Epson PhotoPC 500 User Manual
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Epson PhotoPC 500 User Manual

A883031 color digital camera
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Summary of Contents for Epson PhotoPC 500

  • Page 2 Epson America, Inc. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein.
  • Page 3 Introduction our new EPSON PhotoPC 500 easy-to-use digital camera that captures clear and attractive images. PhotoPC 500 comes with everything you need to quickly load your photos into the computer and then transform them into great-looking pictures to place in your documents.
  • Page 4 The Optional EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor An exciting accessory to use with your PhotoPC 500 is the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor. It offers the following advanced features: Playback of all the pictures stored in the camera...

  • Page 5: Other Optional Accessories

    Technical information on installation, configuration, and operation of EPSON products , at least 16MB is Customer relations. For answers to commonly asked questions about EPSON products 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call EPSON Sound Advice at (800) 442-2110 Introduction...

  • Page 6: Electronic Support Services

    You can access helpful tips, specifications, DIP switch or jumper settings, drivers, FAQs, sample files, application notes, and EPSON product bulletins 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, using a modem and one of the on line services below.

  • Page 7: Software Support

    If you’ve tried the on-screen help and you still have questions, call the number for the application you need help with: EPSON Photo! TWAIN driver PhotoPC 500 imaging software Sierra Print Artist See the inside back cover for information about additional support services for your software.
  • Page 8 If the liquid crystal solution contained in the camera’s control panel or in the screen on the optional EPSON photo LCD Monitor leaks out and gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, flush them immediately with water.

  • Page 9: Getting Started

    Unpacking Your PhotoPC 500 The PhotoPC 500 includes all the parts shown to the left. You will need everything but the Mac adapter cable. If you purchased the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor, see page 11-2 for instructions on unpacking it. Getting Started 1-1...

  • Page 10: Getting To Know The Camera

    Getting to Know the Camera After you unpack your PhotoPC 500, take a few minutes to get to know its features. timer light memory cover memory cover lock power switch front view 2 Getting Started green ready light viewfinder cover flash back view port cover...

  • Page 11: Removing The Plastic Film

    Removing the Plastic Film To protect the camera from scratches, some parts have been covered with plastic film, as shown in the gray areas below. Peel off the plastic film before you use your camera. plastic film plastic film plastic film Getting Started 1-3...

  • Page 12: Installing Batteries

    Installing Batteries Your PhotoPC 500 comes with four AA alkaline batteries. Make sure the camera is turned off, and follow these steps to insert the batteries: Using a fingernail or a small screwdriver, slide the battery cover lock in the direction of the arrow and hold it in that position while lifting up the battery cover door.

  • Page 13: Handling Batteries

    Close the battery cover, making sure that it snaps in place. Handling Batteries When your PhotoPC 500 batteries wear out, you can replace them with any of the following: Single-use AA alkaline batteries Single-use AA lithium batteries (longest life) Rechargeable AA Ni-Cad batteries Rechargeable AA Ni-MH batteries If you have the optional PhotoPix LCD Monitor, we recommend that you use lithium or rechargeable batteries.

  • Page 14: Attaching The Hand Strap

    Dispose of used batteries according to the battery manufacturer’s instructions and in compliance with all applicable laws. Contact your local government agency for information about battery recycling and disposal. If you use rechargeable Ni-Cad or Ni-MH batteries, replace them with four fully charged batteries. If you find that your batteries run out faster after you recharge them a few times, make sure you discharge them completely before recharging.
  • Page 15 D, substitute the correct letter. Click OK. You see the main installation screen. Make sure PhotoPC 500 is checked, along with the EPSON Photo! driver and Sierra Print Artist if you want to install it. Click Install and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
  • Page 16 Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera aking pictures with PhotoPC 500 is similar to using a traditional “point and shoot” camera. This chapter shows you everything you need to know, including the following information: Turning the camera on and off Saving power with auto shut-off Using the control panel Checking the battery icon Snapping the shutter...

  • Page 17: Turning The Camera On And Off

    Turning the Camera On and Off To turn the camera on, simply slide the power switch to the ON position. The lens cover opens and the control panel on the top of the camera lights up. The red standby light on the back of the camera flashes for a few seconds.

  • Page 18: Checking The Battery Icon

    Checking the Battery Icon Before you take pictures, check the battery icon on the control panel. The icon shows how much battery power you have left, in the following stages: Full battery power (or AC adapter in use) Battery power is decreasing Battery power low (time to buy new batteries) Battery power is almost out Change batteries...

  • Page 19: Taking Close-Up Pictures

    When the red light stops flashing, the image is saved. Saved images remain in memory for up to a year, even when the camera is turned off and the batteries are removed. You can take another picture when the red standby light stops flashing and the green ready light is on.

