How To Use This Manual: Package Contents

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How to use this manual


This document has been designed to provide you with complete product knowledge. You can resize the document window or print this document, access linked web sites and get information from specially prepared graphics.
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Introduction
Congratulations on purchasing your Creative WebCam Instant. This web camera allows you to capture 24-bit still images and videos in 16.7 million colors at VGA resolutions. It also allows you to communicate with your friends and loved ones on the Internet! Creative WebCam Instant comes with the following software: z Creative WebCam Center z ArcSoft PhotoImpression z ArcSoft Multimedia Email For more information, see Creative WebCam Instant Applications.

Before You Begin


Package Contents
Your Creative WebCam Instant package contains the following items: z Creative WebCam Instant with USB cable attached z Creative WebCam Instant Installation CD z Quick Start Booklet Note
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Contents may vary depending on product model and region of purchase.

README file
The README file on the CD-ROM contains late-breaking or other information that supplements the product documentation. Read the file before you begin installing Creative WebCam Instant.

Minimum System Requirements


z

266 MHz Intel Pentium II or higher IBM compatible PC

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z z z z z z

Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition (Me) or Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) 64 MB RAM 100 MB free hard disk space (excludes third party software installation) Available USB port or a USB hub with external power supply 16-bit color display CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive for software installation Sound Blaster or other Windows-compatible audio card. Sound Blaster 16 or higher required for simultaneous two-way conversation with full-duplex support.

For Video Instant Messaging z Microphone z Modem or LAN access to the Internet at 56 Kbps or faster

About Creative WebCam Instant


The figure below highlights the features of Creative WebCam Instant.

Component
1. 2. 3. 4. Focus ring

Description
Adjusts the view focus. Point the lens toward your subject and then rotate this ring in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion until the image is in focus.

Snapshot button Press it to launch WebCam Center and capture images. USB cable Hinged lever Connect it to your computer's USB port. Use this to mount your camera on an LCD display panel.

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Installing Creative WebCam Instant


You need to install device drivers and applications before using your Creative WebCam Instant. Select the Windows operating system you are using and follow the instructions. z For Windows XP z For Windows 2000 z For Windows Me and Windows 98 SE

For Windows XP
1. Do not connect Creative WebCam Instant to your computer before installing the drivers. If you accidentally begin installation with Creative WebCam Instant connected and the Add New Hardware Wizard or Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, click the Cancel button. 2. Insert the Creative WebCam Instant Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. If it does not run automatically, click Start -> Run and type d:\setup.exe (replace d:\ with the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive). 3. Click the options for installing drivers and applications. 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after an application is installed, if you want to restart your computer. Select No until all the drivers and applications are installed. 5. Connect your Creative WebCam Instant's USB cable to an available USB port on your computer (see Connecting Creative WebCam Instant). Windows automatically detects the device. 6. When the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, select Install the software automatically (Recommended), and then click the Next button. 7. When a Hardware Installation Dialog box appears (see figure below), click the Continue Anyway button. For more details on this warning message, see Problems in Windows XP.

8. Follow the instructions on screen to complete the installation. 9. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so. To verify the installation, see Verifying the installation in Windows XP and Windows 2000".

For Windows 2000


1. Do not connect Creative WebCam Instant to your computer before installing the drivers. If

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you accidentally begin installation with Creative WebCam Instant connected and the Add New Hardware Wizard or Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, click the Cancel button. 2. Insert the Creative WebCam Instant Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. If it does not run automatically, click Start -> Run and type d:\setup.exe (replace d:\ with the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive). 3. Click the options for installing drivers and applications. 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after an application is installed, if you want to restart your computer. Select No until all the drivers and applications are installed. 5. Connect your Creative WebCam Instant's USB cable to an available USB port on your computer (see Connecting Creative WebCam Instant). Windows automatically detects the device. 6. When a Digital Signature Not Found dialog box appears (see figure below), telling you that Creative WebCam Instant has been detected, click the Yes button.

7. Restart your computer if you are prompted to do so. To verify the installation, see Verifying the installation in Windows XP and Windows 2000".

