User’s Guide Creative Video Blaster WebCam 3 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 reat iv e E nd -U se r S oft wa re L ice ns e A gree m en t Vers ion 2 . 3, Ja nu ar y 2 00 0 PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE. BY INSTALLING AND USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT 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.
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Contents Introduction Before You Begin......................................................................................................................x System Requirements...................................................................................................x Document Conventions ...............................................................................................xi 1 Installing Video Blaster WebCam 3 About WebCam 3...............................................................
3 Video Blaster WebCam 3 Applications Video Blaster WebCam Control ...........................................................................................3-1 Creative WebCam Monitor ...................................................................................................3-1 Creative WebCam PhotoEditor.............................................................................................3-2 Microsoft NetMeeting .............................................................................
Introduction Video Blaster WebCam 3 is a 24-bit, 16.7-million-color digital video camera kit that gives you everything you need to capture still images and full-color video. Not only that, it also allows you to communicate face-to-face with others on the Internet! Video Blaster WebCam 3 is bundled with the following software: ❑ Video Blaster WebCam Control — a comprehensive application that allows you to adjust camera settings, and to capture full-motion video and still images.
Before You Begin System Requirements The README file on the CD-ROM contains information not available at the time of printing. Read the file before you continue.
Document Conventions The following typographical conventions are used throughout this document: Table i: Document conventions This Represents bold Text that must be entered exactly as it appears. italic Title of a book or a placeholder, which represents the information you must provide. UPPERCASE Directory name, file name, or acronym. <> Symbols, letters, and key names on the keyboard.
Installing Video Blaster WebCam 3 1 In order to proceed with the installation you need: ❑ The Video Blaster WebCam3 USB Camera and USB cable ❑ The Video Blaster WebCam3 installation CD ❑ Your Windows 98 CD This chapter tells you how to quickly install WebCam 3 and the software that comes with it.
About WebCam 3 Figure 1-1 highlights the features of WebCam 3. Snapshot button After you have started WebCam Control, you can press this button to capture a still image. Focus ring To adjust the view focus, point the lens toward your subject and then rotate this ring in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion until the image is in focus. LED light This button lights up in green when WebCam is switched on. USB cable USB connector Figure 1-1: The WebCam 3 (USB model).
Installing Video Blaster WebCam 3 • You can safely install the WebCam with your computer turned on. • The USB port(s) on your computer may be found on the front panel instead of the back panel. • You can daisy-chain the WebCam through another USB device or attach the WebCam to a self-powered USB hub. • If you have a microphone, connect it to your audio card. Most audio cards have an external microphone connector.
Installing Software In Windows 98 Use the installation procedures for your operating system. For users of Windows 98, see “In Windows 98” in the section that follows. For users of Windows 2000, see “In Windows 2000” on page 1-6. 1. After connecting Video Blaster WebCam 3 to your computer, turn on the system. 2. When the Add New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, click the Next button. The dialog box in Figure 1-3 appears. Figure 1-3: The Add New Hardware Wizard dialog box. 3.
4. Insert the Video Blaster WebCam CD into your CD-ROM drive. Note: If the setup program runs automatically, exit from the program. 5. In the dialog box, select the Specify a location check box and type D:\DRIVERS (where D: represents your CD-ROM drive) in the box provided. 6. Click the Next button. 7. Click the Next button again. i. ii. iii. iv. v. If you are prompted to insert the Windows 98 CD, proceed to step 7ii. Otherwise, skip to step 8.
Verifying the installation in Windows 98 In Windows 2000 1. 2. 3. 4. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop. On the menu that appears, click Properties. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry “Video Blaster WebCam 3 USB (WDM)” should appear. 1. After connecting Video Blaster WebCam 3 to your computer, turn on the system. Windows 2000 automatically detects the camera. 2.
3. Select the Search for a suitable driver for my device (recommended) option, and then click the Next button. The dialog box in Figure 1-6 appears. 4. Insert the Video Blaster WebCam CD into your CD-ROM drive. 5. In the dialog box, select the Specify a location check box, and then click the Next button. A dialog box prompts you for the location of the Windows 2000 drivers. 6. Click the Browse button. Locate and select D:\DRIVERS (where D: represents your CD-ROM drive) and then click the Open button. 7.
9. When the drivers are installed, click the Finish button. 10. Proceed to install the applications for WebCam 3. In the CD-ROM drive, insert the Video Blaster WebCam CD. You may have to remove the Windows 2000 CD first. The setup program runs automatically and a dialog box listing the available applications appears. 11. Select Video Blaster WebCam Control and the other applications you want to install. Do not, however, select Internet Explorer (IE) 5.0.
Using Video Blaster WebCam Control 2 This chapter tells you how to quickly set up and begin using Video Blaster WebCam Control, the main application you will use with your WebCam 3. For detailed information about the application’s features and settings, refer to its Help file (see “To start the Help file in WebCam Control” on page 2-3). Starting WebCam Control If Video Blaster WebCam Control does not recognize the camera correctly, see Appendix B, “Troubleshooting”.
Using WebCam Control To set the view into focus To select the video capture device • The contents in the Source and Format icons on the top panel depend on the video capture device you select. • The WDM driver gives better performance in terms of frame rate and is the recommended choice. • The VFW driver is compatible with software that only supports Video For Windows.
