VALCam Pro with Flash VALCam Zoom with Flash Introduction Thank you for purchasing the VALCam ID, the first image acquisition system designed specifically for photo-ID and visual database applications. All camera controls (pan, tilt, zoom and exposure level) are available from the mouse or keyboard. Manual positioning of the camera is eliminated for increased operator efficiency.
Features Include: • Mouse control of pan, tilt, zoom and exposure in Pan/Tilt/Zoom version and zoom in the Zoom version. • Uses optical pan, tilt, zoom for highest resolution. • Synchronized photoflash with software control of flash exposure and flesh tones. Perfect captures even in dark rooms. • Hassle free integration of photoflash. • Includes 32 Bit Twain Driver. Optional Software Developers Kit available. • Will work in all major Windows photo ID and imaging applications.
Parts List for available VALCam products: 6500-630 VALCam Pro with Flash High resolution S-video camera with pan/tilt/zoom VideoVue PCI capture card with software Flash internal card Flash jumper wire Flash with trigger cable Multi-cable Universal mounting bracket for flash Brick power supply for camera Instruction Manual 6500-628 VALCam Zoom with Flash High resolution S-video zoom camera VideoVue PCI capture card with software Flash internal card Flash jumper wire Flash with trigger cable Multi-cable Instr
Quick Start hardware installation NOTE: All cable connectors and matching receptacles have been color coded for easy installation 1. Install the VideoVue PCI capture card in an available PCI slot. You must use the VideoVue PCI image capture card that was shipped with the VALCam ID system. Secure the back plate of the card with a screw to the computer chassis. 2. Install the small flash accessory card on an available back plate slot in the computer.
Pan/Tilt/Zoom Pro Camera connections 1. Attach the flash-mounting bracket to the bottom of the camera. 2. Attach your tripod-mounting block to the bottom of the flash-mounting bracket. 3. Attach the complete unit to the tripod. 4. Attach the flash unit to the hot shoe connector on the flash-mounting bracket. 5. Locate the camera multi-cable. 6. Connect the brown S-video connector on the multi-cable to the matching S-video connector on the Pro Camera.
3. Attach the connector on the flash unit to the matching connector on the Zoom Camera. 4. Locate the multi-cable and attach the brown/black 25 pin D-sub connector to the matching connector on the Zoom Camera. Computer connections 1. Attach the gray S-video connector on the multicable to the matching S-video connector on the VideoVue PCI image capture card installed in the computer. Use caution to verify that the connector is properly oriented before inserting. DO NOT FORCE THE CONNECTION. 2.
3. Immediately after booting, a dialog box indicates that new hardware has been found. Insert the installation diskette for your operating system in the floppy drive and select the Next button. Verify that the A: drive is in the search path and follows the prompts. 4. Run the Setup***.exe Program on the installation diskette. 5. Reboot the computer. NT 4.0 1. Before turning on the computer, verify that all hardware (camera, cables and capture card) has been installed according to the directions. 2.
2. Confirm that the display settings of your computer are set to a high color mode (16,24 or 32 bit). 3. Click on START->PROGRAMS->VALCam Flash and start the application. 4. The VALCAM ID capture control box will appear. If you receive an error message or the capture control box does not appear displaying live video, consult the trouble shooting guide. Camera motion controls 1. Press the + key next to the numeric key pad, the camera will zoom in. Release the + key and the camera will stop zooming.
2. Place the mouse over the button and hold down the left mouse button. The camera will zoom in. When the mouse button is released, zooming will stop. The button works the same way to zoom out. 3. Use the ↑, ↓, ←, → keys to control pan/tilt operation. Hold down keys to initiate action and release keys to stop action. (Pan/Tilt/Zoom Camera only) 4. Place the mouse over the button and hold down the left mouse button. The camera will tilt up. When the mouse button is released, camera motion will stop.
2. Adjust the Camera motion controls to frame the live image. 3. Use the Zoom controls to zoom in to the subject. It is always recommended to zoom in as tight as your image composition will allow for the highest image quality. 4. Click the Capture button. The live preview will become dark and the flash unit will trigger. The captured image will appear in the VALCam window. If the Flash does not fire, verify that the flash is turned on and connected properly. 5.
camera is changed. The setting is saved to an INI file (VALPCIZOOM.INI) and is saved between sessions. NOTE: When the Use Flash Yes radio button is enabled, the parameter changes take place only when the image is captured. The live preview image will not change. To adjust the live preview, select the Use Flash No radio button. Testing Image Capture Without Flash 1. Click the Use Flash No radio button box. 2. Adjust the Brightness buttons for proper illumination.
