Failed to read mask image Problem

Question

Hello I am having trouble applying a mask image to my network camera feeds. I have created for simplicity a simple mask file (all white) in 640x480 (both a new file and via copying a screenshot taken by motion, both with the same result) and then ran djpeg -grayscale -pnm inputjpg outputfile to output the pgm file When i invoke motion i get the following error on first run
[1] Error opening mask file value /usr/local/etc/test.pgm:
[1] Creating empty mask value /usr/local/etc/test.pgm
[1] Please edit this file and re-run motion to enable mask feature
on the second run i get
[1] Camera handler thread [2] started
[1] Wrong image size 352x288 should be 640x480:
[1] Failed to read mask image. Mask feature disabled.
I have tried creating an image larger, and with proper black and white masked files, it still reports the same problem Config details, etc below; any ideas? test white pgm file <removed>test jpg file before converting to pgm

<removed> Thank you for your time.

# cat /etc/*release*
CentOS release 6.2 (Final)
cat: /etc/lsb-release.d: Is a directory
CentOS release 6.2 (Final)
CentOS release 6.2 (Final)
cpe:/o:centos:linux:6:GA

# tail -30 /var/log/messages
[0] Motion 3.2.12 Started
[0] Created process id file /usr/local/etc/motion.pid. Process ID is 17358
[0] Motion running as daemon process
[0] ffmpeg LIBAVCODEC_BUILD 3344128 LIBAVFORMAT_BUILD 3277568
[0] Thread 1 is from /usr/local/etc/thread1.conf
[1] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 1 items
[1] Error opening mask file value /usr/local/etc/test.pgm:
[1] Creating empty mask value /usr/local/etc/test.pgm
[1] Please edit this file and re-run motion to enable mask feature
[1] Failed to read mask image. Mask feature disabled.
[1] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 3 items
[1] netcam camera handler: finish set, exiting
[0] Motion terminating
[0] Removed process id file (pid file).
[0] Processing thread 0 - config file /usr/local/etc/motion.conf
[0] Processing config file /usr/local/etc/thread1.conf
[0] Motion 3.2.12 Started
[0] ffmpeg LIBAVCODEC_BUILD 3344128 LIBAVFORMAT_BUILD 3277568
[0] Thread 1 is from /usr/local/etc/thread1.conf
[0] Webcam port 8081
[1] Camera thread starting...
[1] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 1 items
[1] Camera handler thread [2] started
[1] Wrong image size 352x288 should be 640x480:
[1] Failed to read mask image. Mask feature disabled.
[1] Resizing pre_capture buffer to 3 items
[1] Closing active webcam sockets
[1] netcam camera handler: finish set, exiting
[0] Motion terminating
[0] Error removing pid file:

#ffmpeg -version
FFmpeg version CVS, Copyright (c) 2000-2004 Fabrice Bellard
configuration: --enable-shared
libavutil version: 49.0.0
libavcodec version: 51.7.0
libavformat version: 50.3.0
built on Feb 11 2013 16:01:06, gcc: 4.4.6 20110731 (Red Hat 4.4.6-3)
ffmpeg CVS
libavutil 3211264
libavcodec 3344128
libavformat 3277568

#uname
2.6.32-220.el6.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Dec 6 19:48:22 GMT 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
no customisations to kernel

