Recently I wrote about how to communicate on Skype using a webcam. In a conversation with an interlocutor, a photo is often required and the question arises: how to take a photo with a laptop or compact netbook camera. Some representatives of this type of office equipment have special buttons. But on most laptop models, there is no such device, and how, then, turn on the webcam to get a picture.
Taking Pictures with HP Camera
- An important condition for getting a good photo on a webcam is to use the program "native" for the laptop. It usually comes complete with hardware in software. HP Camera is used for HP laptops. To enter the menu, click on "Start" on your computer, then "All Programs" - HP - HP Camera.
- Configuring the HP Camera software settings is the next step. In the parameters, you can set the parameters of the self-timer, the size of the photo. "Driver Properties" controls image quality: contrast, brightness, saturation.
- To get a camera, select the camera icon in the menu for selecting shooting modes on the right, if you need video, use the video camera shortcut. To take a picture without a self-timer, click the button in the lower right corner of the program window. The resulting photo will be saved in the "Pictures" folder of the library.
Taking pictures using Windows programs
You can take a picture with a laptop camera using standard Windows functions.
- Go to "Scanners and Cameras" using the "Start" menu - "Control Panel". In a Lenovo laptop, after clicking "Start", various programs and functions are displayed in the form of a panel of buttons. In the list of proposed devices, select the built-in camera.
- In the window that opens under the viewfinder of the device, we find the "Remove" button and click on it. The captured photo will appear in the window to the right of the viewfinder.
- Let's select it by clicking on the "Next" button. In the window that opens, enter the name of the photo and select the path to save.
- You can get a snapshot using the graphics editor Paint and the "My Pictures" folder. Let's open the proposed folders: "Start" - "All Programs" - "Standard" - Paint.
- In the menu, select the function "Receive from the camera or from the scanner". Following the instructions described above, we take a photo that can be immediately edited with the Paint tool.
Alternatively, the use of webcam programs from various developers for obtaining photos, which are available on the Internet for free and for a fee.
A webcam is a device that allows you to broadcast online streaming video in real time, which is actively used for video calls (via the same Skype). However, its functionality also allows you to take regular photos.
A webcam is usually connected to personal computers via a USB cable, and in laptops, it is embedded above the screen. As an example, let's try to take a picture with a webcam on a laptop.
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Special programs
This method allows you to take pictures with additional features (color filters, editing, adding text to the image, and much more). It is convenient and interesting to work with special programs for webcams. The Webcam Plus program is the most popular among users.
Skype
In addition to normal communication, you can take photos via Skype (their quality will depend on the capabilities of the built-in webcam). Taking a photo via Skype is quite simple:
- Start the Skype program;
- In the main menu, select "Tools" and click "Options";
- In the section "Video settings" click "Change avatar";
- Take the required number of images and save to the selected folder on your laptop.
Driver Verification
If during the operation of the webcam there are any problems (for example, it cannot be "detected" by the programs), then you should check the correctness of the installation of the drivers.
Drivers are special software that ensures stable operation of equipment (in this case, webcams). No device will work without proper drivers.
You can determine if the drivers for the webcam are installed as follows:
- Open the "Control Panel";
- Click on "Device Manager" and select "Imaging Devices";
- If the webcam icon is displayed, then the drivers are ok. Otherwise, you need to install them (usually the drivers can be found on the disk that comes with the kit).
Have you just purchased a new laptop and want to test the camera's functionality, but don't know how to take a photo with your laptop? Now it is very easy to do this, because all you need to do for this is all a few clicks.
On the Internet there are a huge number of different programs, thanks to which you can take a photo, but why are they needed, if every modern laptop has "its own" software utilities.
Let's take a look at the example of a Hewlett Packard model, using such a "native" program to create a photo.
Using the "native" program
For this manufacturer, the program has the name "HP Camera", which should be located in the "Start" menu, in the section of all programs. Among other things, you can use the standard set of Windows OS.
Initially, in the software setup menu, it is necessary to select certain characteristics of the image dimension and automatic start. If you go to the "Driver Properties" option, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, etc.
Once all the pre-settings have been made, simply click on the round button to take a picture and automatically save it to the Pictures folder.
Standard programs
If your laptop does not have "its own" utility for creating photos or videos, you can always use the standard program, which is located in the "Control Panel", where we go through the "Start" menu. Next, you need to select the "Scanners and Cameras" tab and then select your built-in camera. After clicking on it, the LED will light up, and after creating a photo, you can save it in "Paint" or specify a different path.
Other utilities
As already mentioned, there are a large number of programs on the Internet, among all the programs "Live Webcam 1.1" and "Webcam Avatar" are of particular interest.
As soon as the program is installed, you need to enter it and then click on "Make frames".
After that, you need to assign a name to the received photo and then click on "Create" to get the photos. By the way, in the same way, you can make a whole series of photos to create animation.
Thus, you can easily take a photo, using any of the methods available or you like, anytime and anywhere. In order to add some special effects, you can use more serious and professional programs, but often they are all paid.
2 661A person who purchased a laptop, turned on and configured the operating system, launched all the drivers and did everything else in accordance with the installation instructions, will definitely want to get acquainted with all the capabilities of the laptop. He has a lot of them and one of the most valuable is a webcam. But in order for it to start working, it must be turned on.
