Chapter 8

The Video Tool

Overview

Much like a still camera, the Video Tool can capture video images for either disk storage or for use in other Communique! Plugins such as the Whiteboard or Graphics Tool.

Topics covered in this chapter include:

The Video Tool Window

The Video Tool’s interface is divided into four main sections: the Menu Bar, the Button Bar, the Video Viewer, and the Status Bar.

Menu Bar

The Menu Bar is located at the top of the Video Tool interface and consists of the Video, Edit and Help menus.

There are nine options in the Video menu:

Preview/Freeze—Starts/stops motion video in the window

Format...—Video format configuration (not available for all video capture cards, refer to your card manufacturer’s documentation for details)

Source...—Video source configuration (not available for all video capture cards; refer to your card manufacturer’s documentation for details)

Display...—Video display configuration (not available for all video capture cards; refer to your card manufacturer’s documentation for details)

Self-View—If supported by your video capture card manufacturer, it allows you to choose between Preview and Overlay modes

Save...—Save the captured video image to disk

Save As...—Save the captured video image to disk

Print Setup...—Configuration of your printer (refer to your printer manufacturer’s documentation for details)

Print...—Print a still video images

Close—Quits the Video Tool

There is one option in the Edit menu:

Copy—Copies a still video image to the Windows Clipboard

There are two options in the Help menu:

Contents—Opens the Video Tool’s Help window

About...—Revision information on Video Tool

Information on how to use the Help window can be found in Chapter 2, "Conference Manager".

Tool Bar

Underneath the Menu Bar there are six different buttons that represent shortcuts to some of the menu options. Pausing the mouse cursor over any button for a few seconds will display the Tool Tip with the function the button performs.

Video Viewer

The Video Viewer is the area in which self-view video, if enabled, is displayed. If the window is resized such that the area is larger than the actual video frame, the frame is matted.

Status Bar

The Status Bar provides hints on the usage of menu items and the status of the Video Tool. When you position your mouse pointer over a menu item, a short note appears in the Status Bar to remind you of that item’s functions (positioning your mouse pointer over a button displays a Tool Tip containing the name of that button).

Video Tool Setup

To capture a video image you need to first verify that your equipment and software are set up properly.

If you are using Video Tool for the first time, you will need to configure your equipment before capturing a video image. Because the Video Tool works with any Video for Windows compliant video capture card, the exact setup procedure for your installation may be slightly different than those presented here. Please refer to your manufacturer’s documentation for details on configuring your video capture card hardware and software.

1. In the Conference Manager window, click on the Video Tool button (the one with the picture of a still camera) to bring up the Video Tool window.

Pointing the mouse at any tool button for a second or two will display a Tool Tip containing the name of the tool.

The Video Tool window will appear.

2. Select the Source... or Format... (depending on your video card) option under the Video menu.

A video configuration window will appear. The type of window that appears and the selections it offers is dependent upon the type of video capture card installed in your PC.

3. If your video capture card has more than 1 input port, check that the correct port has been selected.

For example, if your camera is connected to port 2 of your video capture card, input 2 should be selected in the Source or Format dialog box. Refer to your video capture card’s documentation for details.

4. If necessary, specify which video input format you are using: NTSC, PAL, or SECAM.

Not all video capture cards support all video input formats. Refer to your video capture card’s documentation for details.

Capturing an Image

Once you have everything configured correctly, you are ready to capture your image.

1. Choose a video mode supported by your video capture card by selecting either the Preview or Overlay option from the Video menu or the tool bar (the ones with the picture of the film and the video camera respectfully).

2. Select Preview from the Video menu to start your video preview.

If your video capture card and camera are connected correctly, video from your camera will appear in the video preview area.

If you do not see an image in the video preview area, check that the proper settings have been selected in the Video Format, Source, or Display windows if they are available with your video capture card.

3. If necessary, fine tune the image using the available slider(s) in the Video Format or Video Source 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.

Refer to your video capture card’s user manual for details on adjusting your video image.

4. Select the Freeze option from the Video menu. You can also click on the Preview/Freeze button (the one with the picture of the monitor).

Your video will pause in the video preview area. This image has been captured and can now be printed, saved to disk, or copied to the Windows Clipboard where it can be used in other tools such as the Whiteboard.

Working with Video Images

Once you have captured a video image with the Video Tool, you can use this image in the conference by copying it into the Whiteboard or Graphics Tool. You can also print a copy of the image or save it to disk.

The Windows Clipboard and the Video Tool

Once you have captured an image from video, it can be copied to the Windows Clipboard where Communique! Plugins and other applications supporting the Windows Clipboard will be able to use it. When you have captured an image, follow these steps to place it in the Windows Clipboard.

1. Select Copy from the Edit menu.

The image will be copied into the Windows Clipboard. Since the Clipboard can hold only one image at a time, any previous contents will be overwritten.

The image is now available in the Clipboard and can be pasted into any application supporting the pasting of graphics such as the Communique! Whiteboard or Graphics Tool.

2. Go to the target application and paste it. This is usually accomplished by selecting Paste from the application’s Edit menu.

The image will appear in the application. A copy of the image will remain in the Windows Clipboard until it is overwritten by another Copy command from the Video Tool or another Windows application.

Saving an Image to Disk

Captured images can be saved to disk. Saved images can be loaded into other applications, even those that do not support the Windows Clipboard.

1. Select the Save As... option from the Video menu.

The Save As dialog box appears.

2. Select the graphics file format you wish to save the image to.

You may choose to save your image in one of several different file formats. More information on the different file formats available can be found in the Appendices.

3. Choose a directory and filename for your image.

4. Click the OK button.

Your image will be saved to disk where it can be used by other graphics applications. Be sure to save your image in a graphics file format supported by the application you wish to be able to access the image from.

Printing Images

You can print the contents of the Video Tool using the "Print" option under the Video menu.

1. Select the Print option under the Video menu.

The Print window will appear.

2. Click on the desired printing options:

Use printer resolution—When enabled, 1 screen pixel (dot) = 1 printer dot. While this provides a faithful printed representation of the screen image, the printed image will usually be smaller than the screen image, especially on laser printers.

Print visible part—Print only the part of the image that is visible in the window.

Center—Center the printed image on the page.

Scaling—Select the printed image size relative to the screen image size.

Fast scaling—Enable rapid scaling of the image.

Print to file—Redirect the printer output to a file. Enter the filename when prompted.

Copies—Set the number of printed copies.

Print Quality—Set the printer resolution in dots per inch (dpi)

3. If you need to configure the target printer, click on the Setup button. Setup will open the printer’s specific Setup window and is equivalent to selecting the Print Setup... option from the Video menu.

Refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation for details on printer setup.

4. If the options for printing are correct, click on the OK button to begin printing. To cancel printing, click on the Cancel button.

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