Hovercam Flexview User Manual

THE HOVERCAM

User’s Manual

FlexView for Solo 8

Version 1.0

7/30/2013

Pathway Innovations and Technologies, Inc. San Diego, CA 92121
Main:[phone] Fax:[phone] - Toll Free:866-201-2058

www.thehovercam.com

Copyright © 2010-2014 - All Rights Reserved

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................4

1.1 Host computer .................................................................................................................4

1.2 PC System requirements: ...............................................................................................4

2 Installation ..............................................................................................................................5

2.1 Connecting the HoverCam Solo 8 camera ....................................................................5

2.2 Installing FlexView ..........................................................................................................5

3 FlexView features with the Solo 8 camera .............................................................................8

3.1 Preview – Customize - Capture .....................................................................................8

3.2 Scanning – It’s quick .......................................................................................................8

3.3 Life-Like vs. Copier-Style Images .................................................................................8

3.4 USB Video ........................................................................................................................8

3.5 Depth of Field ..................................................................................................................9

3.6 Projector or TV Monitor ................................................................................................9

4 Running FlexView ................................................................................................................10

4.1 Select Present, Scan or Archive mode .........................................................................10

4.2 Select Camera ................................................................................................................11

4.3 Search .............................................................................................................................11

4.4 Tools................................................................................................................................11

4.4.1 Change File Path ............................................................................................................................... 11

4.4.2 Naming Convention .......................................................................................................................... 12

4.4.3 Language ........................................................................................................................................... 12

4.4.4 User’s Manual ................................................................................................................................... 12

4.4.5 Update ............................................................................................................................................... 13

4.4.6 About Us ........................................................................................................................................... 13

4.5 Zoom ...............................................................................................................................14

4.5.1 Digital zoom (“Advanced zoom”) ..................................................................................................... 14

4.5.2 Camera lens zoom: ............................................................................................................................ 14

5 Present Mode, for Video Presentations ................................................................................15

5.1 Actions ............................................................................................................................15

5.1.1 Camera Resolution ............................................................................................................................ 15

5.1.2 Display Size ....................................................................................................................................... 15

5.1.3 Video Codec ...................................................................................................................................... 16

5.2 Advanced Controls ........................................................................................................16

5.2.1 Focus ................................................................................................................................................. 16

5.2.2 Exposure ............................................................................................................................................ 16

5.2.3 White Balance ................................................................................................................................... 17

5.2.4 Select Focus ....................................................................................................................................... 17

5.2.5 Switch to YUV Mode/Switch to MJPEG mode ................................................................................ 17

5.3 Library ...........................................................................................................................17

5.4 Additional Controls .......................................................................................................18

5.4.1 Rotate ................................................................................................................................................ 18

5.4.2 Digital Zoom ..................................................................................................................................... 18

5.4.3 Actual Size (1:1) ................................................................................................................................ 19

5.4.4 Fit to Screen ...................................................................................................................................... 19

5.4.5 Mirror ................................................................................................................................ ................ 19

5.4.6 Full Screen ......................................................................................................................................... 19

5.5 Freeze Frame/Continue ................................................................................................19

5.6 Using the Secondary Camera .......................................................................................19

5.6.1 Swap Cameras and Rotate ................................................................................................................. 19

5.6.2 Secondary Camera Settings ............................................................................................................... 20

5.7 Start Capture .................................................................................................................20

5.8 Annotate .........................................................................................................................20

5.9 Slingshot .........................................................................................................................23

5.10 Catapult ......................................................................................................................24

6 Scan Mode, for quick scans, snapshots and sequence captures .........................................25

6.1 Actions ............................................................................................................................25

6.1.1 Camera Resolution ............................................................................................................................ 25

6.1.2 Display Size ....................................................................................................................................... 25

6.1.3 File Format ........................................................................................................................................ 25

6.1.4 Image Quality ................................................................................................................................... 25

6.1.5 Straighten .......................................................................................................................................... 25

6.1.6 Crop ................................................................................................................................................... 26

6.1.7 Quick Multi Capture feature .............................................................................................................. 26

6.2 Effects .............................................................................................................................26

6.2.1 Button Controls ................................................................................................................................. 26

6.2.2 Slider controls: Brightness, Saturation, Contrast ............................................................................... 27

6.2.3 Remember Settings ................................................................ ............................................................ 27

6.3 Library ...........................................................................................................................27

6.4 Additional Controls .......................................................................................................27

6.4.1 Scan It (Snap) .................................................................................................................................... 27

6.4.2 Auto Capture ..................................................................................................................................... 27

6.5 Annotate .........................................................................................................................29

6.6 Secondary Camera (Face shot with Scan)...................................................................29

6.7 Slingshot .........................................................................................................................29

6.8 Catapult ..........................................................................................................................29

7 Archive Mode: Managing and sharing your files ...............................................................30

7.1 Archive Library .............................................................................................................30

7.1.1 File Types ................................................................................................................................ .......... 31