  • Page 20: Adjusting Settings

    Adjusting Settings You can adjust the following three settings on PhotoPC 500 using the control panel buttons on top of the camera: Flash Resolution Timer Flash and resolution settings remain in effect even after you turn off the camera. flash resolution timer NOTE...
  • Page 21 Forced Flash The flash goes off with every picture you take. Use this setting to compensate for backlighting; for example, when you are facing the sun. Resolution PhotoPC 500 has two resolution settings, high and standard. Press the resolution button to switch from one setting to the other.
  • Page 22 Standard resolution image High resolution image 240 pixels 480 pixels Using Your PhotoPC 500 Camera 2-7...
  • Page 23 Timer Setting the timer creates a 10-second delay between the time you press the shutter button and the time that the camera actually captures the image. This allows you to take a picture of yourself. The timer icon on the control panel flashes when you use the timer.

  • Page 24: Erasing Pictures

    Erasing Pictures If you don’t want to keep the last picture you took, you can erase it from the camera’s memory. Using a small pointed object such as a pencil, press the erase button on the top of the camera. The erase icon on the control panel flashes when you press the button.
  • Page 25 The number of pictures remaining depends on your resolution settings. A high resolution image uses twice the amount of memory in your camera that a standard resolution image uses. Therefore, if you switch between standard and high resolution, the number of pictures remaining changes.

  • Page 26: Connecting To Your Computer

    The AC adapter should be available where you bought your PhotoPC 500. See page A-2 for information on ordering an AC adapter through EPSON. If you have a 25-pin serial port, you can use a 9- to 25-pin adapter with your cable connector. See page A-8 for instructions.
  • Page 27 Follow the steps below to connect the camera to the computer: Locate a serial port on the back of your computer. You may have two serial ports labeled COM1 and COM2, or the ports may be labeled with icons. Line up the serial connector on the cable with one of the serial ports on your computer, and insert the connector.
  • Page 28 OFF and ON again, or use EPSON Photo! to turn on the camera by clicking the Controls tab, Setup tab, or Start tab. You can adjust the auto shut-off time by following the instructions on page 3-6.
  • Page 29 Follow the steps on page 3-1 to connect the camera to the computer. If the EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor is on when you connect the camera to the computer, it will turn itself off. 3-4 Connecting to Your Computer...
  • Page 30 EPSON Photo! opens with the following screen: camera information and ID If the camera is connected, the screen displays the camera’s information and ID. If EPSON Photo! does not detect the connection, try the following: Check the cables to make sure they are securely attached.

  • Page 31: Adjusting Port Settings

    Adjusting Port Settings You can manually change the port or communication speed if EPSON Photo! is unable to detect the camera or download photos. Follow these steps: Open the Setup screen as described on page 3-4. Click the arrow to change the port setting. You can choose Auto, COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4.
  • Page 32 Adjusting Auto Shut-off You can adjust the time the camera takes to shut off when it is connected to the computer. Follow these steps: NOTE The auto shut-off time can only be changed while it is connected to the computer. When the camera is not attached, the auto shut-off time is 60 seconds.

  • Page 33: Setting The Camera's Clock

    You can also click the arrows to change the setting or type the numbers for the time and date in the boxes. When you are done, click OK. EPSON Photo! updates the time and date in your camera. click arrows to...

  • Page 34: Downloading Pictures

    PhotoPC 500 imaging software transfer Additional download methods PhotoPC 500 Imaging Software Transfer The EPSON PhotoPC 500 imaging software allows you to transfer photos and download them directly into an electronic photo album. You can open the pictures from the album for organizing, editing, enhancing, and printing.
  • Page 35 Type in a name for the album and click OK. PhotoPC500 asks you to select a source. Make sure Epson Digital Camera is highlighted and click Select. The EPSON Photo! Start screen appears. Camera tab Go to...
  • Page 36 Click the Camera tab. If you already know which pictures you want to transfer by their image numbers, or if you want to transfer all the pictures, you do not need to wait for all the thumbnails to appear before you transfer images.
  • Page 37 (See page 4-5.) Direct Hard Drive Transfer You can use EPSON Photo! as a stand-alone utility application to download your pictures quickly and directly to the hard drive. The file names in this method are long, so you’ll need to find your pictures by their thumbnails.
  • Page 38 RAM. Your system also needs a screen resolution of greater than 640 allows you to grab a thumbnail from the EPSON Photo! Camera screen and drop the image directly into your document. (See page 4-13.)
  • Page 39 Select EPS JPEG Acquire (or Acquire) from the File menu. The EPSON Photo! Start screen appears. 4-6 Downloading Pictures Click the Camera tab and go to the Camera screen. selected click to transfer photo photos Select the picture you want to use, or hold down the Control or Shift key and select multiple pictures.
  • Page 40 Click the Get Selected Photos button. The status area displays the progress as the images are transferred. Then EPSON Photo! closes and you see your images in the work area. Transferring Images Directly to the Hard Drive...
  • Page 41 Click the Save to Folder button. In Windows 95, the Browse for Folder dialog box appears. 4-8 Downloading Pictures In Windows 3.1, the Choose Folder dialog box appears. Select a folder for your photos. If you want to create a new folder, select the directory you want to place the folder in.
  • Page 42 You can preview and select the images you download by following these steps: Open EPSON Photo! as described on the previous page. Click the Camera tab to view the Camera screen. It takes a few moments for the thumbnails of your images to appear.
  • Page 43 Reading File Names EPSON Photo! uses the time, date, and photo number for your images’ names. The format for these names is explained below: Windows 95 and Windows NT follow this naming format: PhotoPC Monday, September 23, 1996 1008 AM 7.jpg...

