Creative PC-CAM 350 User Manual

Getting Started

Creative PC-CAM 350

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. 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 © 2002 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.

Version 1.0
May 2002

PC-CAM is a trademark of Creative Technology Ltd. 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.

ii

Contents

Introduction

About the Applications .............................................................................. vi

Creative PC-CAM Center .................................................................. vi

Creative WebCam Monitor ............................................................... vi

Microsoft NetMeeting....................................................................... vi

Ulead Photo Express MCE 4.0........................................................... vii

Before You Begin .....................................................................................vii

Package Contents ........................................................................... vii

Third Party Software ....................................................................... vii

README File................................................................................... vii

Minimum System Requirements .......................................................viii

Updating Drivers............................................................................ viii

Document Conventions..................................................................... ix

1 Installing PC-CAM 350

PC-CAM 350 .......................................................................................... 1-1

Buttons and LCD on PC-CAM 350.............................................................1-3

Buttons ....................................................................................... 1-3

LCD.............................................................................................. 1-4

Inserting or Changing Batteries ...............................................................1-6

Installing PC-CAM 350 ............................................................................ 1-7

In Windows 98/98 SE/Me .............................................................. 1-7

In Windows 2000.......................................................................... 1-9

In Windows XP ........................................................................... 1-10

Verifying the installation ............................................................... 1-12

In Windows 98/98SE/Me/2000/XP......................................... 1-12

2 Using PC-CAM 350 as a Web Camera

Starting PC-CAM Center.......................................................................... 2-1

Capturing Images and Videos .................................................................. 2-2

iii

Taking a Photo in Preview Mode ......................................................2-3

Recording a Video in Preview Mode ................................................. 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 Using PC-CAM 350 as a Digital Camera

Turning on the Camera........................................................................... 3-1

Battery Low........................................................................................... 3-1

Taking Pictures ...................................................................................... 3-2

Tips on Taking Good Pictures................................................................... 3-5

Downloading Images from the Camera..................................................... 3-6

Deleting Images from the Camera ...........................................................3-7

Docked Mode ............................................................................... 3-7

Undocked Mode ............................................................................ 3-7

Appendixes

A Technical Specifications

Features and Specifications .....................................................................A-1

Driver and Operating System Compatibility ............................................... A-2

Power ................................................................................................... A-2

Sensor..................................................................................................A-2

Image Resolution................................................................................... A-2

Docked mode ............................................................................... A-2

iv

Undocked mode............................................................................ A-3

Light Sensitivity ..................................................................................... A-3

Video Formats .......................................................................................A-3

Exposure Control ...................................................................................A-3

Color Balance ........................................................................................A-3

Color Matrix...........................................................................................A-3

Port Compatibility ..................................................................................A-4

Flash ....................................................................................................A-4

B Troubleshooting

Problem Installing Software.....................................................................B-1

Problems Using PC-CAM 350 ...................................................................B-1

Problems in Windows XP ......................................................................... B-4

C Note on USB Compatibility

Introduction

Introduction v

Introduction

Creative PC-CAM 350 is an Internet video camera that allows you to capture images
in 24-bit (16.7 million) colors. It also records videos in full-color. The following are
just some of the things you can do with your PC-CAM 350:
❑ Video Conferencing. Want to chat face-to-face with someone over the Internet?

Used together with Microsoft NetMeeting, PC-CAM 350 allows you to have real­time videoconferencing with virtually anybody over the Internet!

❑ Security Camera. Worried that someone will use your computer without your

knowledge? When used together with WebCam Monitor, PC-CAM 350 can function
as a security camera, recording short videos of any movement in its field of view.
It can also be programmed to take pictures automatically at regular intervals.

❑ Portable Digital Camera. As PC-CAM 350 is detachable, you can disconnect it

from the computer and use it as a digital camera to take pictures anywhere you
like! With PC-CAM 350’s focus-free lens, you don’t need to manually focus your
camera. Downloading images from PC-CAM 350 is a breeze with PC-CAM Center.

