Webcam emulation using VCam
What if there is no webcam, but it is needed for some one-time tasks that are fundamentally not related to the subject in reality? For example, to test some software. Or, say, to put a nice picture instead of an empty block of our video image when communicating via video. In such cases, you can resort to emulating a webcam - install a special program in the Windows environment.
Implementing a virtual camera in the system and slipping a video file or picture instead of a real video image. One such program is
Vcam.
How does it work?
The content of the article:
- Webcam emulation
- Interaction with other camera emulators
- Video Effects for Camera
- Other VCam Features and Licensing
Webcam emulation
VCam by
e2eSoft is a PC or laptop webcam emulator
. It implements a virtual camera in the Windows environment at the system level, and both the system itself and third-party programs that work with cameras perceive it as a real one. The virtual camera appears in Windows Device Manager as a real peripheral.
As a video source for a virtual camera, we can select a video file, an image file, a screen capture, a camera or other video capture devices,
DVD video, streaming video on the network, video from external video devices. The easiest way to make the virtual camera work is to use a regular video or picture.
Launch VCam , in
the "Source" menu, select
"Video / photo files".
Here, a test primitive video will already be added in the program. We can remove it and add our own. To add your video, click, respectively, the add button and in the explorer indicate the video we need.
Next , using the
"Start" button in the player, we start playing the file. This will be the moment of launching the video signal source of the virtual camera.
Well, to stop the video signal, we need to press, respectively, the stop button in the player window. Using the same player, you can control the video as a video signal source: reduce or remove the sound, make the video image mirror, flip it, rotate it by 90 °.
In general, we set up the video the way we need it, and we can check it. In
Windows 8.1 and
10, we can launch the regular application
"Camera".
Well, in
Windows 7 we can use any third-party program that works with cameras. We can also go to the site of any service for checking the operation of a webcam - just enter in the search engine
"Webcam test". Or we can open the settings of the video messenger and use it to check if the virtual camera is working. Whether it's a video messenger or another program,
e2eSoft VCam should be listed in the selection of video sources.
The video clip specified as the video source of the virtual camera will be played cyclically while the
VCam program is running . If several videos are added for playback, they will be played in turn, and then again in a new one. Images added as a video source will be played back as a slideshow with effective transitions. And this slideshow will also be played in a loop.
In the program settings, we can specify the resolution of the virtual camera,
FPS, the method of resizing the image, and other subtleties of emulation.
Interaction with other camera emulators
VCam blocks the operation of other camera emulators in the system. So if other emulators are used in the system besides
VCam - for example,
WebcamMax (an analogue of VCam) or
DroidCam (for connecting cameras of Android devices), then the virtual cameras emulated by such programs will not be displayed in programs working with cameras as separate image output devices. And to use them at the system level, you need to either uninstall
VCam from Windows, or in the
VCam program itselfselect a video capture device as a source, specify the emulator we need and click the button to start it. To stop the emulator subsequently chosen by us, you need to press the player stop button in the
VCam window.
Video Effects for Camera
In addition to the basic functionality of emulating a webcam on a computer, the
VCam program also allows you to apply effects to the image of a virtual camera - various cool video effects and filters, text overlay, freehand drawing, etc.
Those. even if you have a real webcam, you just specify it as a video capture device and apply the video effects you like.
Other VCam Features and Licensing
With
VCam, you can take pictures and record videos using any supported video sources and using the effects offered by the program.
Well, the most sensitive question:
VCam is a paid program, the license costs
$19.95, while such a license can be used on three computers. Before buying, you can test the
trial version as much as you like. It is fully functional, but it imposes a watermark
"TRIAL" on the video image.
You can download VCam on the e2eSoft website:
http://www.e2esoft.com/vcam/