7.1.2 Folders and files ................................................................................................................................ 31

7.2 Archive Controls ...........................................................................................................32

7.2.1 Stack ................................ ................................................................................................ .................. 32

7.2.2 Unstack .............................................................................................................................................. 33

7.2.3 Delete ................................................................................................................................................ 33

7.2.4 Export ................................................................................................................................................ 33

7.2.5 Create PDF ........................................................................................................................................ 33

7.2.6 Email ................................................................................................................................................. 34

7.2.7 Print ................................................................................................................................................... 34

7.2.8 OCR (Optical Character Recognition) .............................................................................................. 34

7.2.9 Signature ............................................................................................................................................ 35

7.2.10 Share .................................................................................................................................................. 36

8 Legal and Notice Information ..............................................................................................38

8.1 Warranty ........................................................................................................................38

8.2 Trademarks....................................................................................................................38

8.3 User License Agreement (EULA) ................................................................................38

8.3.1 Acceptance ........................................................................................................................................ 38

8.3.2 License Grant 27 ............................................................................................................................... 39

8.4 Restrictions ....................................................................................................................39

8.4.1 Restrictions on Transfer .................................................................................................................... 39

8.4.2 Restrictions on Use ............................................................................................................................ 39

8.4.3 Restrictions on Alteration .................................................................................................................. 39

8.4.4 Restrictions on Copying .................................................................................................................... 40

8.5 Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability ...............................................40

8.6 Limitation of Remedies and Damages .........................................................................41

8.7 Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Costs ......................................................................41

8.8 Severability ....................................................................................................................41

1 Introduction

This User’s Manual is written specifically for The HoverCam FlexView
software running on a PC-compatible computer connected to a HoverCam
Solo 8 camera.

We encourage you to read through this manual to understand how to use
your Solo 8 camera with our FlexView software and all its features. However,
if an unexpected incident arises, please call us or submit a support ticket at
http://www.thehovercam.com/support/ for a prompt and friendly reply.

When contacting The HoverCam Support, please make sure to tell us:

 your operating system
 the HoverCam Model number
 the problem you are experiencing, and
 as much contextual information as possible.

Alternatively, you may email us at [e-mail], or call our
toll-free Tech Support Department at [phone], ext. 201 or ext. 207.

1.1 Host computer

HoverCam FlexView runs on PC-compatible computers only. Mac users will
use the HoverCam Flex10 software. FlexView is a new and improved version
of HoverCam’s Flex program upgraded to work with the new Solo 8 camera.

1.2 PC System requirements:

 Processor: Minimum: Intel Pentium III 1GHz or faster processor
 Recommended: Pentium 4 2GHZ or faster
 OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7
 RAM: Minimum: 512 MB RAM; Recommended: 1GB RAM.

Note: If you are going to use the software on a computer that barely meets
the minimum requirements, you may experience a slow video refresh rate.

2 Installation

2.1 Connecting the HoverCam Solo 8 camera

When you first use the Solo 8 camera, notice that there are two USB ports
on the back of the camera. One of them is marked “Install”, and the other is
a regular USB port. Use the Install port to connect the camera to a USB port
on your computer with the USB cable provided. The Solo 8 camera works
over both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

IMPORTANT: After the FlexView application is installed (see below), remove
the USB cable from the Install port on the back of the camera, and plug it
into the regular USB port located next to the Install port.

2.2 Installing FlexView

The HoverCam FlexView software will install automatically once the Solo 8 is
connected via the “Install” port. This process may take a few minutes.

Some computers may need to have the software manually installed,
depending on the computer’s settings. The Solo 8 will look like a USB thumb
drive to your computer. If this is the case, double click the Setup file to bring
up the installation screen.

Click on the “Install FlexView” button to continue the installation.

You have the option to change the default installation location of FlexView on
your system as shown below. During installation, if your computer does not
have Adobe Air ®, it will be installed automatically.

You can create a FlexView shortcut and choose to start the application once
installation completes.

After the installation is complete, you will not be using the “Install” USB port

on the back of the camera. Unplug the USB cable from that port and connect
it to the regular USB port, also on the back of the camera.

Congratulations!

You are now ready to begin using FlexView with your Solo 8!

3 FlexView features with the Solo 8 camera

The Solo 8, as with the entire line of HoverCam document cameras, is “more
than a scanner, and more than a camera”. It is excellent for quick multiple

scans, with time sequenced snap scans and motion sensing options.

This means there are some new concepts when using the Solo 8.

3.1 Preview – Customize - Capture

With the Solo 8 and FlexView, you see a live preview of the document or
subject under the camera. You can change or adjust the document
orientation in real time. You may place documents with various sizes freely.
It is no longer necessary to wait for slow-showing static preview scans from
a linear scanner. With the FlexView software you can actually customize the
live preview before you record a video or scan a document. You can adjust
the colors, you can add text and annotations and even fix the placement and
layout of the document or presentation.

