Topics Covered in This Section

• Connecting the camera to your computer
• Getting ready to use the camera

Connecting the camera to your computer

The camera may already be connected to your computer, but it might not hurt to check that everything is as it should be so things go smoothly later. Here's how to set things up:

1. Plug the AC power adapter into an outlet. If you're short on outlets or are using a power strip, you may have to rearrange things so the adapter doesn't block other outlets.
2. Place the camera near your computer on a flat solid surface, and connect the power plug to the AC adapter.
3. Plug the S-Video connector into the S-Video port on the ComputerEyes card. Note that the rectangular plastic pin on the connector goes on top, and fits into a hole in the interface port. If you feel much resistance while plugging in the video connector, don't force it! All of the pins have to align with their respective holes, and too much force will bend or break them.
4. Turn the camera on by pressing once on the power button on the back of the camera's "head". The red power indicator light on the camera should go on, but may be a bit difficult to see in a well-lit room, as it is not very bright.

Getting ready to use the camera

Now you're ready to set up the area for taking some pictures. While seemingly trivial, it's the little things that make quality images:

1. Clear off an area near the camera where you can place the item or items to be captured.
2. It may be helpful to to place a piece of paper or cloth of a contrasting color under the place where the specimens will be. This will ensure that the items stand out in the images and that all the edges can be seen clearly.
3. Unless the size of the items being captured is well-known by all parties, it is a good idea to have a ruler with clearly visible markings somewhere in the image to provide a sense of scale. Failing this, a common item such as a coin placed in the frame will serve the purpose, if not quite as precisely.
4. Make sure the specimen area is well-lit, but not overly so. Even lighting from more than one direction is best, to eliminate shadows in the images that might obscure important details. Keep in mind, especially when dealing with very small specimens, that the camera will be quite close to the items, and will tend to cast shadows on the area if the lighting is coming from directly above.
5. Light sources should be shining on the items being captured, not into the camera's lens. Bright lights and uncovered windows will tend to "wash out" the images, making it difficult to see anything.
6. Relax, experiment, and have fun! Digital photography allows you to try things and make mistakes, because you can see the results of what you're doing immediately, and you're not even using any film, so you can take pictures over as many times as you need to.