mysql/pgsql not installed

# ./configure --without-mysql --without-pgsql --without-v4l
checking for Darwin... no
checking for *BSD... no
checking for gcc... gcc
checking whether the C compiler works... yes
checking for C compiler default output file name... a.out
checking for suffix of executables...
checking whether we are cross compiling... no
checking for suffix of object files... o
checking whether we are using the GNU C compiler... yes
checking whether gcc accepts -g... yes
checking for gcc option to accept ISO C89... none needed
checking threads... yes
checking for libjpeg-mmx... skipping
checking for libjpeg...
checking for jpeg_set_defaults in -ljpeg... yes
checking for ffmpeg autodetecting... found in /usr/local/lib
checking for ffmpeg headers in /usr/local... found /usr/local/include/ffmpeg/avformat.h
checking file_protocol is defined in ffmpeg ?... yes
checking for mysql support... skipped
checking for PostgreSQL... skipped
checking how to run the C preprocessor... gcc -E
checking for grep that handles long lines and -e... /bin/grep
checking for egrep... /bin/grep -E
checking for ANSI C header files... yes
checking for sys/types.h... yes
checking for sys/stat.h... yes
checking for stdlib.h... yes
checking for string.h... yes
checking for memory.h... yes
checking for strings.h... yes
checking for inttypes.h... yes
checking for stdint.h... yes
checking for unistd.h... yes
checking stdio.h usability... yes
checking stdio.h presence... yes
checking for stdio.h... yes
checking for unistd.h... (cached) yes
checking for stdint.h... (cached) yes
checking fcntl.h usability... yes
checking fcntl.h presence... yes
checking for fcntl.h... yes
checking time.h usability... yes
checking time.h presence... yes
checking for time.h... yes
checking signal.h usability... yes
checking signal.h presence... yes
checking for signal.h... yes
checking sys/ioctl.h usability... yes
checking sys/ioctl.h presence... yes
checking for sys/ioctl.h... yes
checking sys/mman.h usability... yes
checking sys/mman.h presence... yes
checking for sys/mman.h... yes
checking linux/videodev.h usability... yes
checking linux/videodev.h presence... yes
checking for linux/videodev.h... yes
checking linux/videodev2.h usability... yes
checking linux/videodev2.h presence... yes
checking for linux/videodev2.h... yes
checking sys/param.h usability... yes
checking sys/param.h presence... yes
checking for sys/param.h... yes
checking for sys/types.h... (cached) yes
checking for get_current_dir_name... yes
checking for V42L support... skipping
checking size of short... 2
checking size of int... 4
checking size of long int... 8
checking size of long long... 8
checking size of int *... 8
checking size of void *... 8
checking for an ANSI C-conforming const... yes
Detected CPU: AMD Turion(tm) II Neo N40L Dual-Core Processor
CPU optimization:
checking for bswap instruction... yes
configure: creating ./config.status
config.status: creating thread1.conf
config.status: creating thread2.conf
config.status: creating thread3.conf
config.status: creating thread4.conf
config.status: creating motion-dist.conf
config.status: creating motion.init-FreeBSD.sh
config.status: creating motion.init-Debian
config.status: creating motion.init-Fedora
config.status: creating motion.spec
config.status: creating Makefile
config.status: creating config.h
config.status: config.h is unchanged

*******************************
Configure status
motion 3.2.12
*******************************

OS : Linux
pthread Support: Yes
jpeg Support: Yes
V4L included: No
V4L2 supported: No
FFmpeg Support: Yes
MYSQL Support: No
PostgreSQL Support: No

CFLAGS: -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP
LIBS: -lm -lpthread -ljpeg -L/usr/local/lib -lavformat -lavcodec -lavutil -lm -lz
LDFLAGS: -L/usr/local/lib

Install prefix: /usr/local

# make
Welcome to the setup procedure for Motion, the motion detection daemon! If you get
error messages during this procedure, please report them to the mailing list. The
Motion Guide contains all information you should need to get Motion up and running.
Run "make updateguide" to download the latest version of the Motion Guide.

Version: 3.2.12
Platform: Linux (if this is incorrect, please read FreeBSD)

Generating dependencies, please wait...

