Chapter 11
Video Tool
Overview
Much like a conventional camera, the Video Tool can capture video and freeze images for use in other Communique! tools such as the Whiteboard or Graphics Tool, or for storage on disk. There is a separate Video Tool for each video capture card that Communique! supports, taking advantage of the specific features of each board. In order to use the Video Tool, you will need a video capture board.
This chapter provides information on the following:
- capturing an image
- exporting a captured image to other Communique! tools
- saving and printing an image
- Video Tool options
Capturing an Image
Verifying Set-Up
The Video Tool can create an image by capturing a single frame of video from a camera, VCR, or other input source. This image can then be used in other tools by using the OpenDVE Clipboard, or it can be saved to disk as a regular graphics file.
First, however, you must make sure everything works properly.
1. Click on the Video Tool icon from the Conference Manager.
The Video Tool interface will appear.
2. From the Video Tool’s Options menu select Hardware Setup.
A Video Hardware Setup window that corresponds to your video capture card will appear.
3. Check that the correct port has been set.
For example, if your camera is plugged into port 2 of your video capture card, Input 2 should be selected in the Hardware Setup dialog box.
4. If necessary, specify which video format you are using: NTSC, PAL, or SECAM.
Not all video capture cards support all video formats. The Video Hardware Setup window will allow you to choose among the formats supported by your video capture card.
5. Click OK.
Snapping a Photo
Once you’ve got everything configured properly, you are ready to capture your image.
1. From the Video Tool’s Video menu select the Start Preview option.
If your video capture card and camera are hooked up correctly you will see video output from your camera in the video preview area.
If you do not see an image in the video preview area check that the proper Input Ports and Video Formats have been selected in the Video Hardware Setup window.
2. If necessary, fine tune the image using the sliders in the Video Hardware Setup window.
Depending on the type of video capture card you have, you will be able to adjust such image attributes as color contrast and brightness.
3. From the Video Tool’s Video menu select the Freeze Frame option.
Communique! will create an image by grabbing a frame of video. The image area in the Video Tool will display the picture. If you are unhappy with the results, repeat the process.
Now that you have your image you can either copy it into the OpenDVE Clipboard, where it can be exported to other Communique! tools, or save it to disk.
Using a Video Image in other Communique! Tools
The OpenDVE Clipboard and the Video Tool
After you have grabbed an image from video you can copy it to the OpenDVE Clipboard where Communique! tools and other OpenDVE applications will be able use it.
1. From the Video Tool’s Edit menu select Copy (OpenDVE).
The image will be copied into the OpenDVE Clipboard. Since the OpenDVE Clipboard can hold only one image at a time, the previous contents will be overwritten.
The image is now stored in the OpenDVE Clipboard and can be pasted into any application supporting the OpenDVE Clipboard. You can place the image in the Communique! Whiteboard or Graphics Tool, for example.
2. From the Edit menu of the application where you want to use the image, select Paste (OpenDVE).
The image will appear in the application. A copy of the image will remain in the OpenDVE Clipboard until it is overwritten by another Copy (OpenDVE) command.
Saving and Printing an Image
Saving to Disk
After you have grabbed an image you can save it to disk. Once saved it can be loaded into other applications, even those that do not support the OpenDVE Clipboard.
1. Select Save As from the Video Tool’s Video menu.
A file selector appears.
2. Select the image format you wish to save the image as.
You may choose to save your image in any of several different file formats. For information on the available file formats, see Appendix A, "Graphic File Formats."
3. Choose a location for the image file and filename for your image.
4. Click Save.
Your image is saved to disk.
Printing Images
You can print the contents of the Video Tool using the Print command in the Video menu.
1. Select Print from the Video menu.
The Print File window appears.
2. Specify a printer in the Printer entry field.
You could also use the drop-down selection box to choose to save the image as a PostScript file.
If you are using lp as your printer command, you will need to add the -c option to copy the temporary file to the print spool rather than linking it.
3. If the other options for printing are correct, click OK at the bottom of the Print dialog.
Video Tool Options
Hardware Setup
The Hardware Setup window allows you to select the video input and signal type for your particular video capture card. It will also allow you to adjust your video’s size and other attributes such as color and contrast.