Polaroid Direct Connect Adapter User manual

Direct Connect Adapter
User Guide

Table Of Contents
What is the Polaroid Direct Connect adapter? 5
Direct Connect features 5
What is in the Direct Connect package 6
About the adapter 7
Setting up the Direct Connect adapter 8
Install the software 8
Connect the adapter to your computer
Start the configuration software 10
Select a camera 10
Select a printer 11
Add a watermark to your pictures 12
Choose a picture format 16
Printing with the Direct Connect adapter 18
Connecting the camera, adapter and printer 18
Printing modes 1
Printing steps 20
Solving problems 22
Direct Connect software cannot find serial port 22
Adapter does not print 23
About LED indicator codes 25
Obtaining technical assistance 2
Within the U.S.A. 27
Outside the U.S.A. 27
Internet support 27
Polaroid Technical Support telephone numbers 28
Repair service 28
Obtaining configuration files for additional cameras 29
Limited Equipment Warranty 31
FCC notices 31
Software license agreement 32
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

5
What is the Polaroid Direct Connect
adapter?
The Polaroid Direct Connect adapter lets you print
photographic-quality digital pictures from your digital
camera – without your computer. The adapter connects
your camera directly to your Polaroid ColorShot Photo
Printer so you can print self-developing, full-color pic-
tures any time, any place.
To print a digital picture from your camera, display the
picture on the camera's LCD panel and press the print
button on the Direct Connect adapter. The adapter also
has other modes for printing all pictures and printing
an index picture with several thumbnails (small pic-
tures) on one sheet of film. Additionally, you can add a
watermark (a graphic logo and text) to each picture.
Direct Connect features
No computer needed for printing pictures from your
digital camera
Sets up easily with your PC, then prints without
the computer
Small and lightweight
Works with digital cameras from leading manufactur-
ers such as Olympus, Agfa, Epson and Casio
Can be upgraded to support additional cameras from
other manufacturers such as Kodak
Offers multiple modes for printing single pictures, all
pictures in the camera at once, and indexes (several
pictures on each sheet)
Capable of adding a logo and text (watermark) to pic-
tures

6
Note: The quality of pictures printed with the Direct
Connect adapter depends on the quality of the pictures
captured by the digital camera. Picture quality can vary
considerably among digital camera models.
What is in the Direct Connect package
aDirect Connect adapter
bComputer interface cable
cSerial camera connector
dUSB camera connector
eDirect Connect configuration software on CD-ROM
fUser's guide (not shown)

7
About the adapter
aPrint button
bPrint All button
cPrint Index button
dSelect Picture/Cancel Print button
eLED indicator
fColorShot Photo Printer USB or parallel connector
(USB shown)
gDirect Connect power connector
hColorShot printer power connector
iCamera and computer connector

8
Setting up the Direct Connect adapter
Before printing with the adapter for the first time, you
need to configure it with the Direct Connect Configu-
ration Software. You can also use the software to
change the setup later.
Using the software, you define:
•the digital camera you are using.
•the printer you are using.
•the option of adding a watermark to your pictures.
•the picture format: Best Fit to Page or Fill Entire Page.
To set up the adapter:
Install the software.
aStart your computer.
bInsert the Direct Connect CD-ROM in your
CD-ROM drive.
cClick the Start button and then click Run.
dType x:setup.exe (substitute the letter of your CD-
ROM drive for x) and click OK.
eFollow instructions on your screen to complete the
installation.
fRemove the CD-ROM from your CD-ROM drive.
1

9
Connect the adapter to your computer as
shown in Figure 1.
aDirect Connect adapter
bNot connected (USB connector shown; Direct Connect
parallel version has 25-pin connector instead)
cNot connected
dColorShot power cord and adapter (provided with
ColorShot printer)
eSerial port (COM1, COM2, etc.)
fInterface cable
gLED indicator (flashing red until you start the configu-
ration software in the following step)
2
Figure 1. Connecting the adapter to your computer