Compiling Motion object files...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o motion.o motion.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o conf.o conf.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o draw.o draw.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o jpegutils.o jpegutils.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o video.o video.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o video2.o video2.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o video_common.o video_common.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o netcam.o netcam.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o netcam_ftp.o netcam_ftp.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o netcam_jpeg.o netcam_jpeg.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o netcam_wget.o netcam_wget.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o track.o track.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o alg.o alg.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o event.o event.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o picture.o picture.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o rotate.o rotate.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o webhttpd.o webhttpd.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o webcam.o webcam.c
gcc -g -O2 -DWITHOUT_V4L -D_REENTRANT -DHAVE_FFMPEG -I/usr/local/include/ffmpeg -DTYPE_32BIT="int" -DHAVE_BSWAP -Wall -DVERSION=\"3.2.12\" -Dsysconfdir=\"/usr/local/etc\" -c -o ffmpeg.o ffmpeg.c
ffmpeg.c:26:10: warning: #warning **************************************************
ffmpeg.c:27:10: warning: #warning Your version of FFmpeg is newer than version 0.4.8
ffmpeg.c:28:10: warning: #warning Newer versions of ffmpeg do not support MPEG1 with
ffmpeg.c:29:10: warning: #warning non-standard framerate. MPEG1 will be disabled for
ffmpeg.c:30:10: warning: #warning normal video output. You can still use mpeg4 and
ffmpeg.c:31:10: warning: #warning and mpeg4ms which are both better in terms of size
ffmpeg.c:32:10: warning: #warning and quality. MPEG1 is always used for timelapse.
ffmpeg.c:33:10: warning: #warning Please read the Motion Guide for more information.
ffmpeg.c:34:10: warning: #warning Note that this is not an error message!
ffmpeg.c:35:10: warning: #warning **************************************************
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motion object files compiled.

Linking Motion...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
gcc -L/usr/local/lib -o motion motion.o conf.o draw.o jpegutils.o video.o video2.o video_common.o netcam.o netcam_ftp.o netcam_jpeg.o netcam_wget.o track.o alg.o event.o picture.o rotate.o webhttpd.o webcam.o ffmpeg.o -lm -lpthread -ljpeg -L/usr/local/lib -lavformat -lavcodec -lavutil -lm -lz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motion has been linked.

Build complete, run "make install" to install Motion!

# Rename this distribution example file to motion.conf
#
# This config file was generated by motion 3.2.12


############################################################
# Daemon
############################################################

# Start in daemon (background) mode and release terminal (default: off)
daemon on

# File to store the process ID, also called pid file. (default: not defined)
process_id_file /usr/local/etc/motion.pid

############################################################
# Basic Setup Mode
############################################################

# Start in Setup-Mode, daemon disabled. (default: off)
setup_mode off

###########################################################
# Capture device options
############################################################

# Let motion regulate the brightness of a video device (default: off).
# The auto_brightness feature uses the brightness option as its target value.
# If brightness is zero auto_brightness will adjust to average brightness value 128.
# Only recommended for cameras without auto brightness
auto_brightness off

# Set the initial brightness of a video device.
# If auto_brightness is enabled, this value defines the average brightness level
# which Motion will try and adjust to.
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
brightness 0

# Set the contrast of a video device.
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
contrast 0

# Set the saturation of a video device.
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
saturation 0

# Set the hue of a video device (NTSC feature).
# Valid range 0-255, default 0 = disabled
hue 0

############################################################
# Round Robin (multiple inputs on same video device name)
############################################################

# Number of frames to capture in each roundrobin step (default: 1)
roundrobin_frames 1

# Number of frames to skip before each roundrobin step (default: 1)
roundrobin_skip 1

# Try to filter out noise generated by roundrobin (default: off)
switchfilter off


############################################################
# Motion Detection Settings:
############################################################

# Threshold for number of changed pixels in an image that
# triggers motion detection (default: 1500)
threshold 1500

# Automatically tune the threshold down if possible (default: off)
threshold_tune off

# Noise threshold for the motion detection (default: 32)
noise_level 32

# Automatically tune the noise threshold (default: on)
noise_tune on

# Despeckle motion image using (e)rode or (d)ilate or (l)abel (Default: not defined)
# Recommended value is EedDl. Any combination (and number of) of E, e, d, and D is valid.
# (l)abeling must only be used once and the 'l' must be the last letter.
# Comment out to disable
despeckle EedDl

