Video Blaster WebCam Go User Guide On-line Version
Getting Started &UHDWLYH 9LGHR %ODVWHU :HE&DP *R Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative Technology Ltd.
C re a t iv e E n d - U s e r S o f t w a re L i c e n s e A g re e m e n t Ver s i o n 2 . 0 , Ju n e 1 9 9 8 PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SOFTWARE. BY USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, DO NOT OPEN THE SEALED DISK PACKAGE, INSTALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE. PROMPTLY RETURN, WITHIN 15 DAYS, THE SOFTWARE, ALL RELATED DOCUMENTATION AND ACCOMPANYING ITEMS TO THE PLACE OF ACQUISITION FOR A FULL REFUND.
Further, Creative shall not be liable for the accuracy of any information provided by Creative or third party technical support personnel, or any damages caused, either directly or indirectly, by acts taken or omissions made by you as a result of such technical support. You assume full responsibility for the selection of the Software to achieve your intended results, and for the installation, use and results obtained from the Software.
6DIHW\ 5HJXODWRU\ ,QIRUPDWLRQ 7KH IROORZLQJ VHFWLRQV FRQWDLQ QRWLFHV IRU YDULRXV FRXQWULHV CAUTION: This device is intended to be installed by the user in a CSA/TUV/UL certified/listed IBM AT or compatible personal computers in the manufacturer’s defined operator access area. Check the equipment operating/installation manual and/or with the equipment manufacturer to verify/confirm if your equipment is suitable for user-installed application cards.
&RQWHQWV ,QWURGXFWLRQ About the Applications......................................................................................................... viii Creative WebCam Go Control ................................................................................. viii Creative WebCam Monitor ...................................................................................... viii Creative MediaRing Talk 99 ....................................................................................
8VLQJ :HE&DP *R &RQWURO Starting WebCam Go Control................................................................................................ 11 Using WebCam Go Control................................................................................................... 12 To set the view into focus........................................................................................... 12 To select the video capture device .............................................................................
,QWURGXFWLRQ Creative Video Blaster WebCam Go is a digital video camera that allows you to take pictures in 24-bit, 16.7 million colors and record smooth video clips in full-color. Want to chat face-to-face with someone over the Internet? WebCam Go is what you need. Used together with Microsoft NetMeeting, you can now have real-time videoconferencing with virtually anybody over the Internet! Worried that someone will use your computer without your knowledge? Fret not.
$ERXW WKH $SSOLFDWLRQV &UHDWLYH :HE&DP *R &RQWURO This simple but powerful application lets you take control of your camera with a click on the taskbar icon. Take pictures or record video clips and store them in albums. Use this application to download pictures you have taken when the camera was disconnected from the computer. You can also export these pictures or video clips to other programs, or send them directly to your e-mail program.
In addition, if you are a Sound Blaster Live! user, you have at your disposal Creative VoicePersonas, a feature incorporated into MediaRing Talk 99 that allows you to disguise or distort your voice. Creative VoicePersonas leverages upon Sound Blaster Live! powerful audio processing technology to provide you with a range of VoicePersonas such as Chipmunk, Male to Female, or Female to Male.
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,QVWDOOLQJ :HE&DP *R 1 This chapter consists of the following sections: ❑ In Your Package ❑ About WebCam Go ❑ Installing Batteries for WebCam Go ❑ Installing WebCam Go ❑ Installing Software ❑ Verifying the Installation ,Q
$ERXW :HE&DP *R )URQW YLHZ RI WKH FDPHUD LED light This indicator lights up in green when WebCam Go is switched on. Snapshot button This button is used to capture a still image when the WebCam Go is attached to the PC and when used as a portable camera.
%DFN YLHZ RI WKH FDPHUD KHDG The viewfinder does not show if objects are in focus. To verify whether objects are in focus, use WebCam Go Control. For details, see “Taking Pictures with WebCam Go” on page 15. Camera busy LED indicator When the camera is connected to the system, this indicator will blink when commands are sent from the system to the camera. When the camera is disconnected, this indicator will blink when the camera is adjusting the picture exposure.
%XWWRQV DQG /&' GLVSOD\ • You can only switch on the camera when it is disconnected from the system. • The counter value may decrease by more than one when the picture taken has more details or colors, resulting in a bigger file size. In other cases, the counter value may not decrease even though a picture is taken. Image counter This shows the remaining number of pictures that you can take with the camera undocked. This number decreases every time a picture is taken.
,QVWDOOLQJ %DWWHULHV IRU :HE&DP *R • Batteries that are specifically made for digital cameras are recommended. There is usually a camera icon on the packaging of these batteries. • No batteries are required when the camera is connected to the system. • If the camera will be connected to the system for a long period of time, it is advisable to remove the batteries to prevent battery leakage. When you disconnect the camera from the system and use it as a digital camera, it operates on two 1.