10
Start the configuration software.
aClick Start and then click Programs.
bClick Direct Connect Configuration Software
The main window opens.
The LED indicator on the adapter changes from flash-
ing red to steady orange, indicating that the adapter and
computer are communicating. If the indicator is not
steady orange, see Solving problems on page 22.
Select a camera.
Note: The Direct Connect adapter can be set up for
only one camera at a time. If you have multiple adapt-
ers set up for different cameras, you may want to label
each adapter to indicate its current setup.
aClick the Camera button to display a list of compatible
digital cameras.
If you do not see your camera listed, see Obtaining
configuration files for additional cameras and printers
on page 29.
bClick your camera model and then click the OK button to
send the camera setup information to the adapter.
3
4

11
Select a printer.
aClick the Printer button to display a list of compatible
printers.
If you do not see your printer listed, see Obtaining
configuration files for additional cameras and printers
on page 29.
bClick your printer model and then click the OK button to
send the setup information to the adapter.
cIf you ... Then ...
are finished configuring the
software Click Exit The setup data is sent to
the adapter.
want to add a watermark to
your pictures Continue to Add a watermark to your pic-
tures.
want to select a picture
format Skip to Choose a pic- ture format (page 16).
5
6
7

12
Add a watermark to your pictures.
You can use the Direct Connect configuration software
to add a watermark containing a logo or text (or both)
as shown in Figure 2 to all pictures you print.
The watermark location is limited to one of four pic-
ture quadrants, which you select during setup.
aAt the Direct Connect software main window, click the
Watermark button.
The current watermark location appears as a rectangle
in one of the four quadrants of the image area, as
shown in Figure 3.
b To choose a different quadrant for the watermark, click
the desired quadrant to move the watermark rectangle.
For example, to move the watermark rectangle to the
6
6
Figure 2. Picture with a watermark
Figure 3. Watermark rectangle

13
upper left quadrant as shown in Figure 4, click the
upper left quadrant area.
cIf you want to ... Then ...
dClick the Load Image button and then choose the
folder and file containing the logo.
The following file formats are supported:
create a new watermark Click the Create
Watermark button
and go to step d.
add a watermark saved ear-
lier 1Click the Load Watermark but-
ton.
2Choose the
folder and
.BMP file con-
taining the
watermark.
3Click Open.
4Skip to step k
on page 15.
.BMP .PCX .TGA
.ICO .PNG .TIF
.JPG .PSD .WMF
Figure 4. Watermark rectangle

14
When you select the file, the logo appears in the
selected quadrant.
eTo change ... Then ...
f To add text to your pictures, click the Text button.
A text box with five blank lines appears.
the logo location within the
quadrant Click inside the logo and drag it to its new location.
the logo size Click an edge of the logo
and drag it outward or
inward.
the logo background
or another color from
solid to transparent so
the picture shows
through
1Click the
Transparent
Color Selec-
tor button.
2Click the color
in the logo you
want to make
transparent.
the logo background from
transparent to solid so the
picture does not show
through
Click the Cancel
Transparent
Color button.

15
gClick one of the lines, type the text you want to print, and
then click the Text Format button to choose the font, style,
size and font effects (underline, color, etc.) for the line.
hIf necessary, repeat steps g to create additional text
lines.
i After all the text lines are formatted, click the OK button.
jTo change ... Then ...
k When done, click the OK button and view the water-
mark in place on the picture.
lIf you want to ... Then ...
the text box location within
the quadrant Click inside the text box and drag it to its new
location
the text box size Click an edge of the text
box and drag it outward or
inward.
save the watermark
logo and text as a
.BMP file you can
reuse later
1Click the Save
Watermark but-
ton.
2Choose a folder
for the water-
mark file and
type a file name.
3Click Save.
4Go to step m.
use the watermark on your
pictures without saving it as
a separate file
Go to step m.