  • Page 44: Exporting Images

    If your software application is not TWAIN compliant and you want to download your photos in format that it recognizes, you can use EPSON Photo! as a stand-alone utility program to export your files in any of four file types.
  • Page 45 Choose the directory where you want to save the file and click OK. NOTE You cannot open or edit the exported photos in EPSON Photo!. Use PhotoPC 500 or another application to view or edit the exported images. Inserting Images as Objects with OLE You can use your images in applications that support OLE (object linking and embedding) 2.0 or higher.

  • Page 46: Using Drag And Drop

    Make sure the camera is connected to your computer and turned on as described in Chapter 3. Open EPSON Photo! and click the Camera tab to view the Camera screen. Click the center of the image you want to insert and drag it to your document, holding down the button on your mouse while you drag.
  • Page 47 4-14 Downloading Pictures...

  • Page 48: Using The Camera With Your Computer

    When the camera is connected to your computer, you cannot adjust the controls on the camera’s control panel. Instead, you can use EPSON Photo! by following these steps: Make sure the camera is connected to your computer and turned on, as described in Chapter 3.

  • Page 49: Erasing Pictures From Your Camera

    The Start screen appears: Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen, shown to the right. The control panel lets you do the following: Check the battery icon to see how much power is left in the camera. Change the flash and resolution settings just as you do on the camera by clicking on the arrows and highlighting the settings you want to use.
  • Page 50 Erasing Photos from the Camera Screen Follow these steps to erase photos from the camera using the Camera screen: Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1. Click the Camera tab to view the Camera screen. selected photo click to select all photos If you want to erase all of your photos, click Select All.

  • Page 51: Setting The Shutter Speed

    Follow these steps to adjust the shutter speed: click to erase all photos Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1. Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen Select the shutter speed you want to use from the Shutter Speed pull down menu.
  • Page 52 See page A-7 for instructions. Turn on both your camera and your computer system. Double-click the EPSON Photo! icon. Click the Controls tab to view the Controls screen. click to start...
  • Page 53 Chapter 4 and turn off the camera. Using File Folders EPSON Photo! allows you to view and erase picture files and their information. The file folders are useful for finding pictures you have transferred using the export photo method, described on page 4-11 or the direct hard drive transfer, described on page 4-7.

  • Page 54: Displaying File Information

    Erasing Files from Your Hard Drive Follow these steps to erase image files stored on your hard drive: Open EPSON Photo! as described on page 5-1. Click the Files tab to view the Files screen. Select the photo you want to erase or select multiple photos by holding down the Control or Shift key and clicking on the pictures.
  • Page 55 You can set up permanent frames to add to your images with EPSON Photo!. Follow these steps: Open your EPSON Photo! software. Click the Frames tab to open the Frames screen. Click on the frame style you would like to use. A preview appears in the window.
  • Page 56 The following screen appears: click for new colors Select the color you want and click OK. If you want to define your own color, click Define Custom Colors to view the color palette, as shown on the right. Move the crosshairs to select a color. Move the arrow on the light/dark scale to make the color darker or lighter.
  • Page 57 5-10 Using the Camera with Your Computer...
  • Page 58 Albums: Managing Files in PhotoPC 500 ou can use PhotoPC 500 to organize all the pictures you take with your camera. This chapter describes how to use the PhotoPC 500 features in the following sections: Transferring saved images to albums Working with your albums Sorting your albums Opening image files...
  • Page 59 If you didn’t acquire your photos with PhotoPC 500, you can still open the images you downloaded with your EPSON Photo! software and save them in albums. Follow these steps: In Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, click Start, point to Programs, and then point to PhotoPC 500 to open the application.
  • Page 60 The Add Thumbnails dialog box appears. Select a file to add to your album and click OK. The image appears in your album. Click the Save button to save your album you chose New Album, the Save New Album dialog box appears.
  • Page 61 Click an image to select it. The Information box displays image file information. Double-click a thumbnail to open the image. To add pictures, click the Add button and choose the image or images you want. Click the down arrow at the top of the screen to see a different album or create a new album.

