Windows : Video input settings

[D.T. Nethery]

Hi,

I have a new question regarding frame capture from a webcam in TVPaint . This is not a crashing issue, but is related to the webcam settings in the Video-Input panel for Windows version of TVPaint 11 . (if you want to split this off to a new topic , please feel free ...)

A student emailed me to say she is using TVPaint 11.0.2 running on Windows 8 , with a Logitech C-920 HD webcam. She mentions that she is having trouble with the Auto-Focus on the webcam constantly searching for a focus point , so some of her captured images are out of focus. She is asking how to set the Logitech webcam to Manual Focus.

For my students using TVPaint on Mac I suggest to them to use a webcam control software called iGlasses, which allows for manual control of the webcam's focus , exposure, white balance, etc. However, I do not know of a similar webcam control software for Windows.

I have an old screenshot from TVPaint 9.5 that someone from TVPaint sent me a long time ago , which shows the Windows camera properties window that comes up when clicking on "Settings" button in the Video-Input panel. Is it the same now in TVPaint 11 on Windows ? If the student clicks on "Settings" will a window like this appear ? --



If I recall correctly, I think under the Camera Control or Facetracking tab there may be the option to set the webcam's focus to MANUAL Focus (?) . I am just trying to confirm that this is still an option for Windows users using TVPaint 11 , so I may correctly advise the student. (because I do not have a Windows PC here , only Mac) .

Thanks.

-David

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[Léo]

Hello David,

I believe that the webcam settings panel in the Video-Input panel will depend of the trademark and also the model of your webcam, so that's pretty difficult to have the same panel.
For example here is the panel I will have with my camera Logitech C-270 HD webcam (in French sorry):

video input.PNG (92.04 KiB) Viewed 17776 times

[Elodie]

(I split the topic as you suggested David, since this issue concerns Windows users.)

[Fabrice]

If I remember well, the screen capture came from the Recordex Camera.

[D.T. Nethery]

Hello David,

I believe that the webcam settings panel in the Video-Input panel will depend of the trademark and also the model of your webcam, so that's pretty difficult to have the same panel.

For example here is the panel I will have with my camera Logitech C-270 HD webcam (in French sorry):

Ok, thanks for that information. I'll ask the student to send me a screen capture of what her Video Input webcam Settings look like (to see if there is any option for Manual Focus on her webcam settings) . That's a little different than what I'm used to with Mac 32bit version of Video-Input , where clicking on Settings brings up this window -

TVPaint Mac 32bit Video Settings.jpg (38.62 KiB) Viewed 17747 times

and you select the Source input device from among whatever active devices are available , then any changes to the camera's settings are made in the Adjustments tab ... but it's the SAME interface no matter which webcam is used , not dependent on the trademark and model of the webcam as in the Windows version.

Question : if you use your Logitech C-270 HD webcam to shoot a line test or otherwise capturing images of artwork how do you keep the auto-focus on the Logitech C-270 from ruining the shots ? Are you able to switch the Logitech into Manual Focus mode ? I can't see how to do this on Windows from the screenshots I've seen. (on Mac I have the students use the iGlasses webcam control software to manually control the webcam's focus and exposure , but unfortunately iGlasses is Mac-only).

[Fabrice]

Question : if you use your Logitech C-270 HD webcam to shoot a line test or otherwise capturing images of artwork how do you keep the auto-focus on the Logitech C-270 from ruining the shots ? Are you able to switch the Logitech into Manual Focus mode ? I can't see how to do this on Windows from the screenshots I've seen. (on Mac I have the students use the iGlasses webcam control software to manually control the webcam's focus and exposure , but unfortunately iGlasses is Mac-only).

Unfortunately, I'm not sure it can be done through a driver/software on all the existing camera models.
I remember talking with a Gobelins teacher who told me that he was really careful to avoid auto-focus hardware.