UMAX AstraCam OWNER'S GUIDE P/N:83100158-0000 08/99
TRADEMARKS UMAX is a registered trademark of UMAX Technologies, Inc. AstraCam is a trademark of UMAX Data Systems. PhotoDeluxe is a trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. PhotoCabinet is a trademark of NewSoft Technology Corporation. Other names and trademarks appearing herein are trademarks of their respective holders. COPYRIGHT 1999 UMAX Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
AstraCam Owner's Guide CONTENTS Getting Started...............................................................................2 Introduction .............................................................................2 UMAX AstraCam Package Contents .....................................2 Setting Up Your New Digital Camera System..............................3 Installing the Batteries ........................................................... 3 Replacing Worn-Out Batteries ................................
AstraCam Owner's Guide GETTING STARTED Introduction Thank you for purchasing the UMAX AstraCam digital camera system. Now you can take great digital photos, and capture up to 20 seconds of sound with each shot. Easily transfer your new photos to a computer and be enjoying them in just moments. Your AstraCam comes with software to make your photo taking experience really creative. Use Adobe PhotoDeluxe for artistic manipulation of your photos or to just make them better.
AstraCam Owner's Guide SETTING UP YOUR NEW DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEM Installing the Batteries Important Battery Usage Guides: Read Before Using the AstraCam. WARNING: Improperly inserting the rechargeable batteries (wrong polarity) may cause damage to your camera and will void the warranty. See the guide symbols inside the battery case for proper installation of the batteries. WARNING: Non-rechargeable AAA batteries can be used temporarily to take photos.
AstraCam Owner's Guide PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS • • • • • • • • Pentium® processor or higher Microsoft Windows® 98 At least 32 MB RAM 90 MB available hard disk space CD-ROM drive VGA Color Monitor USB Port Sound Card (recommended) INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE Please quit all Windows programs before installing your new software. IMPORTANT: Install the software prior to installing the AstraCam Cradle. Please install Adobe® PhotoDeluxe® first and then install the AstraCam software. Installing Adobe PhotoDeluxe 1.
AstraCam Owner's Guide 4. Double-click on the SETUP icon. 5. Follow the onscreen instructions to continue the installation. On the Select Component screen, select the programs you want to install: • PhotoCabinet • VistaShuttle • AstraCam Software (including the Twain driver) The default setting is to install all three programs (highly recommended). You must install the AstraCam and PhotoCabinet software in order to download photos to your computer using the DOWNLOAD button.
AstraCam Owner's Guide THE ASTRACAM DIGITAL CAMERA Power Switch Viewfinder Shutter Button Action Light Record Button Settings Display Microphone White Balance Mode • • • • • • • Erase Button Viewfinder Look through this to compose the photo. Action Light Flashes whenever camera or recorder operates and is accompanied by an audible beep. Record Button Press and hold this button to make a recording. White Balance Mode Press to change the White balance settings.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Taking Your First Photo Taking photos with your AstraCam is easy: 1. Turn the power switch ON. 2. Compose your photo by looking through the viewfinder. 3. Slightly press and hold the SHUTTER button. You will hear a short beep as the AstraCam automatically sets exposure. 4. Continue pressing fully down on the SHUTTER button. You will hear a second short beep as the photo is taken. Release the shutter button. Note: It is important to hold the camera very still when taking a picture.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Recording a Message for Your Photo After taking your first photo, you can record sound to go with it (if the Record feature is enabled). To record a message: 1. Press and hold the RECORD button. The action light next to the viewfinder starts blinking. In the settings display, the Microphone icon flashes and the shot counter turns into a countdown timer beginning at 20 seconds. 2. Talk into the microphone or record any close sounds. 3.
AstraCam Owner's Guide 2. Press the ERASE button again to erase all the photos from the camera's memory. The film counter returns to "31" or "46" depending whether the Record feature is enabled/disabled. Note: You can also delete photos from your camera using the AstraCam program. See page 15, "Deleting Photos." Camera Memory Full When you run out of shots, a continuous beep sounds and the green light comes on to signal that camera memory is full. The film counter reads "0.
AstraCam Owner's Guide USING THE ASTRACAM PROGRAM To use the AstraCam program, you must first open a TWAIN compliant photo manipulation program. TWAIN is an interface that allows cross platform transfer of data from a digital camera or scanner to a program. The AstraCam software includes a TWAIN driver to communicate with photo manipulation programs and other TWAIN compliant applications.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Downloading Photos You can download photos from the AstraCam to your computer in two ways: • Press the DOWNLOAD button on the cradle to load your photos directly into PhotoCabinet. • Open a photo manipulation program and connect to the AstraCam. Prepare to Download To prepare for downloading photos from your AstraCam: 1. Make sure the cradle is plugged into an electrical source and that the USB cable is connected to the computer. 2.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Download Photos Through a Photo Application Software To open PhotoDeluxe and the AstraCam software: 1. Open PhotoDeluxe. 2. Click on the GET & FIX PHOTO button. 3. Click on the GET PHOTO button. 4. Click on the CAMERAS button. See that UMAX AstraCam is the selected camera. 5. Click on the OPEN CAMERA button. The AstraCam program will open. 6. Click on the LOADING THUMBNAIL(S) FROM CAMERA button at the top of the AstraCam control panel.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Viewing Your Photos To bring your photos into the Photo Display panels, click on the LOADING THUMBNAIL(S) FROM CAMERA button in the Control Panel. (Make sure your AstraCam camera is in the cradle.) • Use the scroll photos arrows at the right of the Photo Display to see all your photos. • Click on a photo to select it for adjustment. • Click on the yellow speaker icon below a photo to hear a recording.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Rotate Photos 1. Click on the photo(s) you want to rotate. (Press and hold the CTRL key to select multiple photos.) 2. Click on the ROTATING PICTURE(S) LEFT 90° button to turn the photo(s) 90 degrees clockwise. Transferring the Photos Transferring is how you move the photo(s) into photo application software from the AstraCam program. Note: This section only discusses how to transfer photos to programs.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Megapixel Megapixel is a software feature that increases the resolution of your original photo from 640 x480 to 1280 x 960 through the AstraCam software. To use Megapixel: 1. Click on a thumbnail in the Photo Display. 2. Click on the CAMERA CONTROL icon on the Control Panel. 3. Click on the MEGAPIXEL button. 4. Click the CAMERA CONTROL icon to close the panel. Look at the bottom of the photo display. The resolution of the selected photo has increased to 1280 x 960.
