Creative PC-CAM 550 User manual

User Manual
Creative PC-CAM 550
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
April 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
Before You Begin .....................................................................................vii
Package Contents ........................................................................... vii
Third Party Software ....................................................................... vii
README File................................................................................... vii
Minimum System Requirements ....................................................... vii
Updating Drivers............................................................................ viii
Document Conventions................................................................... viii
1 Installing PC-CAM 550
PC-CAM 550 .......................................................................................... 1-1
Buttons and LCD on PC-CAM 550............................................................. 1-3
Buttons ....................................................................................... 1-3
LCD.............................................................................................. 1-4
Inserting or Changing Batteries ............................................................... 1-6
Installing Software ................................................................................. 1-7
In Windows 98/98 SE/Me .............................................................. 1-7
Verifying the installation in Windows 98/98 SE/Me.....................1-9
In Windows 2000.......................................................................... 1-9
Verifying the installation in Windows 2000.............................. 1-10
In Windows XP ........................................................................... 1-11
Verifying the installation in Windows XP ................................. 1-12
2 Using PC-CAM 550 as a Web Camera
Starting PC-CAM Center.......................................................................... 2-1
Capturing Images and Videos .................................................................. 2-2
Taking a Photo in Preview Mode ......................................................2-3

iii
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 550 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-4
Port Compatibility ..................................................................................A-4
Flash ....................................................................................................A-4
B Troubleshooting
Problem Installing Software.....................................................................B-1
Problems Using PC-CAM 550 ...................................................................B-1
Problems in Windows XP .........................................................................B-4
C Note on USB Compatibility

Introduction

Introduction v
Introduction
Creative PC-CAM 550 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 550:
❑Video Conferencing. Want to chat face-to-face with someone over the Internet?
Used together with Microsoft NetMeeting, PC-CAM 550 allows you to have real-
time 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 550 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 550 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 550’s focus-free lens, you don’t need to manually focus your
camera. Downloading images from PC-CAM 550 is a breeze with PC-CAM Center.
Creative PC-CAM 550 is also compatible with Instant Messanger Software, such as
MSN, AIM and Yahoo Messanger. Use the Creative PC-CAM 550 to add video to your
favorite Instant Messaging software, such as MSN Messenger (included with your
software package), Yahoo Messenger, or the Windows Messenger feature built in to
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 550 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.

Introduction vii
Before You Begin
Package Contents Your package contains the following items:
❑One PC-CAM 550 camera
❑One PC-CAM 550 camera stand
❑One wrist-strap
❑One USB cable
❑Four 1.5 V alkaline AAA batteries (twin pack)
❑One PC-CAM 550 installation CD
Third Party
Software
❑Ulead®Photo Express™ MCE 4.0
❑Adobe Acrobat
❑Microsoft®NetMeeting
README File ❑The README file on the PC-CAM 550 installation CD contains information not
available at the time of printing. Read the file before connecting your PC-CAM to
the computer.
Minimum System
Requirements
❑Genuine Intel®Pentium®266 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 450 pixels
❑CD-ROM drive installed
❑Sound Blaster®or other compatible audio card and microphone (required for
videoconferencing)

Introduction viii
❑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 550, visit
http://www.creative.com.
Document
Conventions
The following typographical conventions are used throughout this document:
Creative does not assume
any costs charged to connect
to the Internet.
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.