,QVWDOOLQJ :HE&DP *R • The USB port(s) on your computer may be found on the front panel instead of the back panel. • You can also attach it to a self-powered USB hub. • You can choose to connect WebCam Go to your computer after you have switched on your computer. • If you have a microphone, connect it to your audio card. Most audio cards have an external microphone connector.
,QVWDOOLQJ 6RIWZDUH Some of the steps in the installation process may not occur in the same sequence as described here. 1. Switch on the computer. 2. When the Add New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, click the Next button. The dialog box similar that shown at right appears. 3. Click the Search for the best driver for your device (Recommended) option and then click the Next button. 4. Insert the WebCam Go CD into your CD-ROM drive. Note: If the setup program runs automatically, exit from the program.
6. Click the Next button. The dialog box similar to that shown at right appears. 7. Click the Next button again. i. ii. iii. iv. v. If you are prompted to insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM, proceed to step 7ii. Otherwise, skip to step 8. Remove the WebCam Go CD from the CD-ROM drive and insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM into it. In the Insert Disk dialog box, click the OK button. In the Copying Files dialog box, click the Browse button to browse to the Windows 98 CD’s Win98 folder and click the OK button.
9. When the Light Frequency Selection dialog box appears, click the Yes button and then click the option button that represents your power supply frequency if you use fluorescent lighting. Otherwise, click the No button. 10. Click the OK button. i. If you are prompted to insert the Windows 98 CD-ROM, proceed to step 10ii. Otherwise, skip to step 11. ii. Click the OK button. iii. In the Insert Disk dialog box, browse to the Win98 folder and then click the OK button. iv. Click the OK button again. 11.
9HULI\LQJ WKH ,QVWDOODWLRQ To verify that the camera has been installed properly: 1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop. 2. On the menu that appears, click Properties. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. 4. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry “Video Blaster WebCam Go (WDM)” should appear.
8VLQJ :HE&DP *R &RQWURO 2 This chapter consists of the following sections: ❑ Starting WebCam Go Control ❑ Using WebCam Go Control 6WDUWLQJ :HE&DP *R &RQWURO If WebCam Go Control does not recognize the camera correctly, see “Note on USB Compatibility” on page 24. To start WebCam Go Control, you may: ❑ Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Creative WebCam Go -> Creative WebCam Go Control. ❑ Press the Snapshot button on the camera.
8VLQJ :HE&DP *R &RQWURO 7R VHW WKH YLHZ LQWR IRFXV After WebCam Go Control is started, the WebCam Go Control screen similar to that shown appears, displaying the view that the camera is currently capturing. Point the lens toward your subject (for example, yourself, seated in front of your monitor) and rotate the ring around the lens clockwise and/or counter-clockwise until the view is in focus.
7R VHOHFW WKH YLGHR FDSWXUH GHYLFH • If you select the VFW driver, some of the settings in the General and Source tab may not be available. If so, go to the General tab and click the Format or Source buttons to change settings. • The VFW driver is compatible only with software that supports Video For Windows. 7R WDNH D SLFWXUH 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In WebCam Go Control, click the Settings button. Click the Camera docked settings button. Click the scroll button until you get to the General tab.
7R UHFRUG D YLGHR FOLS 1. In the WebCam Go Control window, click the Live Cam button. The window displays the current view of the camera. 2. To start recording a video clip, click the Record a video button. The button starts blinking to indicate that recording is now in progress. 3. To stop the recording, click the button again. The button stops blinking. The video clip is saved as an AVI file with an automatically generated file name.
8VLQJ :HE&DP *R DV D 3RUWDEOH &DPHUD 3 Disconnect WebCam Go from the computer and you can use it as a portable camera. Read the following sections to learn how you can do that: ❑ Taking Pictures with WebCam Go ❑ Downloading Pictures from WebCam Go ❑ Customizing WebCam Go ❑ To start the Help file for WebCam Go Control 7DNLQJ 3LFWXUHV ZLWK :HE&DP *R The following sections explain how to take pictures with WebCam Go.
6WHS )RFXV WKH OHQV 7R IRFXV WKH OHQV TXLFNO\ Before taking pictures, you need to focus the lens so that the images you capture will be clear and sharp. To focus on objects approximately 6 inches away To focus the lens accurately, you may attach the camera to the PC and use WebCam Go Control (see “To focus the lens more accurately” on page 17) because the viewfinder does not show whether objects are in focus or not. Turn the focus ring until the focus mark is at the 12 o’clock position.
7R IRFXV WKH OHQV PRUH DFFXUDWHO\ 6WHS 7R WDNH SLFWXUHV • You can only switch on the camera when it is disconnected from the system. • For description on the different modes, see See “Buttons and LCD display” on page 4.. • The counter value may decrease by more than one when a picture is taken if the picture has more details or colors, resulting in a bigger file size. In some cases, the counter value may not decrease even though a picture is taken. 1.