To capture still images using the Snapshot button 1. Set the WebCam 3 view into focus. 2. Press the Snapshot button (see Figure 1-1 on page 1-2). WebCam Control captures the image, adds it to the album, and assigns it a file name. To start the Help file in WebCam Control 1. Click the Creative logo at the top-left corner above WebCam Control’s top panel. 2. On the WebCam Control menu, click Help. Optimizing WebCam 3 Setting frame rate This option does not apply if your video capture device is VFW.
The maximum level for both the preview and recording frame rates is determined by the hardware frame rate. A higher frame rate requires more intensive CPU utilization. The default frame rate value is 30 frames per second. Choosing output size If you are using WDM, see the Output Size option box in Format -> Stream Format. If you are using VFW, see the Resolution option box in Format -> Stream Settings.
Improving video quality If you choose to use a video compressor, you will have the option of adjusting the video quality. Bear in mind, however, that better video quality means a lower frame rate, and a higher frame rate means poorer video quality. For still images, opt for better video quality. For video recordings and videoconferencing, select a higher frame rate.
3 Video Blaster WebCam 3 Applications The Video Blaster WebCam 3 application CD includes the following: ❑ Video Blaster WebCam Control ❑ Creative WebCam Monitor ❑ Creative WebCam PhotoEditor ❑ Microsoft NetMeeting ❑ Microsoft Internet Explorer. Video Blaster WebCam Control This simple but powerful system application lets you take control of your camera with a click of the taskbar icon. Instantly capture still images or video clips for exporting to other programs or transporting through e-mail.
Creative WebCam PhotoEditor Creative WebCam PhotoEditor is an image editing and enhancing application that complements your WebCam. Its many nifty features include a suite of special effects tools and a set of designer-look templates, useful for creating impressive personal greetings and presentations. Creative WebCam PhotoEditor comes with its own online Help file. Microsoft NetMeeting Microsoft NetMeeting is a voice communications client that includes support for international conferencing standards.
Technical Specifications A Construction USB Port version: Remote camera head with a USB cable Camera housing Base and flip-top lens housing with manual vertical tilt of 90 degrees Power From a USB port or self-powered USB hub (powered by an external power source) Sensor CMOS image sensor Resolution (for both Video mode and Still mode) ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Sensitivity 6 lux Video formats ❑ 24- and 16-bit RGB ❑ 4:2:0 YUV Planar Exposure control Automatic (optional manual control with software) 640 x 48
Color balance Automatic (optional manual control with software) Color matrix Preset and integral to camera Field-of-view 62 degrees (horizontal) Depth-of-field 75 millimeters to infinity Port compatibility USB Port version: Universal Serial Bus port Software compatibility USB Port version: TWAIN, Video for Windows, DirectShow, and Still Image driver that run in Windows 98 and Windows 2000.
B Troubleshooting Problem Installing Software The setup program for Video Blaster WebCam 3 does not run automatically after you insert the installation CD into the drive. 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:\WCCTRL\SETUP.EXE 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
❑ The camera module is not properly connected. To resolve this problem, ensure that 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. The image is too bright. Cause The amount of light entering the camera has exceeded the exposure control limit. There may be a very bright object in the camera’s view.
Note on USB Compatibility C 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, the Video Blaster WebCam 3 may not operate correctly with these systems. When you run the setup program from the Video Blaster WebCam 3 installation CD, the setup program automatically checks your motherboard model and revision.
If the setup program warns you that your motherboard’s USB port is incompatible, or if the camera does not work on your system and you suspect that the problem may be related to your PC’s USB port, the following is a list of available options: 1. Contact your PC vendor. Your PC vendor may be able to upgrade your motherboard or its BIOS to a newer version that addresses USB incompatibilities. 2. Use a PCI host adapter which provides USB connectors.
Technical Support D We are committed to giving you the best product as well as the best technical support. For fast and efficient Technical Support solutions, please use the Creative Web Support services in the first instance. If your Creative product was pre-installed in your computer, your primary source of technical support is the Personal Computer supplier who provided the system. The European support area on our web site at www.creative.
If You Have a Problem Email Your Problem: Complete the technical support web form and submit for a response Telephone Support: European Telephone Support contact details. See also European Helpline section in manual for contact details. Please retain all contents including packaging and proof of purchase until you are fully satisfied with product. If you have a problem installing or using your Creative product, please use the Creative Web Support and/or Telephone Support services for assistance.
Less than 30 days since date of purchase Should your store receipt indicate that the product is less than 30 days old, you have the option of returning the full product to the dealer/retailer for a replacement or credit. The 30-day time period may not apply in all instances, so please check the seller’s replacement/credit terms. More than 30 days since date of purchase Contact European Technical Support to clarify the nature of the problem and to obtain details of our repair returns procedure.
Returning a product for repair ❑ Contact Technical Support to receive your authorisation number for ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ repair/replacement of product. Technical Support will communicate how to return the product in question for repair/replacement. You should only return the hardware item in question and return it to the address detailed by Technical Support. Please retain all software, accessories and the original packaging.
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