  • Page 62: Opening Image Files

    Sorting Your Albums PhotoPC 500 gives you several methods for sorting the images in your albums. You can sort them by file name, file size, file type, file date, or description. Follow these steps to organize your photos: Open the album you want to sort. Click the Sort button.
  • Page 63 Opening an Image in an Album When you use albums, you can see small thumbnail versions of your pictures. You can easily choose the image you want, even if you don’t remember the file name. Follow these steps: Click the Album button or choose Open Album from the File menu.

  • Page 64: Printing Your Pictures

    Opening an Image with the Open Button If you want to open an image that’s not in an album, you can use the Open button. Follow these steps: Click the Open button . The Open dialog box appears. Choose the image file you want to open. The PhotoPC 500 imaging software lets you open the following types of image files: NOTE...

  • Page 65: Saving Your Pictures

    If you want to change the position of your image on the page, move the picture in the window. Use the Hori-centered and Vert-centered checkboxes to indicate if you want to center your image on the page horizontally, vertically, or both. Drag the slider if you want the printed image to be larger or smaller than the original image.
  • Page 66 BMP. This is the “native” format for Windows bitmap files. This format is the best for importing files into other Windows applications. TIF. TIFF files can be used on many types of systems. PCX. The PCX format lets you use your pictures in many Windows and DOS programs.

  • Page 67: Using An Album As A Screen Saver

    Enter the number of seconds you want to see each image. Click OK to start the show. You can press Esc to exit the show at any time. Using an Album as a Screen Saver A screen saver is like a slide show that plays whenever your computer is idle for more than a few minutes.
  • Page 68 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 our PhotoPC 500 imaging software lets you edit your images to improve their composition, size, or appearance. You can crop edges you don’t want, copy and paste parts of one image into another one, or convert the image type so you can print it in black and white or use it in an application.
  • Page 69 Click the left mouse button on the part of your image that you want to see in detail. 7-2 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 The image is magnified to twice its size. Continue clicking to increase the magnification. You can increase it up to 16 times its original size. To decrease the magnification, click the right mouse button on the image.

  • Page 70: Viewing Image Information

    Using the Zoom Commands in the View Menu Follow these steps to zoom in and out on your image from the View menu: Choose Zoom In or Zoom Out from the View menu. You see a list of magnification ratios: Choose the degree of magnification or reduction you want.
  • Page 71 represents the number of pixels. The horizontal axis represents the brightness level, from the darkest pixels at the left to the brightest pixels at the right. Click OK when you’re finished with each information box. NOTE When you enhance an image, change its size, or convert it to another file type, PhotoPC 500 shows your changes in the Image Information box.
  • Page 72 When you release the mouse button, an “animated” rectangle surrounds the selected area: NOTE After you select an area, you can use many of the PhotoPC 500 menu commands and tools to work on the area. For example, you can use the Crop, Resize, and Rotate tools. See pages 7-6 to 7-8 for more information about cropping, resizing, and rotating.

  • Page 73: Cutting, Copying, And Pasting

    Cutting, Copying, and Pasting You can use the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands on the Edit menu with a selected area of an image or an entire image. The Paste as New command lets you create a new image file from an image on the clipboard. Choose Cut from the Edit menu to remove the selected area (or the entire image if there is no selection).