How do I turn on the camera on my Asus laptop?
The tips described below are valid for any Asus model. So, it is necessary to start the power-on process with the installation of the drivers, even if the inclusion is conceived with the help of the keys, you cannot do without drivers in any way. In addition to them, you will need a special program.
If the installation of Windows 8 or 7, XP or Vista was performed independently, then no auxiliary tools for connecting the camera exist for the simple reason that Microsoft ignores the driver and utilities required in this case when starting the startup. You need to take care of their presence in the gadget yourself. Those who purchased the system at the pre-installation stage can immediately go to the stage of turning on the camera on the Asus laptop.
The drivers that will be used for inclusion must be standard exclusively for "Asus", and the program for the webcam can be any. On the keyboard, you need to find the fn key and a picture of a camera or camera. Both of these buttons, when pressed together, perform a quick turn on.
How to set up the camera in an asus laptop?
After the issue of turning on the webcam has been resolved, it's time to think about how to set up the camera in an Asus laptop. To do this, you need to take the following steps:
- open the Life Frame utility. This can be done with the mouse. As a standard, the webcam program for the Asus laptop has its own shortcut and is located on the desktop;
- you need to double-click on the shortcut, and the utility will start. The camera is now ready for use.
You can clarify the settings through the Asus Camera Screen Saver program. In order not to worry about how to set up a webcam on an Asus laptop, you need to double-click on this shortcut, which is on the desktop by default.
It is necessary to regard this program as an assistant in the question of how to take a photo from a web camera on an Asus laptop. It was created not only to demonstrate the capabilities of a webcam, the parameters of which can be set.
How to take a photo with a webcam on an Asus laptop?
Since the main purpose of the camera is to photograph and shoot, you need to know how to take a picture on a webcam on an Asus laptop. This does not cause any particular difficulties. In the section of the Asus Camera Screen Saver program, which the manufacturer must install on the desktop, there is a special subsection, opening which you need to find how to take a photo with a webcam on an Asus laptop. Following the instructions, you will be able to do this without the slightest problem.
Another option is an external program, which you can also launch and simply select the appropriate line for your actions.
Its further work depends on how to configure the webcam on the Asus laptop. Therefore, special attention should be paid to this particular aspect. The person who found and turned it on will definitely be able to take pictures and record videos. The main thing is to familiarize yourself with the programs that are standard for this device model.
Today, all laptop manufacturing companies equip their models with built-in webcams. This makes life much easier for an ordinary user - after all, you can not only shoot videos, but also take photographs. And so everyone will sooner or later be interested in how to take a picture on a webcam?
How to take pictures from laptop with firmware
The development of unique software for the range of manufactured notebooks has become the hallmark of any manufacturing company. Programs for easy use of the camera are among them.
For example, for Hewlett-Packard notebooks, this is the HP Camera application. Click "Start", then click "All Programs", and there find the line "HP", where the required software will be located. You can also set certain parameters of the picture: the size of the photo and the parameters of the self-timer. At the bottom of the window is the Driver Properties button, where you can set color saturation, contrast, and other unique settings. Use the camera icon from the shooting mode selection menu to take a picture. If you do not need a self-timer, then find the round button at the bottom of the program window and click it with the left mouse button. Well, that's all, you took a photo with the laptop camera. It will be saved by Windows (starting with version "7") in the "Pictures" library.
In the case of Windows XP, click the "Start" menu, select "Control Panel", where click "Scanners and Cameras". Select the device you need by double-clicking the left mouse button or touchpad. In the window that appears, click the "Capture" button - you can save the resulting image to any folder convenient for you.
Don't forget about the standard Paint image editor. Select from the "File" menu in the upper left corner the item "From Scanner or Camera" and repeat the steps described just above. At the same time, the image can be edited.
How to take a photo with a webcam on a laptop using third-party software
There are a huge variety of different programs and utilities that are capable of taking a photo and at the same time have various customizable parameters. Let's consider a few of the most common ones.
Live Web Cam
It can be downloaded from the official website of the developer, especially since it is free. Install and run the program. On the right is the button "Take a picture", with its help you can take a photo. You can also set the path for saving the captured images in the "Settings" menu.
Skype
In an open application, select the Options menu item on the Tools panel. In the "Video Settings" tab, activate the "Enable Skype video" option. An image should appear in the upper right corner of the screen to confirm that the camera is working properly.
Click the "Freeze Video" button, and then you can take a picture on your webcam by simply clicking "Take a picture". You can select the desired area of the picture and save it separately. You can change the contrast and brightness level using the Webcam Settings menu.
Resource "Vkontakte"
Open your personal page on this social network, hover the mouse over your avatar and select "Upload a new photo". In the pop-up window, you can choose the type of upload - a photo saved on a laptop, or the item "take a snapshot", which will allow you to take a quick photo. It can also be edited using various built-in social networking tools.
Delight your loved ones with sudden photos that you took while chatting with them on Skype or using other applications. After reading this article, you not only learned how to take pictures with a webcam on a laptop, but also how to save this photo to yourself as a souvenir.
