Creative Digital Video Camera Kit WebCam NX User Manual

User’s Guide

Creative WebCam NX

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitmen t on t he p a rt o f Cre a tiv e 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. The software described in this
document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement.
It is against the law to copy the software on any other medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licensee may
make one copy of the software for backup purposes.

Copyright © 1998-2003 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.

Version 1.0
April 2003

PC-CAM is a registered trademark of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, MS-DOS, and
Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. All other products are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.

Contents

i

Contents

Before You Begin............................................................................................................................................ v

Package Contents ................................................................................................................................. v

README file........................................................................................................................................... v

Minimum System Requirements ...................................................................................................... v

Document Conventions.................................................................................................................... vi

1 Installing Creative WebCam NX

About Creative WebCam NX ............................................................................................................ 1-2

Installing Creative WebCam NX.......................................................................................................... 1-3

In Windows 98/98SE /Me/2000/ XP.......................................................................................... 1-3

Verifying the installation in Windows 98/98SE and Windows Me......................... 1-6

Verifying the installation in Windows 2000 & XP ....................................................... 1-6

2 Using PC-CAM Center

Starting PC-CAM Center........................................................................................................................ 2-2

Capturing Images and Video .................................................................................................................. 2-3

Taking a Photo.................................................................................................................................. 2-3

Recording a Video ........................................................................................................................... 2-3

Viewing a Photo ......................................................................................................................................... 2-4

Viewing a Video.......................................................................................................................................... 2-4

Reactivating the Camera ......................................................................................................................... 2-4

Starting PC-CAM Center Help ............................................................................................................. 2-5

3 Creative WebCam NX Applications

Creative PC-Cam Center....................................................................................................................... 3-1

ii

Creative WebCam Monitor................................................................................................................... 3-1

Microsoft NetMeeting.............................................................................................................................. 3-1

Microsoft Internet Explorer................................................................................................................... 3-2

Appendixes

A Technical Specifications

Construction .......................................................................................................................... A-1

Power ....................................................................................................................................... A-1

Sensor....................................................................................................................................... A-1

Video Resolution................................................................................................................... A-1

Picture Resolution - Still mode......................................................................................... A-1

Video formats......................................................................................................................... A-1

Exposure control .................................................................................................................. A-1

Color balance......................................................................................................................... A-1

Color matrix........................................................................................................................... A-1

Field-of-view ........................................................................................................................... A-1

Depth-of-field......................................................................................................................... A-1

Port compatibility.................................................................................................................. A-1

Software compatibility......................................................................................................... A-2

B Troubleshooting

Problems Using Creative WebCam NX............................................................................................ B-1

Problems in Windows XP ...................................................................................................................... B-3

C Note on USB Compatibility

Introduction

Introduction v

Introduction

Creative WebCam NX is a digital video camera kit that gives you everything you
need to capture 24-bit still images and video in 16.7 million colors. Not only that, it
also allows you to communicate face-to-face with others on the Internet!

Creative WebCam NX comes with the following software:

❑

Creative PC-CAM Center

❑

Creative WebCam Monitor

❑

Microsoft® NetMeeting

❑

Microsoft Internet Explorer

For more information, see "Creative WebCam NX Applications" on page 3-1.

Before You
Begin

Package Contents

Your Creative WebCam NX package contains the following items:

❑

Creative WebCam NX with USB cable attached

❑

Creative WebCam NX installation CD

❑

Quick Start.

README file

The README file on the CD-ROM contains information not available at the time of
printing. Read the file before you begin installing Creative WebCam NX.

Minimum System

Requirements

For the USB port version of Creative WebCam NX:

❑

233 MHz Pentium® II or higher IBM® compatible PC

❑

32 MB RAM

❑

250 MB free hard disk space

❑

Available USB port or

a USB hub with external power supply

❑

Microsoft Windows® 98/98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 or Windows XP
(Windows 95 is not supported)

❑

16-bit color display at a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels

Introduction vi

❑

CD-ROM drive installed

❑

Sound Blaster® or other Windows-compatible sound card. Sound
Blaster 16 or higher required for simultaneous two-way conversation with full-duplex
support.

For Videoconferencing

❑

Microphone

❑

Modem or LAN access to the Internet at 28.8Kbps or faster

Document

Conventions

Tip. This tells you about short cuts or hints relating to a feature.

Note. This highlights additional or important information about a
feature.

Caution! This highlights proper usage of your product. Use this
information to avoid risky situations.

Warning! This warns you of possible hazards to yourself or your
product, that may result in injury or damage.

1

Installing Creative WebCam NX

Installing Creative WebCam NX 1-2

Installing Creative WebCam NX

This chapter tells you how to quickly install Creative WebCam NX.

About
Creative
WebCam NX

Figure 1-1 highlights the features of Creative WebCam NX.

Figure 1-1: Creative WebCam NX

Focus ring

Adjusts 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.

USB cable

Snapshot button

Press it to launch
PC-CAM center and
capture images

USB connector

Front View

Side View

Hinged lever for
mounting camera on
LCD display panel