PhotoCapture

by Scott Gruby
©1994-95 by Scott Gruby

PhotoCapture is a scriptable utility that allows you to capture images from a video source and save images to PICT files.

System Requirements:
* AV Capable Macintosh (Quadra/Centris 660 AV, Quadra 840AV, PowerMac 6100/7100/8100 AV/Quadra 630 w/ TV Tuner card)
- or -
* QuickCam from Connectix (or any other video grabber hardware available)
* QuickTime 1.5 or later (compatible with QuickTime 2.0)
* A video source

Instructions:
1. Hook up your video source to your Macintosh
2. Launch PhotoCapture
3. When the image you want to capture is on the screen, choose Copy from the Edit menu to copy it to the clipboard (or hit Command-C) or choose Save... from the File menu to save the file as a PICT (or hit Command-S).

Scripting
You can control PhotoCapture via AppleScript by sending it the following commands:

tell application "PhotoCapture"
Capture to Clipboard
end tell

This tells PhotoCapture to capture the image to the clipboard. Note: PhotoCapture will come to the front and then move back as this is required to properly access the clipboard.

tell application "PhotoCapture"
Capture to File "Macintosh HD:scott.pict"
end tell

This tells PhotoCapture to capture the image to the specified file. The file will be a PICT. If you want to use this with a WWW server, you can use the free program clip2gif to convert the image to a gif. Since clip2gif is scriptable, you can basically capture images right to gifs (OK, there is a conversion process, but with AppleScript, it's transparent.) Here's a sample script:

tell application "PhotoCapture"
Capture to File "Macintosh HD:scott.gif"
quit
end tell

tell application "clip2gif"
convert "Macintosh HD:scott.gif" saving as GIF in file "Macintosh HD:scott.gif"
quit
end tell

The end result is that you can have up to the minute pictures on your WWW server using software such as MacHTTP having it send the AppleScript to PhotoCapture and clip2gif.

Registration and Distribution
PhotoCapture is distributed as postcardware. You are allowed 3 weeks to try PhotoCapture. If you choose to use this program after that time, you must register PhotoCapture by sending me a postcard. PhotoCapture may be distributed by any electronic means as long as the instructions and application are in the archive. If you would like to place PhotoCapture on CD-ROM, you must send me a copy of the CD-ROM without charge (you can't even charge me for shipping and handling). If you would like to place PhotoCapture on any other media, you must get prior permission from the author. PhotoCapture may NOT be distributed on any service owned or operated by Microsoft Corporation.

Send postcards to:

Scott Gruby
5383 Chelsea Street #101
La Jolla, CA 92037-7959

Warranty
There is absolutely NO warranty, guarantee, hint, suggestion or anything else that PhotoCapture will work in all situations. PhotoCapture, currently operates on my Quadra 660 AV.

Fine Print
Scott Gruby hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Does any one really read this stuff? Scott Gruby will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason, even if Scott Gruby or his agent has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Scott Gruby be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the software bears all risk as to the quality and performance of the software.

Original file name: Readme First! - converted on Tuesday, 29 February 2000, 18:28