For Windows Me and Windows 98 SE


1. Do not connect Creative WebCam Instant to your computer before installing the drivers. If you accidentally begin installation with Creative WebCam Instant connected and the Add New Hardware Wizard or Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears, click the Cancel button. 2. Insert the Creative WebCam Instant Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. If it does not run automatically, click Start -> Run and type d:\setup.exe (replace d:\ with the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive). 3. Click the options for installing drivers and applications. 4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after an application is installed, if you want to restart your computer. Select No until all the drivers and applications are installed. 5. Connect your Creative WebCam Instant's USB cable to an available USB port on your computer (see Connecting Creative WebCam Instant). Windows automatically detects the device. i. If you are prompted to insert the Windows 98 SE or Windows Me CD, replace the Creative WebCam Instant Installation CD with the appropriate CD.

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ii. In the Insert Disk dialog box, click the OK button. iii. Follow the instructions on the screen. 6. Click the Finish button, and then restart your computer if you are prompted to do so. To verify the installation, see Verifying the installation in Windows Me and Windows 98 SE.

Connecting Creative WebCam Instant


Do not connect Creative WebCam Instant to your computer before installing the drivers. To install your drivers, see Installing Creative WebCam Instant". Place your Creative WebCam Instant on top of your computer monitor or other flat surface. For LCD flat panel monitors or notebook computers, use the integrated hinged lever to balance the camera (see figure below).

Component
1. 2. Hinged lever USB port

Note
z z

You can attach Creative WebCam Instant with your computer turned on. You can daisy-chain Creative WebCam Instant through another powered USB device or attach the WebCam to a powered USB hub. If you have a microphone, connect it to your computer's microphone connector. Refer to your computer or audio card documentation for the microphone input.

Verifying the installation in Windows XP and Windows 2000


1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop. 2. On the menu that appears, click Properties. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab. 4. Click the Device Manager button. A window appears.

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5. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry "Creative WebCam Instant" appears.

Verifying the installation in Windows Me and Windows 98 SE


1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop. 2. On the menu that appears, click Properties. 3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab. 4. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry "Creative WebCam Instant" appears.

Creative WebCam Instant Applications


The Creative WebCam Instant Installation CD includes the following: z Creative WebCam Center z ArcSoft PhotoImpressionTM TM z ArcSoft Multimedia Email Note
z

The applications included with your webcam may differ from those described here.

Creative WebCam Center


With this powerful application, you can record videos, take pictures and perform advanced tasks like remote monitoring, motion detection and time lapse video capturing. There are various settings for you to adjust, allowing you to optimize the quality of your pictures and videos. You can also export pictures or videos to other programs, or send them as attachments in your e-mail messages. For details, see Using Creative WebCam Center.

ArcSoft PhotoImpression
ArcSoft PhotoImpression is the perfect imaging software for novice and skilled users. This all-in-one photo editor is packed with new and improved tools for enhancing, printing and getting creative with your favorite digital snapshots. For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help file.

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ArcSoft Multimedia Email


ArcSoft Multimedia Email is a unique program that enables users to create and send digital postcards featuring their own photos, audio messages, text, music and digital videos. For additional information and usage instructions, see the application's Help file.

Using Creative WebCam Center


This chapter tells you how to quickly set up Creative WebCam Instant as a web camera using the Creative WebCam Center software. Creative WebCam Center makes it easy to capture photos and videos with your Creative WebCam Instant. You can also perform advanced tasks like remote monitoring, motion detection and time lapse video capturing. For detailed information about the application's features and settings, refer to its Help file. To start the Help file: In Creative WebCam Center's main window, click Help.

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Starting Creative WebCam Center


You can start Creative WebCam Center in any of the following ways:
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Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Creative WebCam -> Creative WebCam Center. Right-click the Creative Cam Detector icon in your Taskbar, and select Launch Creative WebCam Center. This icon appears if, during installation, you clicked the option for Creative Cam Detector to load automatically at Windows startup. Plug your camera into the USB port and let Windows auto-detect it. Choose to start Creative WebCam Center in Capture mode from a popup window that appears.

Note
z

If Creative WebCam Center does not recognize your webcam correctly, see Problems Using Creative WebCam Instant. Creative WebCam Center automatically detects your installed webcam, and disables any unsupported features on the user interface.

Capturing Photos and Videos


With WebCam Center, you can take photos and record videos. Photos and videos captured with Creative WebCam Center are saved in the default media folder. For more instructions on how to take a photo, record a video, or view photos and videos, refer to the Creative WebCam Center Help file. To launch Creative WebCam Center Help, see Using Creative WebCam Center.

Taking a Photo
1. In the Creative WebCam Center window, click the Capture tab. 2. Click the Photo Resolution box and select the resolution that you want. 3. Click the Snap photo button default media folder. to capture an image. Images are saved as files in the

To view the photos in the image viewer, double-click the image files in the Thumbnails/Details pane.

