Using a Video Camera and A/V Macintosh

Introduction

Using a video camera to acquire digitized images can be a good alternative to purchasing a digital camera or using a regular camera, having the film developed, and then scanning the photographs. Most schools, and many individuals, have a video camera of some sort. A/V Macintosh computers come equipped with a video card, or you may want to consider purchasing a video card for your Mac. We are going to review the simple process of obtaining images using a regular video camera and the Apple Video Player located in the Apple Menu.

This process is done in two steps:

1. Recording the Images - This where you take the video camera and record what images you want.
2. Digitizing the Images - By playing the video camera through your A/V Macintosh, you can freeze any frame from the video and make an image of it.

Part 1: Recording the Images

The primary step that needs to be done before actually using the computer is to gather your images on tape. You need to record with your video camera as if you were going to play it on your VCR. You will be freezing the frame to acquire the image once you return to the computer lab, so make sure the camera is steady and focused on each subject for several moments at a time. We will later play the tape into the computer and take the stills. Motion will most likely be out of focus!

Part 2: Digitizing the Images

1. There are two ways to connect your video camera to your computer. You should have a cable that will fit into one of the two circled plugs shown below. Your camera may also have an audio cord, it should find its home in the white-Audio-In-plug. Note that both plugs have an outline of a video camera next to it.
   
   This image was taken with a standard video camera!

    

2. Once you have plugged the camera into the computer, turn on your video camera and activate the Apple Video Player under the Apple Menu.
   

    

3. Now you need to cue your tape where you want to start gathering images. Make sure your camera is in the Play Mode, and hit play. On the Apple Video Player window, your image tape should be playing. Apple Video Player window shown below.
   

    

4. Now, if your control panel is not shown to the immediate right of your display, go to Windows on the menu bar and Show Controls. There are two control panels that can be toggled via buttons with icons of a video camera and a monitor (this can be seen below on the left side of each control panel).

   Picture Control Panel

   Saving Control Panel

    

5. Once your tape has begun to play through the Apple Video Player display, go to the Picture Control Panel and adjust the display as best you can with the Brightness, Sharpness, Contrast, and Color slide bars. Just grab the bar and move it to the right or left (Please Note: In the next module, Manipulating Images, you will be learning more about adjusting your images).
   
   
6. Once your display is appropriately adjusted, toggle back to the Saving Control Panel. If needed, rewind your tape back to the beginning and pause.
   
   
7. Hit play on your video camera and get ready. Once the image you want appears in your display window, hit FREEZE in the Saving Control Panel. It takes a second to actually freeze, so if the image that freezes is not the one you want, rewind your camera and try again.
   
   
8. Now that you have the desired image frozen in the display window, hit save. A Save dialogue window will appears. Save the image as a PICT on the desktop or on your disk. Hit save.
   
   
9. Continue this process as many times as needed!

More...

Some hints:

• You do not have the luxury of a flash, so when recording your images, watch out for shadows on the face, back lighting, and amount of light.
• Make sure there are not windows in your background - the bright light will throw off your exposure.

Some extras

• You have the option of not even using a tape. Just plug the video camera into the computer as described above, and instead of switching to the play mode, leave it in the record mode. The Apple Video Player display will show you what the video camera is seeing. Use Freeze on the Saving Control Panel to acquire an image (just like above!).

Exercise

1. Use the video camera to record some footage.
2. Hook up the camera to the computer.
3. Freeze one or more frames off your footage.
4. Save the images.

Conclusion

If you have the right equipment, acquiring images in this fashion is simple and quick. There are more advanced methods using video cameras, but they require high priced software.