How to take a photo from a webcam using programs and online services

Photos can be made not only with the camera, but also with a webcam laptop or computer. OS Windows XP, for example, gives the user the ability to shoot even without using special programs. For the seven will have to install third-party software. Let's look at how to take a photo from a webcam, in more detail.

How to take a snapshot with Windows tools

In Windows XP, you must go to My Computer. In the window that opens, you can see the webcam icon. Usually it is at the very bottom. In order to open the camera window, you just need to double-click on the icon. In the left column you will see the line "Make a new picture". Click on it and the photo will be ready.

Take a picture with Cyberlink YouCam

Now let's see how to take a photo from a webcam using Cyberlink YouCam. In this case, you can add various effects to the picture. Immediately after launch, the editor begins to show the image taken by the webcam. Below, under the demo window, there are two icons. One of them is responsible for photographing, the second for videotaping. The picture is taken by pressing the first button. Later you can view the photo by clicking on its preview in the field below the demo window.

To apply any effects to the image, click on the blue arrow to the right of the demo window. The set of decorations provided by this program is quite wide. To select the desired effect, simply click on the corresponding window.

Photos using LiveWebCam

As you can see, it's not at all difficult - a photo from a webcam. LiveWebCam also allows you to do this in a couple of clicks. At startup, it starts immediately demonstrating what the camera shoots. In order to take a photo, you just need to click on "Take a picture." All the received images are stored in the archive, so if you want, you can always view them.

How to take pictures with Skype

In the Skype program, which you probably already installed for a long time, there is also a function for fixing the captured frames. Of course, you can take a photo only when the camera is working. To start shooting and demonstrating the video, in "Skype" you need to go to "Tools" (in the panel at the top) and go to the "Settings" line. Next to the "Enable Video" option, check the box. The photo can be made by going to the line "Video settings" and selecting "Freeze frame". Then click on "Save freeze frame".

So, we have figured out how to take a photo from a webcam using Skype. In some versions of the program, the picture is taken a little differently. In the "Video settings" menu under the demo window, you need to click on the "Edit avatar" button. As a result, a window with a button "Take a picture" will open at the bottom. After the photo is received, you need to click on "Use this image". In the event that the frame fails, you should try again. To do this, the "Try again" button is provided. All the photos taken will be displayed in a special field at the bottom left of the window.

How to make a photo of an interlocutor in Skype

In order to photograph your interlocutor in Skype, you need to click on the image of the PCM during the conversation. After that, a menu will be displayed in which you will select the line "Freeze Frame". Then the photo can be saved to any folder on the computer.

View photos taken in Skype

Thus, in Skype you can take any photo via a webcam. In order to view pictures taken with the help of Skype, you need to go to the Skype menu on the line "Personal data". After that, another menu will be displayed, in which you should select "Change my avatar". Images stored in Skype are saved automatically in Png format, usually in the Skype folder / your nickname / Pictures.

Photo online from webcam

There is another way to take pictures using a webcam. In the network, there are services specifically designed for this purpose. You can find such a site by using any search engine. We select the service you like from the list and go to it. The first thing you will be asked to allow the use of your webcam. Click on the corresponding button in the displayed menu and see yourself in the opened window.

We direct the webcam to the object that needs to be photographed, and click on the "Take a picture" button. Then choose "Save Image". The resulting image is displayed in the field at the bottom of the page. To save the photo to the hard drive, you need to click on the preview. After that, the photo will be displayed in the demo window. Then click on it with the right mouse button and select the line "Save Image". In the opened menu we search for the necessary folder and press "Save". Also, online photo services usually give out a link to a picture that can be inserted on forums or used in social networks.

On the Internet, among other things, there are resources that allow the user to make very original photos. Webcam with effects, or rather, built-in service program, design functions, you can create such pictures without difficulty. Of course, the photo taken on a webcam is rarely very high quality. You can correct the situation by using one of the graphical editors. For example, the same "Photoshop".

How to improve the quality of the photo

So, how to make a photo from a webcam, we found out. Now let's see how to improve its quality. Usually you have to adjust the contrast of the image, that is, the ratio of the number of white and black dots. To do this, you can just pull up the levels.

Open the "Photoshop" editor and go to the Image menu. Next, select the Adjustments row and go to Levels. A window with a histogram will open. If the photo does not have enough white dots, it will not reach the right edge. To fix the situation, you need to pull the right slider to the beginning of the histogram. The same thing should be done with black dots. Only in this case, you need to pull up the left slider. With levels it is best to work in the color mode Lab Color, as it allows you to keep the colors of the photo unchanged when changing the contrast. In RGB mode, after adjusting the levels, the pictures sometimes acquire an "acid" tint. To change it, go to the Image menu and select the first line Mode. In the opened window, click on Lab Color.