  • Page 74: Resizing An Image

    Resizing You can use the Resize tool to enlarge or reduce a selected part of an image. Then you can use the resized area like any other selection—by cutting, copying, or pasting it, and so on. To change the size of an entire image, use the Image Size command on the Edit menu.
  • Page 75 Enter new values for the size or percentage of enlargement or reduction. Enter a value for the image’s resolution (dots per inch). PhotoPC 500 will keep the image the same size and interpolate a higher resolution. Click OK to apply your changes to the image. 7-8 Editing Photos in PhotoPC 500 NOTE To maintain image quality when printing, you should try increasing...
  • Page 76 Click and drag a corner of the selection to rotate it. The selected area “floats” on top of the original image; you can move it by clicking inside the selection and dragging it with your mouse. To remove the selection mask, click another tool such as the Select tool or the Crop tool and then click the image outside of the selection.
  • Page 77 Enter the exact degree of rotation in the box or drag the dial. Click OK to rotate the image. Flipping an Image or Selection You can use the Flip command on the Edit menu to reverse or “turn over” a selected area or an entire image. This is useful for applications such as printing a T-shirt transfer.
  • Page 78 The image may lose information when it is changed to a different type, so you should always keep your original file and use the Save As command to create the converted file. Five image data types are available on the Convert menu: 1-bit black-and-white This type of image is like a drawing with no shades of gray.
  • Page 79 indexed color image to this type for editing purposes. The image will appear the same, but you will be able to use all of the PhotoPC 500 features with it. Below is an example of an image that was originally converted from 24-bit color to 8-bit grayscale and then to 1-bit black-and-white.
  • Page 80 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500 ou can fine-tune your images and create unusual results using the special effects available in your PhotoPC 500 software. This chapter describes the following: Using enhancement tools and special effects Adjusting brightness and contrast Adjusting hue and saturation Setting tone adjustment Sharpening images...

  • Page 81: Adjusting Brightness And Contrast

    If you want to cancel any enhancement or special effect, you can choose Undo from the Edit menu at any time, even after you click OK. NOTE To use the enhancements or special effects, your images must be in either the grayscale or 24-bit color data type. See page 7-10 for information on converting images to these types.

  • Page 82: Adjusting Hue And Saturation

    NOTE You can make similar enhancements, with finer control, by choosing Tone Adjustment from the Enhance menu. See page 8-4 for more information. Adjusting Hue and Saturation Hue and saturation describe the color values and intensity of an image. Picture a color wheel like the one you used in art class, with all the colors of the rainbow arranged in a circle.
  • Page 83 Setting Tone Adjustment The Tone Adjustment option works like Brightness and Contrast, but it gives you more control. You can adjust the brightness of three tone ranges in your image or selection: the highlights, the midtones, and the shadow areas. Follow these steps to set tone adjustment: Select the area you want to change, or make sure no area is selected if you want to change the entire image.
  • Page 84 Click Auto to have PhotoPC 500 make the tone adjustment automatically. You can see the mapping curve change to reflect the modified image. Slide the Highlight control right to expand the highlight area. This also increases contrast in the midtones. Slide the control left to reduce the highlight area and darken the image.
  • Page 85 Slide the control to increase or decrease the sharpening effect. Click OK when you’re finished. Blurring You can use the Blur tool to give your image a softer, less focused effect. Follow these steps: Select the area you want to change, or make sure no area is selected if you want to change the entire image.

  • Page 86: Using Special Effects

    Using Special Effects PhotoPC 500 special effects let you transform your images. You can create abstract or surrealistic art, design wild and colorful patterns, or turn portraits into caricatures. The best way to learn about using special effects is to experiment— so have fun with them! Follow these steps: Select the area you want to transform, or make sure no...
  • Page 87 Wrinkle Fisheye Emboss Whirlpool Mosaic Sketch Ribbon Ripple 8-8 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500...
  • Page 88 (You must have a printer driver installed to use a Template.) Choose Printer Setup from the File menu to check the settings. The Paper option for EPSON Stylus printers should be set to 8 1/2 11 centered. See your printer documentation if you need more information.
  • Page 89 Click the down arrow to select Matte, if it’s not already selected. If your screen is not displaying the image you want to use, double-click the gray rectangle or existing picture. A file selection dialog box appears. Select your picture file and click OK. The image appears in the center of the page.