Adjusting Camera and Capture Parameters All camera and capture adjustments are applied through the Adjust dialog box. Separate settings can be applied for both flash and non-flash captures. All settings are stored in an INI file and are remembered between sessions. The Adjust dialog box can be password protected, if desired. This allows only managers and administrators access to the Adjust dialog box. Opening the Adjustment dialog box Click the Adjustment button on the main dialog box.
Note: All current and previous hardware versions of Video Associates Labs are supported. If you are using an earlier version of our camera, the dialog box on the left will appear. The dialog box on the right supports all current cameras. Note: The NA designator indicates all unsupported camera functions. Adjusting Captured Image Size and Sharpness 1. Use the Capture Size radio buttons to select the capture image size. The default is 640x480. 2.
4. Click the or buttons on the main screen to adjust the live preview brightness level. 5. Adjust the Red and Blue controls. If the image is yellow increase Blue and decrease Red. If the image is green increase Red and increase Blue. Note: These controls are only available on the latest versions of the VALCam hardware. 6. Adjust the Cam Sharp control for optimal image sharpness. Usually a value between 6 and 15 will result in the best results.
9. Click the Capture button on the main screen to acquire an image. 10. Click the Restore Defaults button to reset all controls to their default settings. Adjusting Camera Color Controls for Flash Captures Use of the Flash is almost always recommended. Image clarity, resolution, and consistency are generally much greater. Ambient lighting conditions are irrelevant. In fact, the same image quality can be used in a completely dark or illuminated room when using the flash.
Note: It is always recommended to zoom in as tight as your image composition will allow for the highest image quality. 1. Click the Capture button on the main dialog. The camera will momentarily go dark and the flash will fire. 2. If the capture is too light click the or more times. If the capture is too dark click the or more times. button one button one 3. Click the Capture button again and repeat the above process until the image brightness is optimal.
5. Adjust the Color Level control for optimal color intensity. If this value is too low, images will appear pale. If this value is too high colors will appear too intense. Some printers can distort color reproduction if the color intensity too high. The default value is 110 for flash captures and is recommended in most cases. Note: These changes are only seen after the capture is taken. No change will be visible in the preview window. 6.
Setting an Administrators Password 1. Locate and double click on the VALPCIZoom.INI file located in the Windows folder or sub folder. 2. The file will open in Notepad. Scroll down and locate the Password=None entry. 3. Modify this entry with a password of your choice Example: Password=007. 4. Restart the VALCam application and click the Adjust button. 5. You will be prompted to enter your password Enter 007 to open the Adjust Dialog box.
Quick Tips for Quality Capture 1. Adjust camera controls to frame subject. 2. Zoom in as tight as your image composition will allow, for highest resolution. 3. Enable the Flash and Preview YES check boxes. 4. Take a number of captures adjusting the Iris buttons for optimal image exposure. Usually a setting between 12 (close up) and 24 (far away) will work. 5. Fine tune image capture with the Red, Blue, and Cam Sharp controls.
Trouble Shooting 1. “Camera Not Found” dialog box displayed when trying to start the application. a. Verify that all cable and camera connections conform to the instructions in the Hardware installation section. b. Verify that the software has been installed according to directions. c. Verify that the camera has it’s power LED illuminated. d. Verify that the COM port is enabled in the BIOS and that another application is not using the COM port. Some applications can grab the COM port during boot up.
a. . 3. The application runs fine when started on it’s own, but I cannot make it run from my application. a. Verify that you have selected the VALCam as the twain source for your application. Consult the your application instructions for selecting a Twain source if you do not know how this is done. b. Verify that the file Twain_32.dll is in your Windows directory. 4. How do I set up the unit to take the best captures? Review the steps outlined in Tips for Quality Captures section.
5. The Photo-Flash is not triggered. a. Verify that the Photo-Flash is turned on. b. Verify that the power supply connection is properly connected to the flash card. c. Verify that the external jumper cable is properly connected to the flash card (blue) and the frame grabber card (violet).