# Detect motion in predefined areas (1 - 9). Areas are numbered like that: 1 2 3
# A script (on_area_detected) is started immediately when motion is 4 5 6
# detected in one of the given areas, but only once during an event. 7 8 9
# One or more areas can be specified with this option. (Default: not defined)
; area_detect value

# PGM file to use as a sensitivity.
# Full path name to. (Default: not defined)
; mask_file value

# Dynamically create a mask file during operation (default: 0)
# Adjust speed of mask changes from 0 (off) to 10 (fast)
smart_mask_speed 5

# Ignore sudden massive light intensity changes given as a percentage of the picture
# area that changed intensity. Valid range: 0 - 100 , default: 0 = disabled
lightswitch 0

# Picture frames must contain motion at least the specified number of frames
# in a row before they are detected as true motion. At the default of 1, all
# motion is detected. Valid range: 1 to thousands, recommended 1-5
minimum_motion_frames 2

# Specifies the number of pre-captured (buffered) pictures from before motion
# was detected that will be output at motion detection.
# Recommended range: 0 to 5 (default: 0)
# Do not use large values! Large values will cause Motion to skip video frames and
# cause unsmooth mpegs. To smooth mpegs use larger values of post_capture instead.
pre_capture 1

# Number of frames to capture after motion is no longer detected (default: 0)
post_capture 2

# Gap is the seconds of no motion detection that triggers the end of an event
# An event is defined as a series of motion images taken within a short timeframe.
# Recommended value is 60 seconds (Default). The value 0 is allowed and disables
# events causing all Motion to be written to one single mpeg file and no pre_capture.
gap 60

# Maximum length in seconds of an mpeg movie
# When value is exceeded a new mpeg file is created. (Default: 0 = infinite)
max_mpeg_time 120

# Always save images even if there was no motion (default: off)
output_all off


############################################################
# Image File Output
############################################################

# Output 'normal' pictures when motion is detected (default: on)
# Valid values: on, off, first, best, center
# When set to 'first', only the first picture of an event is saved.
# Picture with most motion of an event is saved when set to 'best'.
# Picture with motion nearest center of picture is saved when set to 'center'.
# Can be used as preview shot for the corresponding movie.
output_normal center

# Output pictures with only the pixels moving object (ghost images) (default: off)
output_motion off

# The quality (in percent) to be used by the jpeg compression (default: 75)
quality 75

# Output ppm images instead of jpeg (default: off)
ppm off


############################################################
# FFMPEG related options
# Film (mpeg) file output, and deinterlacing of the video input
# The options movie_filename and timelapse_filename are also used
# by the ffmpeg feature
############################################################

# Use ffmpeg to encode mpeg movies in realtime (default: off)
ffmpeg_cap_new on

# Use ffmpeg to make movies with only the pixels moving
# object (ghost images) (default: off)
ffmpeg_cap_motion off

# Use ffmpeg to encode a timelapse movie
# Default value 0 = off - else save frame every Nth second
ffmpeg_timelapse 0

# The file rollover mode of the timelapse video
# Valid values: hourly, daily (default), weekly-sunday, weekly-monday, monthly, manual
ffmpeg_timelapse_mode daily

# Bitrate to be used by the ffmpeg encoder (default: 400000)
# This option is ignored if ffmpeg_variable_bitrate is not 0 (disabled)
ffmpeg_bps 500000

# Enables and defines variable bitrate for the ffmpeg encoder.
# ffmpeg_bps is ignored if variable bitrate is enabled.
# Valid values: 0 (default) = fixed bitrate defined by ffmpeg_bps,
# or the range 2 - 31 where 2 means best quality and 31 is worst.
ffmpeg_variable_bitrate 0

