Virtual Camera Driver

This image relaying is accomplished by installing the RoboRealm VCam driver that will create a new driver in your system that can be connected to like a normal webcam. This setup works as follows:

1. RoboRealm is running and grabbing images from the actual webcam driver
2. RoboRealm process the image
3. RoboRealm then send its processed image to its VCam driver (ensure that the Options->Other->Activate VCam is set)
4. Your application connects to the RoboRealm VCam driver and grabs the processed image

Note that this functionality can also be used to provide the source image from a single camera to both RoboRealm and another running application that requires a webcam. This can be accomplished by the same setup as above by ensuring that the processed image in RoboRealm is unchanged from the source. (This can be accomplished by setting a Marker module with a "revert to source" as the last module in the processing pipeline).

Also note that opening single images or playing movie files in RoboRealm will cause the VCam to update too.

Installation

1. Click on Windows Start Button -> Select Settings -> Select Control Panel. In the Control Panel click "Add Hardware"

2. Click Next on Add Hardware Wizard.

3. Select "Yes, I have already connected the hardware". Again, as no hardware is actually connected to the VCam driver you need to manually tell the system where to locate the drivers.

4. Select "Add a new hardware device". Then select Next.

5. Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)". Then select Next.

6. Select the hardware type "Sound, video and game controllers". Then select Next.

7. Click on the "Have Disk" button. Note that you will not find RoboRealm in the Manufacturer list nor the VCam in the Model list.

8. Once the Browse dialog pops up select the RoboRealm folder where you unzipped/installed the RoboRealm application (you can target the RoboRealm.inf file which is what the system is currently looking for). All the needed files are in that folder. Once selected you should see "RoboRealm, Virtual Camera" in the Model list. Select Next to continue.

9. You will see some form of verification screen that claims the Driver has not passed "Windows Logo testing". Click "Continue Anyway" or "Ignore" to continue.

10. The system will now copy files into the appropriate location. You *may* get another popup searching for the RoboRealm.sys file. If so, again, select the same RoboRealm folder that you unzipped/installed RoboRealm in. Once all files are copied the finished installation screen will appear. Click "Finish" to end the installation. You are now ready to run the RoboRealm VCam!

Be sure to have enabled the VCam capturing (Options Button->Other->Activate VCam) and installed the VCam driver (see steps below) before attempting to use the VCam functionality. Be sure to have at least DirectX9.0 installed.

Testing

1. Open AmCap or other webcam viewing software
2. Select "RoboRealm VCam" as the driver or image source. The image will appear black or gray until RoboRealm is run
3. Run RoboRealm. Ensure that the Activate VCam checkbox is set
4. Connect to your actual hardware camera using RoboRealm.
5. You should now see your webcam image in RoboRealm and AmCap.
6. For optimal speed ensure that the AmCap Capture Pin size is the same or similar as to what RoboRealm is capturing otherwise RoboRealm will resize the image before sending it to the VCam driver which can add to performance delays.

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Did you install the VCam driver?
2. Did you click on Options Button->Other Tab->Activate RoboRealm VCam check box in the RoboRealm application?
3. Do you have at least DirectX 9.0 installed? See Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime for installation.
4. If you are not running any hardware cameras RoboRealm may startup by connecting to its own VCam driver. In this case unclick the Camera button and drag or open an image into RoboRealm. Exit RoboRealm to ensure that on startup it will only load in the image instead of connecting to a WebCam.