AstraCam Owner's Guide OPERATING THE ASTRACAM FROM THE PROGRAM The AstraCam program has everything you need to operate the camera from the computer when the camera is in its cradle. You can: • Take photos. • Make recordings. • Adjust your AstraCam settings. Taking a Photo To take a photo using the AstraCam program, click on the TAKING PICTURE button. Making a Recording You can make a recording for the last photo taken or overwrite a previous recording for any photo in the display: 1.
AstraCam Owner's Guide White Balance Select a white balance setting according to your lighting conditions. These settings are the same as the ones on your AstraCam. See page 7, "White Balance Settings for Better Photos." Resolution The resolution setting for the AstraCam is always 640 x 480. However, the Megapixel feature can increase the resolution of downloaded photos to 1280 x 960 using the AstraCam software. Camera Information Click on CAMERA INFO to check camera information and picture capacity.
AstraCam Owner's Guide Thumbnail View (All photos downloaded from your AstraCam are displayed). To switch between Page View and Thumbnail View, open the VIEW menu and select SWITCH TO THUMBNAIL VIEW or SWITCH TO PAGE VIEW. 3. If PhotoCabinet is in Thumbnail View, click on the photo you want to work with (a red frame will appear around the selected photo). If you are in Page View, proceed to step 4. 4. Open the View menu and select INFORMATION. 5. Enter the data. • In the Title field, name your photo.
AstraCam Owner's Guide CREATING A CALENDAR WITH PHOTODELUXE You can create your own photo calendar using PhotoDeluxe and your AstraCam. 1. Insert the PhotoDeluxe CD in your CD-ROM drive so that you can access the calendar templates. 2. Open PhotoDeluxe by selecting START> PROGRAMS> ADOBE> PHOTODELUXE HOME EDITION> ADOBE PHOTODELUXE HOME EDITION. The PhotoDeluxe window appears. 3. Click on the CARDS & MORE button 4. Click on the CALENDARS icon, and CHOOSE MONTHLY CALENDARS option from the drop-down menu.
AstraCam Owner's Guide CREATING A PHOTO & SOUND E-MAIL PhotoCabinet and E-Card use the following E-mail programs: • Eudora • Microsoft Mail • Netscape Mail • Lotus CC: Mail Note: If you do not have one of the e-mail programs listed above, see page 21, "Sending a Photo & Sound File as an Attachment." Preparing a Photo & Sound E-Mail Greeting 1. Take a photo and make a recording with your AstraCam. 2. Place the AstraCam in the cradle and press the DOWNLOAD button.
AstraCam Owner's Guide 5. Make your card, stamp, frame, and paper selections by clicking on a button at the right of the screen to open the selection. Drag the slider at the right of the panel to view all the options. Click on the selection you want and it will appear with your photo. Click on the ARROW at the top of the panel to close it so you can click on the other buttons. 6. Adjust and resize your photo. • To reposition your photo, drag it to wherever you want.
AstraCam Owner's Guide CARING FOR YOUR ASTRACAM • Do not store your AstraCam in hot locations such as in a closed car under direct sunlight. • Do not use solvents to clean your AstraCam Camera or AstraCam Cradle. • Do not apply any liquids directly to the camera or cradle. • Clean the camera and cradle with a soft, lint free cloth. To clean the lens: 1. Carefully use an air blower or compressed gas duster to blow dust off the lens. 2.
AstraCam Owner's Guide ASTRACAM SPECIFICATIONS Optical Resolution 640 x 480 Maximum Resolution (interpolated) 1280 x 960 Interface USB AstraCam Cradle with Built-In Battery Charger Power Source Rechargeable - 2AAA Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries (included) Memory 4MB Internal Flash Memory Photo Capacity 46 Photos (31 with Sound enabled) Voice Recorder Built-In Voice Capacity Up to 20 Seconds per Image Download Speed 3 Seconds per Image (approximate) Lens Aperture Focus Free (F2.
AstraCam Owner's Guide CONTACTING TECHNICAL SUPPORT The UMAX AstraCam is designed to be reliable, easy-to-install, and easy-to-use. If you encounter any problems with your camera: • Check out the UMAX Web site at: http://www.umax.com/support • • E-mail UMAX with your technical support question at: support@umax.com Call UMAX automated interactive support 24-hours a day at: 1-800-4688629 • Contact your dealer or call the UMAX support line between 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. (PT) Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
AstraCam Owner's Guide FCC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY Declares that the product: Product Name: Digital Camera Model No.: DC-D1 (or) H9C0 FCC Rules: Tested to comply with FCC Part 15, Class B Operating Environment: For home or office use: FCC Compliance Statement: This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
AstraCam Owner's Guide WARRANTY One Year Limited Warranty UMAX Technologies, Inc. UMAX warrants this hardware product against defects in material and workmanship for a period of ONE (1) year from the original date of purchase. Should defect(s) be discovered, the product may be returned either to the manufacturer or an authorized UMAX service center.