6. Continue holding the camera still until the Camera busy LED (red light) goes off. The picture(s) is(are) taken and stored in the camera’s memory. Note: When the counter value reaches “000”, you cannot take any more pictures until you have cleared the camera’s memory by deleting existing pictures. • The camera will turn itself off automatically if it is left idle after a specified amount of time. 7. To take another picture, repeat steps 4 through 6. 8.
7URXEOHVKRRWLQJ 3UREOHP ,QVWDOOLQJ 6RIWZDUH 7LSV IRU WDNLQJ EHWWHU SKRWRV A 7KH VHWXS SURJUDP IRU :HE&DP *R GRHV QRW UXQ DXWRPDWLFDOO\ DIWHU \RX LQVHUW WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ &' LQWR WKH GULYH Cause The AutoPlay feature in your Windows system may not be enabled. Solution To install the software from the CD: 1. Leave the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive. 2. Click Start -> Run. 3. In the Run dialog box, click D:\CTRUN\CTRUN.EXE. 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
• • • • • 3UREOHPV 8VLQJ :HE&DP *R After you have pressed the snapshot button, the LED next to the lens on the back of the camera will blink rapidly while the camera is adjusting for the light level and capturing the image. The camera (and the subjects, if possible) should not move while the LED is flashing. Once the LED goes out, the camera has completed taking the snapshot.
$Q DSSOLFDWLRQ UHSRUWV WKDW WKH YLGHR GULYHU LV DOUHDG\ LQ XVH RU WKDW WKH FDPHUD FDQQRW EH IRXQG Solution Do the following: ❑ The camera is not properly connected. To resolve this problem, ensure the camera’s USB connector is inserted, and that the USB connector is enabled in the BIOS. Refer to your PC’s documentation for information on the BIOS. ❑ Reinstall the video capture drivers and reboot. 3LFWXUH LV WRR EULJKW Cause The amount of light entering the camera has exceeded the exposure control limit.
If you select more than one application, you will be prompted to choose one of them when you press the Snapshot button. If a selected application is already running, pressing the Snapshot button will not start any other applications. Instead, the current running application will be used to take a picture. 2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Scanners & Cameras icon. The Scanners & Cameras Properties dialog box appears. 3.
7KH &DPHUD ZRQ W IXQFWLRQ ZKHQ DWWDFKHG WR WKH 3& DQG WKH &RQWURO 3DQHO LQGLFDWHV D GULYHU FRQIOLFW Cause Mixing two different versions of Windows 98 may cause this problem. During the driver installation process, you may be asked to insert the Windows 98 CD. When you do this, make sure that the CD you insert contains the same version that is already installed on your hard drive.
1RWH RQ 86% &RPSDWLELOLW\ In our testing on a wide variety of PC motherboards with integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, we have encountered a small number of motherboards with USB ports that do not meet the USB specification exactly. Unfortunately, WebCam Go may not operate correctly with these systems. When you run the setup program from the WebCam Go installation CD, the setup program automatically checks your motherboard model and revision.
7HFKQLFDO 6SHFLILFDWLRQV )HDWXUHV DQG 6SHFLILFDWLRQV B ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Color VGA (640x480) CMOS image sensor 4 MB of on-board non-volatile memory for image storage LCD counter display to indicate number of pictures left and mode of stills capture Snapshot button LEDs to indicate powered-on state and camera readiness state High-quality, 5-element, scratch-resistant, adjustable focus, glass lens with range of 6 inches to infinity ❑ Built-in optical viewfinder ❑ Built-in Piezo transducer to provide audio cues
❑ When detached: • Capable of capturing in excess of 72 640x480 sized still pictures • Images are stored natively in JPEG format • Draws power from two AAA batteries (Note: Battery life in this mode depends on the battery type. Two AAA alkaline batteries can last for up to 300 snapshots.
5HVROXWLRQ IRU ERWK 9LGHR PRGH DQG 6WLOO PRGH ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ 5HVROXWLRQ IRU XQGRFNHG PRGH ❑ 640 x 480 ❑ 320 x 240 ❑ 160 x 120 9LGHR IRUPDWV ❑ 24- and 16-bit RGB ❑ 4:2:0 YUV Planar ❑ JPEG ([SRVXUH FRQWURO Automatic (optional manual control with software) &RORU EDODQFH Automatic (optional manual control with software) &RORU PDWUL[ Preset and integral to camera )LHOG RI YLHZ 52 degrees (horizontal) )RFXV 5DQJH 6 inches to infinity 3RUW FRPSDWLELOLW\ Universal Serial Bus port 6RIWZDUH FRPSDWLELOLW
&RQWDFWLQJ &UHDWLYH /DEV At Creative, we are committed to giving you the best product as well as the best technical support. You can contact our technical support department any of the following ways: Creative Labs, Inc. Technical Support 1523 Cimarron Plaza Stillwater, OK 74075 USA Telephone: 1-405-742-6622 Facsimile: 1-405-742-6633 Technical support operates seven days a week, except for public holidays.