16
mClick the OK button.
nIf you ... Then ...
Choose a picture format.
The Direct Connect Configuration Software lets you choose
between two picture formats: Best Fit to Page, and Fill
Entire Frame.
The Best Fit to Page format prints the complete picture. It
may leave white borders on two edges of the picture if the
aspect ratio of the picture (ratio of width to height) does not
match the aspect ratio of the ColorShot film image area
(6:5). See Figure 5.
The Fill Entire Frame format eliminates any white borders
on the picture. If the aspect ratio of the picture does not
are finished configuring the
software Click Exit. The setup data is sent to
the adapter.
want to select a picture
format Continue to Choose a picture format
7
7
Figure 5. Best Fit to Page format

17
match the film image area, the picture is cropped to fit the
image area as shown in Figure 6.
To choose a picture format:
aAt the Direct Connect Software main window, click
the Settings button.
bIn the Print Size box, click Fit to Page or Fill Entire
Frame.
cClick the OK button.
dClick Exit to send the configuration data to the adapter
and to close the configuration program.
Figure 6. Fill Entire Frame format

18
Printing with the Direct Connect adapter
Connecting the camera, adapter and printer
Connect your camera to the Direct Connect adapter
and the ColorShot printer as shown in Figure 7.
aDirect Connect adapter
bUSB connector (The Direct Connect parallel version
has a 25-pin connector instead.)
cColorShot Photo Printer
dColorShot power cord and adapter
e ColorShot LED indicator (steady green after all con-
nections are complete)
f Camera-to-PC USB cable (provided with USB cameras)
gCamera-to-PC serial cable (provided with serial cameras)
Figure 7. Connecting the adapter for printing

19
hUSB camera connector (provided with Direct Connect
adapter) for use with camera-to-PC USB cable
iSerial camera connector (provided with Direct Connect
adapter) for use with camera-to-PC serial cable
j Direct Connect LED indicator (alternates green and
orange until camera communication is established)
Printing modes
Single print
Prints a single picture: the one most recently displayed
in camera preview mode on the camera LCD.
Print all pictures
Prints all the pictures stored in the camera memory.
Print index
Prints all the pictures stored in the camera memory,
with several pictures on one sheet.

20
Printing steps
Note: If the Direct Connect LED indicator displays
flashing orange before or during these steps, the Color-
Shot Photo Printer is out of film. When this happens,
load a new pack of film as shown in Figure 9. (The film
cover ejects when you close and latch the film door.
1Turn on the camera.
See your camera instructions.
2Set the camera to the PC Connect mode. (Your camera
may use a different name for this mode.)
The adapter LED shows a steady orange, indicating
communication among the adapter, camera and printer.
3To print ... Then ...
a single picture aPress the Picture Select
button on the Direct Con-
nect adapter to scroll
through the pictures until
the one you want to print
appears. (Press the button
twice rapidly to scroll
backward.)
bPress the Single Print But-
ton.
Figure . Loading the ColorShot Photo Printer

21
To print ... Then ...
Note: You can cancel printing by pressing the Picture
Select/Cancel Print button.
If pictures do not appear on the camera LCD
Some digital cameras cannot display pictures on their
LCD screen while connected to the Direct Connect
adapter. If your camera does not display pictures while
connected, use these steps to print a single picture:
1Disconnect the Direct Connect cable from the camera.
2Set the camera to the Review mode.
Your camera may have a different name for this mode.
See the camera instructions.
3Display the picture you want to print.
4Reconnect the Direct Connect cable to the camera.
5Set the camera to the PC Connect mode.
6Press the Single Print button.
all pictures
stored in camera Press the Print All button.
index print(s) Press the Print Index button.

22
Solving problems
Direct Connect software cannot find serial port
Possible cause Solution
Direct Connect adapter not powered
on Verify that the LED indicator is on. If not, check the connections (page 9)
and make sure AC power is available
at the outlet.
Direct Connect adapter not connected
to the computer Verify that the adapter is connected to a serial port on the computer before
you start the configuration software.
Computer screen-saver software
interfering with communication See your computer's user guide and disable the screen saver
Serial port turned off by computer's
power management software (some
laptop computers)
See your computer's user guide and
disable automatic shutoff for the
computer serial ports.
Two devices (Direct Connect adapter
and a modem, for example) attempt-
ing to use the same serial port
Move the Direct Connect adapter or
the other device to a different serial
port, or disable the other device. See
your computer's user guide or the
user guide for the conflicting device
for instructions.
Software unable to automatically
detect adapter Manually choose the COM port:
1At the Dirrect Connect
Configuration Software
main window, click the
Settings button.
2On the Communication
Port drop-down list, click
the COM port to which
the adapter is connected.
3Click the OK button.