3.2 Scanning – It’s quick

The Solo 8 captures the entire page of a document in a single snapshot that
completes in less than a second. This is much faster than using a traditional
scanner with its mechanical sweeping action of the scanning. Multiple-page
scanning is also made easier with FlexView.

3.3 Life-Like vs. Copier-Style Images

With the Solo 8, your scanned image is a more accurate reproduction of the
real document or three-dimensional object. Expect a life-like image that is
significantly better than the carbon-copy style of traditional scanned images.

3.4 USB Video

The live video via USB can be used as a video presentation with a projector
or an HDMI monitor. This is an excellent solution for classroom instructors
and visual presenters. The FlexView software allows you to present live
video, record a video session and save it to present again at a later time, or
record just a selected portion of the displayed image if you need to focus in
on one area. The built-in microphone on the Solo 8 records voice along with
the video for a complete presentation.

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3.5 Depth of Field

The Solo 8 lens offers a large depth of field which makes it possible to take
clear pictures even for scenes with multiple objects of varying heights or
with a thick open book.

3.6 Projector or TV Monitor

Solo 8 works with all projectors. If the projector can accept HDMI input
displaying minimum of 720P HD video, HoverCam has supplied a free HDMI
cable for you. If the projector accepts only VGA or component or composite
video input, HoverCam has also supplied the correct cables in the package.

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4 Running FlexView

The FlexView main window is shown here. The Present, Scan and Archive
modes are launched here by clicking on their respective tabs in the upper
left. The Present mode is selected by default. There are many features and
adjustments you can make here on the main window.

Below is a list of the FlexView features displayed along the top bar of the
main window, reading from left to right. These features are available at all
times while you are running FlexView. They are explained in the following
sections.

 Tabs to select Present, Scan or Archive mode
 Drop-down menu to select camera
 Text box to Search for an image or video file you have previously

saved

 Drop-down Tools menu

4.1 Select Present, Scan or Archive mode

HoverCam FlexView supports three main operational modes, shown as tabs.
Click the tab of your choice to change modes. Each mode is explained in
detail in its own section of this manual:

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 Present Mode, for giving a video presentation over a projector or HDMI

monitor to a classroom or audience

 Scan Mode, for scanning documents (taking still pictures of them and

saving the file in various formats, including PDF)

 Archive Mode, for storing and retrieving your saved scans (images)

and videos.

4.2 Select Camera

Before you can make your presentation or
scan your document or image with FlexView,
make sure you have the Solo 8 camera
selected from the pull-down menu near the
top left of the main window.

4.3 Search

When you use FlexView to scan documents
and make video presentations, you will save
your work in files on the computer. FlexView provides file storage and
archiving capabilities that are explained in the Archive section of this
manual. The Search feature allows you to find any video, document, image
or file in the HoverCam Library. Type the name of the file to search for into
the Search box, then press Enter on the keyboard or click the magnifying
glass icon. Your results will be displayed in the Archive mode window.

4.4 Tools

Access the Tools drop-down menu on the upper right corner of the main
window. This menu allows you to change the following general FlexView
settings:

4.4.1 Change File Path

You can change the default path for the “HoverCam Flex Library” folder,
where all the captured images are kept by default. The “HoverCam Flex
Library” is a regular folder in the user’s home directory, normally under “My
Documents”. To change this to a new location, click on “Change file path…”,
then click “Other” on the pull-out menu. A Windows Explorer window opens

up so you can browse to the file path of your choice and select it. Make sure

to select a path where you don’t have permission problems; for example,

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with Windows 7, saving application files/data under “c:\Program Files” is
prohibited.

Your old files will remain in the old location. Changing to a new path begins
a new default folder. You may create new subdirectories under the new
folder; it will not have any default subdirectories.

4.4.2 Naming Convention

Scanned images are saved with a file naming convention, by default as

“IMG_” followed 4 digits starting at 0001. Video files are saved with the
name “VIDEO_” followed by 4 digits. You can change the naming
conventions for both image and video files by selecting the menu “Tools 

Naming Convention Image Name (or Video Name)Customize.” Enter
your preferred name prefix in the box, then Click OK to accept or click
Cancel to exit with no change.

You may also change the names in batch later on by selecting a group of
files in the HoverCam Library; this is best viewed in the Archive mode.
Select the files by clicking the check box under each one; then right-click

select “rename”. Enter the new prefix and it will be applied to all the

selected files.

Individual file names may be changed at any time using the FlexView
Library. The video and image files are shown along the right side of the
screen in the Present and Scan modes. Highlight the file name with your
mouse and then type in the new name. In the FlexView Archive mode, you
can also change the name of a file by this method or by selecting the file and
then right-clicking and selecting “Rename” from the pop-up menu.

4.4.3 Language

Default Language is English, you can change language to

 Dutch
 German
 Japanese
 Swedish

4.4.4 User’s Manual

This is a link to the latest version of FlexView User’s Manual on The
HoverCam website.

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