analyse the original file. Crops, stretching, jump cuts or logos over squares make it harder — edit afterwards.9Power and storage
Bring a charger or power bank. Balanced 1080p needs about 4.5 GB per hour (Creator about 7.2 GB, Tournament 720p about 1.8 GB).Built into the app
The setup check reads five things for you.
Before you lock the board, ChessZCam checks the picture and gives a plain hint for each reading — for example “Raise the camera or reduce the viewing angle”, “Add diffuse light” or “Keep the camera still and secure the stand or tripod”.
- Corners — all four markers inside the picture, not crossed
- Board size — the board fills enough of the frame
- Lighting — enough contrast, no glare
- Focus — piece edges look sharp
- Stability — the camera is not moving
Settings
Recording quality, in numbers.
| Preset | Video | Storage per hour | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | 1080p | about 4.5 GB | Recommended for most games |
| Creator | 1080p | about 7.2 GB | Footage you will publish |
| Efficient | 720p | about 2.7 GB | Saving space |
| Tournament | 720p | about 1.8 GB | Long games or low storage |
Presets of the Record Game Video screen in the ChessZCam app. With ChessZCam Studio on Windows you can also use a webcam, a capture card or OBS Virtual Camera; Studio keeps the source's own aspect ratio. More resolution alone cannot fix a blurred or blocked view.
Before round one
The ten-point checklist.
- Stand firmTaped or weighted, out of the players' reach.
- Camera beside the boardLooking down at 45°–90°.
- Whole board in frameFour corners, a margin, the far king visible.
- Lens and zoom setFocus and exposure locked if available.
- Light checkedNo glare, no window or lamp reflection.
- Power and spaceCharger or power bank; about 5 GB free per hour.
- Captured-piece areaWell away from the board.
- Recording startedBefore move 1, starting position visible.
- Hands off the standDo not move the camera during the game.
- Stop after the resultKeep the original file for Analyze Video.
After the game
From recording to PGN and video.
Analyze Video
Open the recording, Corners → Lock, then Play & Detect or Adaptive.
Review
Check the flagged moves against their video frames; connect any gap with legal moves.
Export
Save the PGN, add Stockfish if you like, and render the overlay video.
FAQ
Recording questions.
Phone or camera — which is better?
Either works if the view is steady and the whole board is in frame. A phone on a stand is the simplest; a camera or capture card into ChessZCam Studio suits a fixed production setup.
Can I film straight from above?
Yes. Anything from 45° to 90° (straight down) works; steeper views hide fewer pieces.
Does 4K help?
Not on its own. A steady, sharp, evenly lit 1080p recording is better than a shaky or blurred 4K one.
What if someone bumps the stand?
Small shifts can be realigned: in Analyze Video use Tools → Realign board; in the live modes the board realigns itself after a small bump. A turned board or camera needs correcting by hand.
Can I use footage filmed for YouTube?
Yes, if it shows the whole board steadily. Analyse the original file rather than the edited video: crops, zooms, jump cuts and graphics over the board make detection harder.
Ready to try it
Bring a well-recorded game.
ChessZCam Studio comes first, with a free 14-day trial on one PC. Trial invitations go to the waitlist first; joining is free and is not an order.