Recording a Video
1. In the Creative WebCam Center window, click the Capture tab. 2. Click the Video Resolution box and select the resolution that you want.

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3. Click the Record button to start and stop video recording. Videos are saved as files in the default media folder when you stop recording. To view the videos in the video viewer, double-click the video files in the Thumbnails/Details pane.

Reactivating the Camera


If your computer goes into standby mode, your camera will go into suspend mode. You can reactivate the camera and computer by moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard.

Technical Specifications
Construction
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Creative WebCam Instant with an attached USB cable

Power
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Supplied by a USB port

Sensor
z

CIF CMOS image sensor

Video Resolution
z

Up to 352 x 288 pixels

Picture Resolution - Still mode


z z

Up to 352 x 288 pixels 640 x 480 pixels with software enhancement

Video formats
z z

RGB24 I420

Exposure control
z

Automatic

White balance
z

Automatic

Field-of-view
z

50 degrees +/- 5% (diagonal)

Focus range
z

15 centimeters (6 inches) to infinity

Port compatibility

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Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1.1

Software compatibility
z

TWAIN, Video for Windows, WDM MiniDriver for DirectShow and Still Image driver (STI) that runs in Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me and Windows 98 SE

Troubleshooting
If you have more questions about this product, you may wish to consult our self-help tool "Knowledgebase". Go to www.creative.com and select your region.

Problems Using Creative WebCam Instant


An application reports that the video driver is already in use, or that the camera cannot be found.
Do the following:
{

The camera is not properly connected. To resolve this problem, ensure that the camera's USB connector is inserted, and that the USB connector is enabled in the BIOS. Refer to your computer's documentation for information on the BIOS. Reinstall the video capture drivers and restart your computer.

The camera's Power LED does not light up, or the computer restarts for no apparent reason.

You may have USB devices drawing too much power from your computer. This can happen especially when connecting USB devices to a passive or self-powered USB hub. In Windows XP, a dialog box similar to the above figure appears.
Do the following:
{

Connect the camera directly to your computer's USB port.

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Use a USB hub with an external power supply.

Insufficient system resources reserved for the USB port, causing the system to be unable to function. There are too many devices in the system, causing IRQ (interrupt request line) problems with the system's USB controller.
Do the following:

1. Remove some devices from the system. 2. Restart the system. The system will rearrange the resources automatically.

Problems in Windows XP
A Hardware Installation error message appears on a Windows XP operating system when applications are being installed. At the time of this product's release, Microsoft strongly encouraged companies to submit their hardware solutions for certification. If a hardware device driver is not submitted, or does not qualify, for Microsoft certification, a warning message similar to the one below appears.

You may see this message when installing a driver. If you do, you may choose to click the Continue Anyway button. Creative has tested the driver on Windows XP, and it does not impair or destabilize your computer.

Note on USB Compatibility


While testing Creative WebCam Instant on motherboards with integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, we encountered a small number of motherboards that do not meet the USB specification exactly. These and other non-USB-compliant motherboards may not operate correctly with Creative WebCam Instant. Fortunately, the manufacturers of some of these motherboards have released new versions of motherboards or BIOS to address the problem. If the setup program warns you that your motherboard's USB port is incompatible with Creative WebCam Instant, or if the camera does not work on your system and you suspect that the problem may be related to your computer's USB port, the following is a list of available options: 1. Contact your computer vendor.

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Your computer vendor may be able to upgrade your motherboard or its BIOS to a newer version that addresses USB incompatibilities. 2. Use a PCI host adapter that provides USB connectors. If you are not able to upgrade your motherboard or its BIOS, we recommend this approach. 3. Attach the Creative WebCam Instant to a USB hub with an external power supply. Some USB devices (such as monitors) also operate as USB hubs; you can also buy USB hubs which are to be attached to your computer's USB port. However, in some cases, attaching a USB hub to a non-USB-compliant USB motherboard connector will not solve the problem.

License and Copyright


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 only. The Creative logo, Sound Blaster and Blaster are registered trademark of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows are registered trademarks of Micosoft Corporation. Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. All other brand and product names listed are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. The Software License Agreement is found in a separate folder on the installation CD. The copyright and disclaimer, including trademark issues are also found in the same folder. Copyright 2004 by Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. Version 1.0 June 2004

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