# Codec to used by ffmpeg for the video compression.
# Timelapse mpegs are always made in mpeg1 format independent from this option.
# Supported formats are: mpeg1 (ffmpeg-0.4.8 only), mpeg4 (default), and msmpeg4.
# mpeg1 - gives you files with extension .mpg
# mpeg4 or msmpeg4 - gives you files with extension .avi
# msmpeg4 is recommended for use with Windows Media Player because
# it requires no installation of codec on the Windows client.
# swf - gives you a flash film with extension .swf
# flv - gives you a flash video with extension .flv
# ffv1 - FF video codec 1 for Lossless Encoding ( experimental )
# mov - QuickTime ( testing )
ffmpeg_video_codec mpeg4

# Use ffmpeg to deinterlace video. Necessary if you use an analog camera
# and see horizontal combing on moving objects in video or pictures.
# (default: off)
ffmpeg_deinterlace off


############################################################
# Snapshots (Traditional Periodic Webcam File Output)
############################################################

# Make automated snapshot every N seconds (default: 0 = disabled)
snapshot_interval 0


############################################################
# Text Display
# %Y = year, %m = month, %d = date,
# %H = hour, %M = minute, %S = second, %T = HH:MM:SS,
# %v = event, %q = frame number, %t = thread (camera) number,
# %D = changed pixels, %N = noise level, \n = new line,
# %i and %J = width and height of motion area,
# %K and %L = X and Y coordinates of motion center
# %C = value defined by text_event - do not use with text_event!
# You can put quotation marks around the text to allow
# leading spaces
############################################################

# Locate and draw a box around the moving object.
# Valid values: on, off and preview (default: off)
# Set to 'preview' will only draw a box in preview_shot pictures.
locate on

# Draws the timestamp using same options as C function strftime(3)
# Default: %Y-%m-%d\n%T = date in ISO format and time in 24 hour clock
# Text is placed in lower right corner
text_right %Y-%m-%d\n%T-%q

# Draw a user defined text on the images using same options as C function strftime(3)
# Default: Not defined = no text
# Text is placed in lower left corner
; text_left CAMERA %t

# Draw the number of changed pixed on the images (default: off)
# Will normally be set to off except when you setup and adjust the motion settings
# Text is placed in upper right corner
text_changes off

# This option defines the value of the special event conversion specifier %C
# You can use any conversion specifier in this option except %C. Date and time
# values are from the timestamp of the first image in the current event.
# Default: m%dM%S
# The idea is that %C can be used filenames and text_left/right for creating
# a unique identifier for each event.
text_event m%dM%S

# Draw characters at twice normal size on images. (default: off)
text_double off


############################################################
# Target Directories and filenames For Images And Films
# For the options snapshot_, jpeg_, mpeg_ and timelapse_filename
# you can use conversion specifiers
# %Y = year, %m = month, %d = date,
# %H = hour, %M = minute, %S = second,
# %v = event, %q = frame number, %t = thread (camera) number,
# %D = changed pixels, %N = noise level,
# %i and %J = width and height of motion area,
# %K and %L = X and Y coordinates of motion center
# %C = value defined by text_event
# Quotation marks round string are allowed.
############################################################

# Target base directory for pictures and films
# Recommended to use absolute path. (Default: current working directory)
;target_dir /mnt/motion

# File path for snapshots (jpeg or ppm) relative to target_dir
# Default: %v-m%dM%S-snapshot
# Default value is equivalent to legacy oldlayout option
# For Motion 3.0 compatible mode choose: %Y/%m/%d/%H/%M/%S-snapshot
# File extension .jpg or .ppm is automatically added so do not include this.
# Note: A symbolic link called lastsnap.jpg created in the target_dir will always
# point to the latest snapshot, unless snapshot_filename is exactly 'lastsnap'
snapshot_filename %v-m%dM%S-snapshot

