The document camera projects images using the ceiling mounted data projector and can be used to view transparencies, documents or objects.

Fig. 7: Touch panel showing the Document Camera screen with ceiling projector on

There are two types of Document Cameras in use, both are described below.

Controls on the document camera

At the front of the camera base there are several buttons grouped into sections (see Fig. 8 below). From left to right:

• The first section headed Lamps determines which lamp is used.
  - The left hand Upper light is used to illuminate documents or an object .
  - The right hand Base light is used to shine underneath a transparency or slide.
  
• Further along to the right are the sections headed Zoom and Focus. To obtain the best possible clarity, zoom in as close as possible using the Tele button, then adjust using the manual focus buttons. When you have acquired the best possible picture, zoom out using the Wide button to the desired size. (Focus will be maintained.)

Fig. 8: Document camera controls

The model below ( see Fig.8a ) has the lamp selection button on the far RHS. The Upper light is used to illuminate documents or objects and the Base light is used to shine underneath a transparency or slide.

Beside the lamp button is the Image Rotation button which allows the projected image to be rotated 90 degrees progressively.

The Zoom buttons are located in the centre of the control, zoom in by pressing Tele and zoom out with Wide.

The AF button allows the camera to Auto Focus.

Fig.8a:

Preparing documents for viewing

For optimal viewing on the document camera, prepare your documents as follows:

• Choose a pastel coloured background page rather than white.
  
• Work in Landscape format, with a 4 cm top and bottom margin and 6 cm margins left and right. (Portrait mode requires some shifting of the document on the display platform for all the material to be viewed.)
  
• Use a sans serif font type – e.g. Arial, Geneva, Helvetica.
  
• Use a minimum font size of 36 Pt for titles, and 24 Pt for body text. (This allows images to be legible at the rear of the theatre.)
  
• Headings can be in CAPITALS, but use upper and lower case for body text, as it’s much easier to read.

• Don’t mix fonts, and don’t use too many styles—they will lose their impact.
  
• Keep to a maximum of 7 lines per page, and a maximum of 30 characters and spaces per line.

Using the document camera as a whiteboard

The camera can also be used as an alternative to the whiteboard. Use either a blank piece of paper or transparency and marker pens—the camera will project onto the screen whatever is drawn or written.

If the projected image appears to be cropped or partially missing, pressing the Reset Image button should make the projected image appear in full. The Hide Image button blanks the projector image from the screen. It can remain blanked for up to twenty minutes before it will revert back to the on state.

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