Sections:
About Templates
Creating or Modifying a Template
Choosing a Template Name
Selecting a Template Type
Defining Crop Attributes
Defining the Crop Size
Rotation
Selecting an Image Using a New or Newly Edited Template
Recapturing an Image Using a New or Newly Edited Template
Previewing a Template
Selecting X-Key Automation
Assigning a Template to an X-Key
Saving a New or Newly Edited Template
Canceling Changes
Creating an Autosplit Template
Autocrop
Autocrop with Single Crop
Using Autocrop During Import
About Templates
Templates set up camera shots. When you select a template, you do not need to set up each camera shot individually; the template does it for you, saving you from what would be time-consuming tasks. This way you can move through the image-capture process quickly, image after image.
The first thing that a template does is locate the document on the copyboard. DCam, using the autocrop feature, calculates where to place the border around an image by identifying where its edges lie on the copyboard. Then the software directs the camera to capture the document, leaving a narrow black border around the image.
If you are on the capture images screen, you can access the templates panel in 2 ways:
- On the bottom of the screen, click the Templates X-Key.
- At the top of the capture images panel, click the Templates tab. If you have assigned an X-Key to an individual template that you created, you can also use the X-Key bar to access that template at any time.
When you create a template, its name is listed on the capture images panel. To capture images with it, simply select its name. If you do not see the template at first, you may need to scroll down the list to reveal it.
Creating or Modifying a Template
From the Templates panel you can do the following:
- Create a new template
- Edit a template
- Change the X-Key that a template is assigned to
- Delete a template
With a record or book on the copyboard, you can create a template by clicking Create. You can also modify a template by selecting the template from the list and clicking Edit.
Note: Although you can create as many templates as you want, you can only assign up to 8 templates to the X-Key bar, in positions 9–16. Keep in mind that the more templates you use, the more time will be used while DCam resets.
Autosplit: The autosplit template is predefined and automatically captures 2 images—left and right—to automate book or 2-page capture.
Single Page Autocrop: A single page template using autocrop is also predefined and automatically crops an image leaving only a small black border—0.5 to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeters)—around the image.
To create a new template, follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose a document that is representative of the group of documents you want to capture.
Step 2: Place black tape on the copyboard along 2 sides of the document to provide a reference point for placing other documents.
Step 3: Click Create.
When you click Create or Edit on the templates panel, the template settings panel displays.
From the template settings panel, you need to consider choices for each of the following:
- Name: Select or change the name of a template.
- Template Type: Select a template type, including single crop, double crop, or autosplit.
- Crop Attributes: Determine whether to use autocrop or rotation.
- X-Key Automation: Determine what action the X-Key will execute when it is pressed (optional).
- X-Key Assignment: Assign the template to an X-Key (optional).
Choosing a Template Name
In deciding on a name for a template, use one that is simple, easy to remember, and descriptive of the size of the document to be captured. Each template name must be unique.
Selecting a Template Type
Select template type according to the following descriptions:
Single Crop: Use this type of template when creating a template for capturing single-page records. You can also use this mode to capture 2 pages in 1 image, such as for a ledger, register, or census-style book. The single crop template includes left and right options when the left and right capture mode is enabled. However, note the following about this mode:
- Left and right capture mode requires a password. Contact your supervisor to obtain one when you need it. (See Understanding Project Information Screen Fields.)
- Normally, it is only used when books are extremely large or wide. Your project requirements may specify its use.
Double Crop: Use this template type to capture books or 2-page records. It allows you to customize the capture parameters. Under most conditions, choose this option instead of left and right capture mode (described above).
Autosplit: This template type is intended to automate book or 2-page capture.
Defining Crop Attributes
Crop attributes vary depending on the type of template you select. When you select a single crop template and leave autocrop enabled, a blue rectangle labeled Autocrop 1 displays on the screen.
If you select a double crop template and leave autocrop enabled, 2 blue autocrop rectangles appear on the screen with an overlap in the center (or gutter) of the image. If you select the autosplit template type and leave autocrop enabled, 2 blue crop rectangles display on the screen. (See Creating an Autosplit Template.)
Defining the Crop Size
To size the crops, you can adjust the blue rectangles to match the size of the images you are capturing.
- To move a blue rectangle, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the rectangle to where you want it.
- To make the rectangle smaller or larger, hover over a corner or a side of the rectangle until a 2-way arrow appears. Then, by holding down the left mouse button, drag the rectangle to the size of the image you want.
Note: Do not adjust the blue rectangles to match the size of the images exactly or there will not be enough room for variations in document size.
Decide whether to use the autocrop feature. Leaving autocrop enabled allows DCam to automatically crop image captures to the portion within the cropping area. For example, contrast the following 2 images. The image captured with autocrop has the appropriate amount of black border around it, while the one on the left does not.
Rotation
If the top of the record you are capturing is toward the back of the copyboard, leave the rotation at 0%. If the record is being captured sideways, change the rotation so that after capture, the top of the record’s image will be viewed at the top of the thumbnail image. For example, for a long document that is sideways on the copyboard, rotate it 90° clockwise so that when it is captured, it reads correctly. (Also see Device Setup, Camera Orientation)
Selecting an Image Using a New or Newly Edited Template
You can select a captured record from the thumbnail image when you need to recapture an image using a new or edited template.