# File path for motion triggered images (jpeg or ppm) relative to target_dir
# Default: %v-m%dM%S-%q
# Default value is equivalent to legacy oldlayout option
# For Motion 3.0 compatible mode choose: %Y/%m/%d/%H/%M/%S-%q
# File extension .jpg or .ppm is automatically added so do not include this
# Set to 'preview' together with best-preview feature enables special naming
# convention for preview shots. See motion guide for details
jpeg_filename %Y-%m-%d/%HD/%v-m%dM%S-%q

# File path for motion triggered ffmpeg films (mpeg) relative to target_dir
# Default: %v-m%dM%S
# Default value is equivalent to legacy oldlayout option
# For Motion 3.0 compatible mode choose: %Y/%m/%d/M%S
# File extension .mpg or .avi is automatically added so do not include this
# This option was previously called ffmpeg_filename
movie_filename %Y-%m-%d/%HD/%v-m%dM%S

# File path for timelapse mpegs relative to target_dir
# Default: m%d-timelapse
# Default value is near equivalent to legacy oldlayout option
# For Motion 3.0 compatible mode choose: %Y/%m/%d-timelapse
# File extension .mpg is automatically added so do not include this
timelapse_filename m%d-timelapse


############################################################
# Live Webcam Server
############################################################

# The mini-http server listens to this port for requests (default: 0 = disabled)
;webcam_port 0

# Quality of the jpeg (in percent) images produced (default: 50)
webcam_quality 50

# Output frames at 1 fps when no motion is detected and increase to the
# rate given by webcam_maxrate when motion is detected (default: off)
webcam_motion off

# Maximum framerate for webcam streams (default: 1)
webcam_maxrate 1

# Restrict webcam connections to localhost only (default: on)
webcam_localhost off

# Limits the number of images per connection (default: 0 = unlimited)
# Number can be defined by multiplying actual webcam rate by desired number of seconds
# Actual webcam rate is the smallest of the numbers framerate and webcam_maxrate
webcam_limit 0


############################################################
# HTTP Based Control
############################################################

# TCP/IP port for the http server to listen on (default: 0 = disabled)
control_port 8080

# Restrict control connections to localhost only (default: on)
control_localhost off

# Output for http server, select off to choose raw text plain (default: on)
control_html_output off

# Authentication for the http based control. Syntax username:password
# Default: not defined (Disabled)
; control_authentication username:password


############################################################
# Tracking (Pan/Tilt)
############################################################

# Type of tracker (0=none (default), 1=stepper, 2=iomojo, 3=pwc, 4=generic, 5=uvcvideo)
# The generic type enables the definition of motion center and motion size to
# be used with the conversion specifiers for options like on_motion_detected
track_type 0

# Enable auto tracking (default: off)
track_auto off

# Serial port of motor (default: none)
; track_port value

# Motor number for x-axis (default: 0)
track_motorx 0

# Motor number for y-axis (default: 0)
track_motory 0

# Maximum value on x-axis (default: 0)
track_maxx 0

# Maximum value on y-axis (default: 0)
track_maxy 0

# ID of an iomojo camera if used (default: 0)
track_iomojo_id 0

# Angle in degrees the camera moves per step on the X-axis
# with auto-track (default: 10)
# Currently only used with pwc type cameras
track_step_angle_x 10

# Angle in degrees the camera moves per step on the Y-axis
# with auto-track (default: 10)
# Currently only used with pwc type cameras
track_step_angle_y 10

# Delay to wait for after tracking movement as number
# of picture frames (default: 10)
track_move_wait 10

# Speed to set the motor to (stepper motor option) (default: 255)
track_speed 255

# Number of steps to make (stepper motor option) (default: 40)
track_stepsize 40


############################################################
# External Commands, Warnings and Logging:
# You can use conversion specifiers for the on_xxxx commands
# %Y = year, %m = month, %d = date,
# %H = hour, %M = minute, %S = second,
# %v = event, %q = frame number, %t = thread (camera) number,
# %D = changed pixels, %N = noise level,
# %i and %J = width and height of motion area,
# %K and %L = X and Y coordinates of motion center
# %C = value defined by text_event
# %f = filename with full path
# %n = number indicating filetype
# Both %f and %n are only defined for on_picture_save,
# on_movie_start and on_movie_end
# Quotation marks round string are allowed.
############################################################