Creative PC-CAM 350 is also compatible with Instant Messenger Software, such as
Microsoft Network (MSN), AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and Yahoo Messanger. Use
Creative PC-CAM 350 to add video to your favorite Instant Messaging software, such
as MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, or the Windows Messenger feature built into
Windows XP.

Introduction vi

About the
Applications

Creative PC-CAM
Center

This powerful application lets you take pictures or record videos and store them in
albums. Use this application to download pictures to your computer, when using
PC-CAM 350 as a portable digital camera. You can also export pictures or videos to
other programs, or send them as attachments in your e-mail message. There are
various settings for you to adjust, allowing you to optimize the quality of your
pictures and videos.

Creative WebCam
Monitor

If you are thinking of putting a live snapshot of your office, garden, or even your
hamster cage on your web page, use WebCam Monitor. Just point your camera,
specify some settings, and WebCam Monitor does the rest, including automatically
uploading the snapshots to your web site. WebCam Monitor can even act as a
motion-detecting security system that automatically sends an e-mail message to
notify you whenever anybody moves within the camera’s field of view.

Microsoft
NetMeeting

Microsoft® NetMeeting® is a voice communications client that includes support for
international conferencing standards and provides true multi-user application
sharing and data conferencing capabilities.

It supports one-way or two-way videoconferencing, so your friends can see you even
if they do not have a camera. Audio-only conversations and text chats are also
supported. Two or more users can collaborate on a document, doodle on a
whiteboard, or even share any Windows application in real-time over the Internet or
a corporate intranet.

Introduction vii

Ulead Photo
Express MCE 4.0

Ulead® Photo Express™ MCE 4.0 has everything you need to get started with picture
editing and sharing. Sort your pictures in seconds using the visual thumbnail Browse
mode. Retouch problematic photos with quick and easy enhancement tools. Ulead
Photo Express MCE 4.0 is fully customizable and allows you to add cool captions to
photos with colorful eye-catching text. You can even e-mail your pictures as HTML

mail or as attachments.

Before You Begin

Package Contents

Your package contains the following items:

❑ One PC-CAM 350 camera
❑ One PC-CAM 350 camera stand
❑ One wrist-strap
❑ One USB cable
❑ Four 1.5 V alkaline AAA batteries (twin pack)
❑ One PC-CAM 350 installation CD
❑ One Quick Start guide

Third Party
Software

❑ Ulead Photo Express MCE 4.0
❑ Adobe

®

Acrobat

®

❑ Microsoft NetMeeting

README File

❑ The README file on the PC-CAM 350 installation CD contains information not

available at the time of printing. Read the file before connecting your PC-CAM to
the computer.

Introduction viii

Minimum System
Requirements

❑ Genuine Intel

®

Pentium® 350 MHz, AMD® K6-2 300 MHz or faster processor

❑ 32 MB RAM (64 MB RAM recommended)
❑ 100 MB free hard disk space for installation of all software titles
❑ Available USB port or self-powered USB hub
❑ Microsoft Windows

®

98, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), Windows Millennium

Edition (Me), Windows 2000 or Windows XP

❑ Display adapter that supports 16-bit color at a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels
❑ CD-ROM drive installed
❑ Sound Blaster

®

or other compatible audio card and microphone (required for

videoconferencing)

❑ Modem or LAN access to the Internet at 28.8 Kbps or faster (required for

videoconferencing)

For optimal performance:

❑ Display adapter that supports 24-bit color at a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels
❑ Sound Blaster 16 or higher, or other Windows-compatible audio card with full-

duplex support for simultaneous two-way conversations

Updating Drivers

To download the latest drivers and file updates for PC-CAM 350, visit
http://www.creative.com.

Creative does not assume
any costs charged to connect
to the Internet.

Introduction ix

Document
Conventions

The following typographical conventions are used throughout this document:

Table 1: Document conventions

This Represents

This notepad icon indicates information that is of particular
importance and should be considered before continuing.

This alarm clock icon indicates that failure to adhere to
directions may result in loss of data or damage to your
computer.