  • Page 90: Adding Text

    To choose a color, select Color on the list of pattern names, and then click the Change Color button. The Color dialog box appears: Click one of the basic or custom colors, or click Define Custom Colors. (See page 5-9 for information about defining a custom color.) Click OK twice.
  • Page 91 Type your text. If you have more than one line of text, press Enter to start a new line. (Although text appears to wrap automatically as you type, it wraps on your printout only if you press Enter.) Click Font. The Select Font dialog box appears: Choose your font, style, size, color and any effects you want.
  • Page 92 Printing Your Matted Picture When you finish designing your matted picture, you can print it. Follow these steps: Enter the number of copies you want to print. (This option is available only if your printer supports it.) Click Print. When you’re finished, click Exit. While PhotoPC 500 is open, you can reuse the template with another image and background, and different text.
  • Page 93 Choose the Portrait or Landscape page orientation. Drag the slider if you want to change the size of the image. When you leave the Draw Frame box checked, PhotoPC 500 draws a line around your picture. If you don’t want a line around the picture, click Draw Frame to remove the checkmark.
  • Page 94 Remember that the dates are printed over the background you select (or over your picture, if you want). If the background is dark, you should choose a light color for the dates. Click OK when you’re finished. Click OK again on the Edit Calendar box. The dates appear on the page with your image.
  • Page 95 After you complete the first calendar page, you can continue with the next month and make a calendar for the whole year. Or you can create a new calendar page each month. 8-16 Using Other Features in PhotoPC 500...
  • Page 96 Inserting Pictures into Documents hen your images are saved in albums or on your hard drive, you can insert them in your documents by copying and pasting, or importing them. You can use your pictures in applications such as word processors, presentation programs, database managers, spreadsheets, page layout and desktop publishing packages.
  • Page 97 NOTE If you want to change a picture before you insert it, you can use the Photo PC 500 imaging software to crop, rotate, resize, or make other types of enhancements. (After you insert your picture, you can use your application to change the size and position of your picture.) For more information on using the PhotoPC 500 imaging software, see Chapters 4, 6, 7, and 8.
  • Page 98 NOTE You can conduct a search to find your file in many applications designed for Windows 95. You can search by file name, type, text or property associated with the file, or the day your file was last modified. You can also conduct an advanced search. See your application’s documentation or help for more information.
  • Page 99 Inserting Pictures with Windows 3.1 In Windows 3.1, Microsoft Word and other applications are often unable to recognize the JPEG format that the camera uses to capture your pictures. Convert your picture to a Tiff or bitmap file in PhotoPC 500 as described on page 6-8 or export your photo in the bitmap format as described on page 4-11.
  • Page 100 Click OK. The picture appears in your document: Using Copy and Paste to Insert a Picture Follow these steps to insert a PhotoPC 500 picture into your document using Copy and Paste: Open your image in PhotoPC 500 or other image- editing application.
  • Page 101 Creating Projects with Print Artist rint Artist is a great tool for creating all kinds of projects such as newsletters, greeting cards, flyers, and business cards. It allows you to combine your pictures with text and add any of the hundreds of clip art graphics that come with the program.
  • Page 102 Getting Started with Print Artist Print Artist is easy and fun to use. With a little practice, you may even discover some new talents in graphic design. Follow these steps to get started: In Windows 95, click Start, point to Programs, and then point to Sierra.
  • Page 103 You see the following screen: (If you choose greeting card or calendar, you first see a preliminary dialog box. For more information about creating a greeting card, see page 10-4.) Choose your category from the list. The three main categories give you three different starting points: Choose one of the descriptive categories if you want to start with a predesigned layout.
  • Page 104 graphics to create your own personalized document. If you need more information while working with Print Artist, you can use the Help menu or press the F1 key. The rest of this chapter shows you how to create a greeting card with your PhotoPC 500 images.
  • Page 105 Click OK. The front of the card appears on the main screen, as shown to the right. Click the graphic element to select it (the house). Press your Delete key to delete it. Now you have just the text. See the next section to add the photo of a house.

  • Page 106: Importing An Image

    Importing an Image When you import an image, Print Artist copies the image file into the directory or folder where other image and art files are located. Then the picture is available to use with other Print Artist projects. Follow these steps to import an image: Choose Import from the File menu.
  • Page 107 Adjusting the Text You can adjust the appearance of the text so that it looks better with your graphic by following the steps below: Click the text to select it. Move the mouse over the center of the text. Your pointer will turn into a hand shape.
  • Page 108 The Font palette appears. Click the font you want to use. Your text changes if you browse through the fonts. You can move the Font palette if you can’t see your text. Adding a Background Fill After you finish working with the text, you can add a colorful background to the front of the card.

  • Page 109: Adding A Graphic

    The Color palette appears: Click the color you want to use. Then click the Color palette button again and select Lightened. Click customize if you want to experiment with color. While the background is still selected, choose Send to Back from the Object menu. The background appears behind the picture and the text.
  • Page 110 Double-click the graphic to change it. 10-10 Creating Projects with Print Artist The Graphics Grabber dialog box appears: Type House in the Type Search Text box. The Graphics box lists the available House pictures. When you select a picture, it appears in the window. Select the graphic and click OK.
  • Page 111 Select Vertically Stretched from the Alignment menu. This allows you to stretch the graphic to fit around the text. (The default for alignment is vertically and horizontally centered, so graphics can be made smaller or larger, while keeping the same proportions.) Drag the corner handles to make the graphic large enough to fit around the text as shown above.
  • Page 112 Type a file name up to 8 characters long. Print Artist automatically adds the .GC extension (for greeting cards). Click OK when you’re finished. Printing Your Card and Exiting After you save the card, you’re ready to print it. Follow these steps: Click the Print button.
  • Page 113 Using the Optional LCD Monitor The EPSON PhotoPix LCD Monitor (A883051) should be available where you bought your PhotoPC 500. You can also order it from EPSON Accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). In Canada, call (800) 463-7766 for dealer referral.
  • Page 114 Getting to know the PhotoPix LCD Monitor The PhotoPix LCD Monitor’s features are shown below. Multi - button + button Macro power switch display screen Attaching the LCD Monitor to the Camera Make sure your camera is turned off and follow these steps to attach the PhotoPix LCD Monitor to the camera: Locate the LCD inlet cover on the back of your camera.
  • Page 115 While holding the camera with one hand, carefully slide the LCD Monitor connector into the LCD inlet. Make sure it is firmly in place. See page 11-13 for instructions on detaching the PhotoPix LCD Monitor. Saving Power with Auto Shut-Off Because the PhotoPix LCD Monitor uses additional power, the following power-saving features take effect when it is attached to the camera:...