# Do not sound beeps when detecting motion (default: on)
# Note: Motion never beeps when running in daemon mode.
quiet on

# Command to be executed when an event starts. (default: none)
# An event starts at first motion detected after a period of no motion defined by gap
; on_event_start value

# Command to be executed when an event ends after a period of no motion
# (default: none). The period of no motion is defined by option gap.
; on_event_end value

# Command to be executed when a picture (.ppm|.jpg) is saved (default: none)
# To give the filename as an argument to a command append it with %f
; on_picture_save value

# Command to be executed when a motion frame is detected (default: none)
; on_motion_detected value

# Command to be executed when motion in a predefined area is detected
# Check option 'area_detect'. (default: none)
; on_area_detected value

# Command to be executed when a movie file (.mpg|.avi) is created. (default: none)
# To give the filename as an argument to a command append it with %f
; on_movie_start value

# Command to be executed when a movie file (.mpg|.avi) is closed. (default: none)
# To give the filename as an argument to a command append it with %f
; on_movie_end value

# Command to be executed when a camera can't be opened or if it is lost
# NOTE: There is situations when motion doesn't detect a lost camera!
# It depends on the driver, some drivers don't detect a lost camera at all
# Some hang the motion thread. Some even hang the PC! (default: none)
; on_camera_lost value

############################################################
# Common Options For MySQL and PostgreSQL database features.
# Options require the MySQL /PostgreSQL options to be active also.
############################################################

# Log to the database when creating motion triggered image file (default: on)
;sql_log_image off

# Log to the database when creating a snapshot image file (default: on)
;sql_log_snapshot off

# Log to the database when creating motion triggered mpeg file (default: off)
;sql_log_mpeg off

# Log to the database when creating timelapse mpeg file (default: off)
;sql_log_timelapse off

# SQL query string that is sent to the database
# Use same conversion specifiers has for text features
# Additional special conversion specifiers are
# %n = the number representing the file_type
# %f = filename with full path
# Default value:
# insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, text_event) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%Y-%m-%d %T', '%C')
;sql_query insert into security(camera, filename, frame, file_type, time_stamp, event_time_stamp) values('%t', '%f', '%q', '%n', '%Y-%m-%d %T', '%C')


############################################################
# Database Options For MySQL
############################################################

# Mysql database to log to (default: not defined)
; mysql_db value

# The host on which the database is located (default: localhost)
; mysql_host value

# User account name for MySQL database (default: not defined)
; mysql_user value

# User password for MySQL database (default: not defined)
; mysql_password value


############################################################
# Database Options For PostgreSQL
############################################################

# PostgreSQL database to log to (default: not defined)
; pgsql_db value

# The host on which the database is located (default: localhost)
; pgsql_host value

# User account name for PostgreSQL database (default: not defined)
; pgsql_user value

# User password for PostgreSQL database (default: not defined)
; pgsql_password value

# Port on which the PostgreSQL database is located (default: 5432)
; pgsql_port 5432


############################################################
# Video Loopback Device (vloopback project)
############################################################

# Output images to a video4linux loopback device
# The value '-' means next available (default: not defined)
; video_pipe value

# Output motion images to a video4linux loopback device
# The value '-' means next available (default: not defined)
; motion_video_pipe value


##############################################################
# Thread config files - One for each camera.
# Except if only one camera - You only need this config file.
# If you have more than one camera you MUST define one thread
# config file for each camera in addition to this config file.
##############################################################

# Remember: If you have more than one camera you must have one
# thread file for each camera. E.g. 2 cameras requires 3 files:
# This motion.conf file AND thread1.conf and thread2.conf.
# Only put the options that are unique to each camera in the
# thread config files.
thread /usr/local/etc/thread1.conf
;thread /usr/local/etc/thread2.conf
;thread /usr/local/etc/thread3.conf
; thread /usr/local/etc/thread4.conf