The warning sign indicates that failure to adhere to
directions may result in bodily harm or life-threatening
situations.

1

Installing PC-CAM 350

Installing PC-CAM 350 1-1

Installing PC-CAM 350

PC-CAM 350

Figure 1-1 shows you the front and back views of the camera.

Front LED

Lights up when
the camera is
connected to the
computer.

S

napshot button

Viewfinder

Focus-free lens

Front view

Back view

Viewfinder

Camera-ready LED

Strobe-Flash

Figure 1-1: Front and back views of PC-CAM 350.

Operation mode button

Flash button.

Image counter

Powe r bu tt on

Installing PC-CAM 350 1-2

Figure 1-2 shows the buttons and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) on the camera.

Figure 1-2: Buttons and LCD on PC-CAM 350.

Self-timer single snapshot (normal
resolution) and Self-timer single snapshot
(high resolution) modes icons

Battery level indicator

Operation mode button

Flash mode button.

Image counter

Powe r bu tt on

Flash mode Icons

Audio cues enabled icon

Multiple-snapshot (normal
resolution) mode icon

Single snapshot (high resolution),
Single snapshot (normal resolution)
and Single snapshot (low resolution)
modes icons

Video Recording icon

Installing PC-CAM 350 1-3

Buttons and
LCD on PC­CAM 350

The following section explains the functions of the buttons and LCD on your PC­CAM 350. Refer to Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2 for the location of these buttons and
LCDs on your camera.

Buttons

The following buttons are found on your PC-CAM 350:

❑ Power button

To turn on your camera, press this button. You can only turn on your camera
when it is disconnected from the computer.
To turn off your camera, press and hold this button for two seconds.
Note: The camera will turn itself off if it is left idle for three minutes.

❑ Operation Mode button

This button will change the camera’s operation mode each time it is pressed.
There are six modes of operation: Single snapshot (normal resolution), Single
snapshot (high resolution), Single snapshot (low resolution), Self-timer single

snapshot (normal resolution), Self-timer single snapshot (high resolution),

Multiple snap shot and Video Recording. To erase all the data from your
camera, press this button together with the Snapshot button.

❑ Flash Mode button

This button will change the camera’s flash mode each time it is pressed. There
are two flash modes: Auto and Disabled. To delete the last file from the
camera, press the Flash Mode button and Snapshot button simultaneously.

❑ Snapshot button

This button is used for taking photos and videos. It is a two-stage button.
Pressing the button halfway (the first stage) will allow the camera to make the
necessary adjustments for flash and exposure. Pressing the button completely
(the second stage) allows the camera to take a picture or video.

Installing PC-CAM 350 1-4

LCD

The following LCD icons and symbols are found on your PC-CAM 350:

❑ Single snapshot (high resolution)

This icon indicates that you are in Single snapshot (high resolution) mode. In
this mode, the camera captures images at 640 x 480 pixels with software
interpolation.

❑ Single snapshot (normal resolution)

This icon indicates that you are in Single snapshot (normal resolution) mode.
In this mode, the camera captures images at 352 x 288 pixels.

❑ Single snapshot (low resolution)

This icon indicates that you are in Single snapshot (low resolution) mode. In
this mode, the camera captures images at 176 x 144 pixels.

❑ Multiple snapshot

This icon indicates that you are in the Multiple snapshot mode. In this mode,
the camera captures five successive snapshots at 352 x 288 pixels.

❑ Self-timer single snapshot (normal resolution)

This icon indicates that you are in Self-timer single snapshot mode. In this
mode, the camera takes a normal resolution snapshot after a specified length
of time. Images are captured at 352 x 288 pixels.

❑ Self-timer single snapshot (high resolution)

This icon indicates that you are in Self-timer single snapshot mode (high
resolution). In this mode, the camera takes a low resolution snapshot after a
specified length of time. Images are captured at 640 x 480 pixels.

❑ Video Recording

This icon indicates that the camera is in Video Recording mode. In this mode,
the camera records videos without audio.