  • Page 116: Using Playback Mode

    Using Playback Mode After you have finished taking your pictures, you can use Playback mode to view the images, erase any images you don’t want, or view several thumbnails at once. You can also view your images as a slide show. NOTE The camera does not have to be turned on to display pictures in Playback mode.
  • Page 117 If there aren’t any pictures in the camera’s memory, you will see a screen like the one below. VIEW PLAY BACK EPSON NOTE You cannot use the camera’ s controls while the PhotoPix LCD Monitor is in Playback mode. You can use the LCD Monitor to erase pictures, but to change other settings, you must either turn off the LCD Monitor or switch it to View mode.

  • Page 118: Using Multi Mode

    The display shows 9 images. The selected image has a frame around it. VIEW PLAY BACK EPSON Move the frame to select other images by pressing “+” or “-”. As you move the selection frame, more images appear on the screen.

  • Page 119: Erasing Images

    VIEW PLAY BACK EPSON Erasing Images You can use the PhotoPix LCD Monitor to select images and erase them. You might want to take a picture when the camera is full. You can select a picture, erase it, and then take another picture.
  • Page 120 VIEW PLAY BACK EPSON The PhotoPix LCD Monitor displays the erase icon over the selected image, as shown above, and then the image disappears. The other images are renumbered...

  • Page 121: Displaying A Slide Show

    Displaying a slide show You can use the PhotoPix LCD Monitor in Playback mode to play your images in the form of a slide show. Follow these steps: From normal playback mode, press the “+” button and hold it down for five seconds. The camera displays your photos one-by-one on the screen.

  • Page 122: Taking A Picture

    The camera’s control panel displays “Lcd” as shown: In the LCD Viewing Screen, you see a picture of whatever image the camera’s viewfinder is pointed at. set switch to View 11-10 Using the Optional LCD Monitor NOTES The image area displayed in View mode is slightly smaller than erase icon the area captured in the actual photo.

  • Page 123: Adjusting Brightness

    The LCD Monitor shows the image in “real time,” so what you see on the screen is what the camera’s lens sees at any moment. Snap the shutter to capture the image. The image freezes on the LCD Monitor and then appears with its number as shown.
  • Page 124 Locate the “+” and “-” buttons on the top of the PhotoPix LCD Monitor. MACRO MULTI Press either of these buttons. The brightness control bar appears on the display. 11-12 Using the Optional LCD Monitor Press the “+” button to increase the brightness of your preview or the “-”...
  • Page 125 VIEW PLAY BACK EPSON The frame stays green as long as you are in Macro mode. In this mode, you can capture an image within as little as 8 inches (20 cm) from the subject. Get as close to the subject as necessary and check the image in the LCD monitor.
  • Page 126 Using your left thumb, press the release button on the LCD connector, shown below. push from here release button While holding down the button, push the PhotoPix LCD Monitor away from the camera with your right thumb. (It is easiest to push from the area shown to the left.) CAUTION Do not pull the PhotoPix LCD Monitor when removing it from...

  • Page 127: Caring For The Camera

    Caring for the Camera and Troubleshooting Your PhotoPC 500 camera is easy to take care of, and any problems you may have are easy to solve. This chapter includes the following sections: Caring for the Camera Caring for the optional LCD Monitor Solving Camera Problems Solving Picture Problems Caring for the Camera...

  • Page 128: Cleaning The Lcd Monitor

    When the camera is not used for long periods of time, remove the batteries and store them at a low temperature in a dry location. This prevents camera damage from battery leaks or corrosion. Don’t store the camera in the following locations: Where it will be exposed to direct sunlight, for example, on a car dashboard Near sources of bright light or high humidity...

  • Page 129: Camera Problems

    Camera Problems Before you call for help, check this list of problems and possible solutions: The camera has no power. Check the power switch and make sure the camera is turned on. The camera may have shut off automatically. Slide the power switch off and then on.