# /usr/local/etc/thread1.conf
#

###########################################################
# Capture device options
############################################################


# Maximum number of frames to be captured per second.
# Valid range: 2-100. Default: 100 (almost no limit).
framerate 2

# URL to use if you are using a network camera, size will be autodetected (incl http:// ftp:// or file:///)
# Must be a URL that returns single jpeg pictures or a raw mjpeg stream. Default: Not defined
netcam_url value http://192.168.1.12/VIDEO.CGI

# Username and password for network camera (only if required). Default: not defined
# Syntax is user:password
netcam_userpass <removed>:<removed>

# The setting for keep-alive of network socket, should improve performance on compatible net cameras.
# 1.0: The historical implementation using HTTP/1.0, closing the socket after each http request.
# keep_alive: Use HTTP/1.0 requests with keep alive header to reuse the same connection.
# 1.1: Use HTTP/1.1 requests that support keep alive as default.
# Default: 1.0
netcam_http 1.1

# Set less strict jpeg checks for network cameras with a poor/buggy firmware.
# Default: off
netcam_tolerant_check on

# Draw a user defined text on the images using same options as C function strftime(3)
# Default: Not defined = no text
# Text is placed in lower left corner
text_left channel1


############################################################
# Target Directories and filenames For Images And Films
# For the options snapshot_, jpeg_, mpeg_ and timelapse_filename
# you can use conversion specifiers
# %Y = year, %m = month, %d = date,
# %H = hour, %M = minute, %S = second,
# %v = event, %q = frame number, %t = thread (camera) number,
# %D = changed pixels, %N = noise level,
# %i and %J = width and height of motion area,
# %K and %L = X and Y coordinates of motion center
# %C = value defined by text_event
# Quotation marks round string are allowed.
############################################################

# Target base directory for pictures and films
# Recommended to use absolute patch. (Default: current working directory)
target_dir /mnt/motion/channel1


############################################################
# Live Webcam Server
############################################################
# The mini-http server listens to this port for requests (default: 0 = disabled)
webcam_port 8081

# Command to be executed when an event starts. (default: none)
# An event starts at first motion detected after a period of no motion defined by gap
; on_event_start value

# Command to be executed when an event ends after a period of no motion
# (default: none). The period of no motion is defined by option gap.
; on_event_end value

# Command to be executed when a picture (.ppm|.jpg) is saved (default: none)
# To give the filename as an argument to a command append it with %f
; on_picture_save value

# Command to be executed when a motion frame is detected (default: none)
; on_motion_detected value

# Command to be executed when motion in a predefined area is detected
# Check option 'area_detect'. (default: none)
; on_area_detected value

# Command to be executed when a movie file (.mpg|.avi) is created. (default: none)
# To give the filename as an argument to a command append it with %f
; on_movie_start value

# Command to be executed when a movie file (.mpg|.avi) is closed. (default: none)
# To give the filename as an argument to a command append it with %f
; on_movie_end value

# Command to be executed when a camera can't be opened or if it is lost
# NOTE: There is situations when motion doesn't detect a lost camera!
# It depends on the driver, some drivers don't detect a lost camera at all
# Some hang the motion thread. Some even hang the PC! (default: none)
; on_camera_lost value

# PGM file to use as a sensitivity mask.
# Full path name to. (Default: not defined)
mask_file value /usr/local/etc/test.pgm

Environment

Motion version:	3.2.12
ffmpeg version:	cvs-20060306
Libraries:	ffmpeg
Server OS:	CentOS 6.2

-- MontyAu - 14 Feb 2013

Answer

Fixed this problem. my config had an error pointing to the mask file, i then had to run the mask file through imagemagik convert to change to P5 was P6 using the djpeg from centos 6; i also had to code image dimensions of 640x480 into the camera thread file. seems to be working (well it accepts the mask file so thats something)