Abstract: Method and device for programming an image acquisition system including a camera having a field of vision and a processor of images taken by the camera, in order to define at least one detection area in the field of vision of the camera, in which a sending device (21) is placed in at least one position in the field of vision of the camera and the sending device sends at least one initialization light signal having predetermined light characteristics towards the camera when it is in the position. The content of the images (9a) obtained from the camera is analyzed so as to recognize the initialization signal and the signal is located by its coordinates in the images obtained from the camera. A program predetermines at least one detection area (15) in the field of vision of the camera based on the coordinates of the initialization signal.