Detailed Instructions
Before You Start...
Adjusting all the settings to achieve this affect may seem like "too much work" to you. If it does,
don't worry about it! The
white-background effect is not
necessary -- it's just a cool
little 'extra'. The most important
thing is getting your face out
there in front of your customers
so they build a trusting relationship
with you from afar, and buy more
of what you're selling!
1. YOU MUST Get a Logitech Webcam
Only Logitech webcams give you sufficient control to achieve the white-out effect. If you try to achieve this effect without a Logitech webcam, you will only be frustrated. Every Logitech webcam we have tested so far will work, however, the one with the best quality is the Logitech Orbit.
2A. Use "Blue" Lights (for lighting your face)
Use the new blue-filtered incondescent
lights -- the bulbs will look a bit blue when
they are off. Get the highest wattage you can
find. Home Depot is the easiest place to find
them. (or buy a $9 blue lens filter from the
local camera shop and tape it over your webcam).
Your camera store will sell very expensive, high-wattage
lights with or without the blue filtering, but you probably
don't need those -- also, they are a fire-hazard unless you have the right
lamps.
2B. Use 200 Watt Lights (for behind your white sheet)
There's no substitute for wattage, especially behind the white sheet. Dont place the light too close to the sheet, or you will just create a small hotspot. Try it a few feet back. If you have two, position each light off to the side a bit to flood a large area. The lights behind your sheet do not need to be the "blue" lights -- any bright light will do.
3. Set Up Your Lights
Set up at least two lights - maybe more -
behind the sheet, but not too close to the sheet.
Set up one or two lights in front of you, and if
you have another, put it behind you but in front
of the sheet, pointing at the sheet to help remove
shadows. You may need to move lights forward or back several
times until the lighting is just right.
4. Switch to 'Manual' Control
Take the webcam off 'automatic' (there are
typically two "automatic" checkboxes on a Logitech
control panel)
5. Shutter Speed / Exposure
Set the shutter-speed (aka exposure) to between
1/30th of a second and 1/50th of a second
6. Set Gain
Adjust the Gain so your face is properly lit
7. Set Gamma
Adjust Gamma to where it looks best (probably
all the way down if you have enough light)
8. Select White Balance
Select the white-balance that looks best to you.
If your control panel has an 'auto' and 'freeze'
setting, then sometimes you can get the best result
by clicking on a specific setting, letting it adjust,
then clicking 'auto' -- the image will slowly change
-- then click 'freeze' when it's at just the right
point. Other control panels will have a red/blue
slider -- this actually gives you more control.
Adjust as needed.
9. Adjust Brightness
Adjust the brightness to get rid of the final
color in the corners of the video -- pure white is
the goal.
10. Tweak Color Saturation
Adjust the 'saturated' level to add color into
your face, but not too much. If you don't have the
white-balance or the right lighting, you may look
best without a lot of color. If you have the right
lighting and white-balance, you can add a little
extra color
11. Experiment
Now, go back and tweak all settings as needed, adjust
position of lights, number of lights, etc until perfect.
Once you get it set up the way you like it, save the
settings using the 'save' button if you have one.
Hope this helps!
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