  • Page 130: Picture Problems

    If it is, change the port setting to a faster speed, if you can. If you can’t change it to a faster speed, adjust the speed in your EPSON Photo! software as described on page 3-6.
  • Page 131 If your pictures look better on the screen than when you print them out, you may need to upgrade your printer. An EPSON Stylus color ink jet printer, for example, produces high resolution, photo-quality images.
  • Page 132 Use EPSON PhotoPC 500 imaging software to adjust the picture’s brightness and contrast. If you’re using the optional LCD monitor’s Macro mode to take a close-up photo, make sure you provide adequate lighting for your subject. The camera’s aperture is automatically adjusted to its smallest setting (F8) when in this mode.
  • Page 133 The colors in your picture don’t look right. When you take pictures under certain artificial lighting conditions, the colors may be slightly distorted. You can use PhotoPC 500 image-editing software to adjust the colors as described on page 8-3. Your pictures don’t look as good as they used to. Your camera’s lens may be dirty or dusty.

  • Page 134: Using Optional Accessories

    AC adapter. The accessories listed below should be available where you bought your PhotoPC 500. You can also order them from EPSON accessories at (800) 873-7766 (U.S. sales only). In Canada, call (800) 922-8911. Accessory...

  • Page 135: Installing Photospan Memory Modules

    Expanding Your PhotoPC 500 Memory PhotoPC 500 comes with 2MB of internal memory, which holds 30 pictures at high resolution or 60 pictures at standard resolution. You can increase the camera’s capacity by installing a 2MB or 4MB PhotoSpan external memory module (flash memory board), as described in the table below.
  • Page 136 Grasp the cover and pull away as shown: Place the module into the socket as shown. memory module Press down on the module until it snaps into the retaining clips at the side of the socket. socket Replace the cover on the camera body until it snaps into place.

  • Page 137: Removing The Memory Module

    Slide the lock up to lock the cover. When you take your next picture, the pictures remaining number on the control panel shows your camera’s expanded capacity. With the expanded memory, you may notice a delay between the time you press the shutter button and when the camera beeps.

  • Page 138: Using The Ac Adapter

    Press the lever on the side of the memory module socket to raise the module slightly out of the socket. Grasp the edges of the memory module and work it up and out of the socket. Be careful not to touch the metal parts of the module.
  • Page 139 Plug the adapter cable into the DC port on the camera. Connect the end of the power cable to an electrical outlet Using Optional Accessories Using the AC adapter with the LCD Monitor attached If you are using the optional LCD Monitor and you want to connect the AC adapter to your camera, follow these steps: Tilt the LCD Monitor away from the camera as shown: Follow the steps on page A-5 to connect the AC adapter...

  • Page 140: Using Optional Lenses

    Using Optional Lenses Although you can use any standard 37mm video camcorder lens or filter with PhotoPC 500, lenses manufactured by Tiffen are recommended. Call DC Pro at (800) 522-7835 for ordering information. To attach a lens, screw it onto the camera as shown below. When you use a close-up lens, the viewfinder does not give you an accurate preview of your picture.
  • Page 141 Using a 9 to 25 Pin Serial Adapter If you only have a 25-pin serial port available, you can use a 9 to 25 pin adapter for your serial cable. NOTE If you have both a 9-pin port and a 25-pin port free, you should use the 9-pin port to prevent possible communication problems.

  • Page 142: Specifications

    Specifications Camera Physical Dimensions Width 5.59 in (142 mm) Height 3.19 in (81 mm) Depth 2.09 in (53 mm) Weight (without 0.66 lbs (300 g) batteries) Power Sources 4 AA batteries (single-use alkaline or lithium or rechargeable Ni-Cad or NiMH) Optional AC adapter (B867027) Consumption Approximately 100 mW at power-on...
  • Page 143 Technical Product Type CCD (charged coupled device) still frame camera Image size 480 pixels (high resolution) 240 pixels (standard resolution) Bit depth 16 million colors, 24-bit Serial interface 8-pin DIN (camera) RS-232C, communication speed: 19,200 bps or higher (PC) Internal memory 2MB flash memory Optional expansion 2MB (0.5MB flash memory...

  • Page 144: Optional Ac Adapter

    Optional LCD Monitor Physical Dimensions Width 5.08 in (129 mm) Height 2.72 in (69 mm) Depth 1.97 in (50 mm) Weight 0.31 lb (141 g) Power Source Supplied from camera Consumption Technical LCD Panel 1.8 in, TFT color LCD Display resolution 220 pixels Optional AC Adapter Physical Dimensions...

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Photopc500

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