Recapturing an Image Using a New or Newly Edited Template
You can recapture the last record you captured using a new or edited template. Click Recapture. DCam captures the record again and replaces the previous image.
Previewing a Template
You can see what the image looks like using the new or edited template. Click Preview. To exit the template preview screen, click the X in the upper right corner of the template preview dialog.
Selecting X-Key Automation
When you create a new template or edit an existing one, you can also assign it to one of the available X-Keys. X-Keys let you quickly do common tasks, like capture an image, retake an image, or insert a blank image.
X-Keys are useful when you need to use more than one template to capture a folder. For example, if a folder has pages that are in several different sizes, you can create a template for each size and then assign each template to an X-Key. Then, to change back and forth between the document sizes, you can click the correct X-Key rather than change the name of the template in the template box.
You can determine what action takes place during image capture when the X-Key for a template is pressed. The 2 options are as follows:
- Automatically Capture: DCam captures an image in one step.
- Do Not Automatically Capture: In addition to pressing the X-Key, to capture an image using this function, you must also press the capture key, making it a 2-step process.
Assigning a Template to an X-Key
The first 8 X-Keys are predefined in the DCam software, allowing you to assign templates to the remaining 8 keys.
You can assign a template to an X-Key by clicking the down arrow and selecting an X-Key that is marked <unused>.
Note: When assigning templates to X-Keys, start with X-Key 16. This leaves blank keys between your new X-Key choices and the predefined X-Keys. Doing so will lessen the chance of pressing the wrong X-Key during the image-capture process.
When you press an X-Key during image capture, the image is captured using the template settings assigned to that X-Key. Assigning a template to an X-Key is especially useful when you need to switch templates as you capture a large number of images, such as when you capture a folder that has records and many different sizes.
Saving a New or Newly Edited Template
To save the new or changed template, click Save.
Canceling Changes
To cancel any changes made on the template settings panel and return to the templates panel, click Cancel.
Creating an Autosplit Template
The captured image of a book using the autosplit template has the following features.
- The image is autocropped to the size of the book.
- The center of the book (gutter) is automatically located.
- The image is split into 2 separate images using an overlap to ensure that information in the center is captured.
When the autosplit template is selected, a corresponding crop rectangle is displayed on the capture screen.
The crop rectangle can be resized or moved within the image. It shows 2 sides: Autocrop 1 on the left and Autocrop 2 on the right, with a dashed line in the middle. The rectangle does not need to be tight around the book because DCam automatically autocrops the image.
The center line helps position the crop on or near the gutter (center) of the book. This line can also help you ensure that the book is not twisted. It is not necessary to precisely center this line over the gutter because DCam automatically finds it.
Gutter overlap determines how much overlap from the center is included in each image. For example:
- 0.5 inches (13 millimeters): The left image includes an additional 0.5 inches to the right of the center. The right image includes an additional 0.5 inches to the left of the center.
- 0.0 inches (0.0 millimeter): There is no overlap. The images are divided at the center. After splitting, a rotation can be applied to each side of the template.
When capturing images, you can create or choose a template that uses autosplit. In preview mode, you can view the template overlay with a book on the capture surface. Notice in the example that the dotted line is not exactly over the center of the book. Also, notice that the book does not need to be precisely centered within the cropping rectangle.
When capture is executed, autosplit produces 2 images: a left one and a right one. Note the overlap in both images. The darker book gutter is used as the center, not the dotted line of the template.
Note: Autosplit works best with books that have a tight binding.
If the book or record being captured does not have a distinct dark center, you can place a dark wire, rod, or thick string between the 2 pages when capturing an image. If the book has too many dark parallel lines near the center, autosplit may center on the wrong line. In this case, you need to use double-page capture instead of autosplit. If DCam does not find the center, it uses the center of the cropped image—not the gutter—with a 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) overlap.
Note: Take the same care when preparing to use the autosplit template that you do when preparing to use autocrop.
Autocrop
Autocrop allows DCam to automatically crop record captures to the portion of the image within the cropping area. To use autocrop during camera capture, simply create a template leaving autocrop enabled. Then capture images using the template you want. Using autocrop, there is no need to create templates for every size of document
Before using autocrop, make sure the capture surface is clean, flat black (not shiny), and without defects. Documents do not have to be white for autocrop to work. Documents can be yellow, blue, or gray. However, the autocrop feature may encounter problems with extremely dark documents or documents that are darker on one side than another. Adjusting the autocrop threshold or margin may help.
Leaving autocrop enabled allows DCam to automatically crop record-image captures to the portion of the image within the cropping area. For example, compare the following double crop template used for book capture. The second image used autocrop.
Autocrop with Single Crop
Using autocrop with single crop can include the entire area captured by the camera.
The excess is automatically cropped and removed from the image.
Note: You can also use single crop with autocrop to capture 2 pages in 1 image, such as for a ledger, register, or census style book, which has information shared across 2 pages.
Using Autocrop During Import
When importing an image, you can choose 1 of the 2 following options.
- Create a template, leaving autocrop enabled—the same as you would for camera capture. Then during import, select that template for use.
- Choose autocrop without a template. This performs an autocrop of the image during import without the guidance of a template.
For more information, see Import Images.