Kit manufactures, instruction manual photos

[Bob Reeves]

I was recently involved in the creation of an instruction manual for a kit that will soon be released by Brodak. During the building of the prototype  I shot over 250 photos for use in the instruction manual. Faced with the dilemma of needing to take photos of construction process that sometimes required two hands and not having someone handy to help I wrote a computer app. Using a digital camera on a tripod and a laptop running the app I was able to trigger the camera with a foot switch, crop and manipulate the image as needed then save the result ready for insertion into a Microsoft Word file.

Not sure how you guys that sell kits accomplish this but thought the package I put together might be of some use so I am offering the software for free to anyone that might be able to use it. The catch is I used what I had laying around and most of the hardware I used is several generations old. The good news is all of it is available on eBay for a steal if you are willing to do a little searching and maybe wait till it gets listed...

You will need the following...

Kodak DC3400 camera, This a 2MP point and shoot that I had the software developer kit for. It's an older camera but plenty good enough for this application. Can be had on eBay for $50.00 or less. You will need the USB cable and an AC adaptor if you don't like buying batteries. If the one you buy doesn't come with the cable or AC adaptor they can be bought off eBay. Just do a search for "Kodak DC3400".

Laptop running Windows 2000, the hardware drivers won't load in XP or later. If you don't have an older laptop laying around you can pick one up with Windows2000 already loaded on eBay for around a hundred bucks. It needs to have a Parallel Port for the foot switch and USB for the camera. USB-1 is fine as that is what the camera is.

Any foot switch that has a normally open contact can be used, again look on eBay. Do a search for "Foot Switch", if you can find a Linemaster it's one of the best. This is the foot switch Motorola used with it's public safety consoles. The foot switch will need to be connected to a DB-25 computer connector for the parallel port which is easy.

It is allot of trouble putting a system like this together but the first time you have both hands busy and need a photo you will think it was worth it. You hit the foot switch, after a few seconds the photo you just shot appears on the computer screen. At this point you can delete it and shoot another, adjust the brightness and contrast, crop as needed, convert to grey scale rotate etc. then save the new image. The crop function will automatically either give you a square image or maintain the aspect of the original.

Anyway, I haven't put together an installation package yet as I wasn't sure if anyone would even be interested. If this post generates enough interest I would be willing to take the extra step and upload it to one of my web sites so it can be downloaded. I expect the resulting file to be about 7 meg.

The following attachments are a screen shot of the app and a page from the manual I put together.. Let me know if this looks like something you might use..

[Peter Nevai]

I am wondering if the time invested in taking all of the still photos, formatting, and inserting into a word document, then formatting the word document so everything fits right, then printing all those pages with the photos (could yeild a large number of pages). If it were not simpler and cheaper to video the construction process, trim and assemble the clips and burn the whole thing to a CD or DVD. (CD's DVD's are real cheap now a days). Just about every later model DVD player and PC can play back video files. Just use a format that windows or Mac plays back natively. Heck if you encode it to MP4 you can even play back the video on a Smart Phone. This way you can have running commentary in addition to imagery. (The FLIP video camera made this sort of stuff real easy)

I have a feeling that when compared side by side the video solution ends up being quicker and cheaper. These days many product manufacturers no longer supply paper manuals or instructions. Everything is in electronic for on CD. Some do not even supply a CD, just a slip of paper saying that if you want the manual or instructions you have to go online and download it from there. You want a hard copy, well that is extra.

[Bob Reeves]

Might be quicker and cheaper for the producer but think about it for a second.. If you are building a kit would you rather be watching a video or have the instructions in front of you turned to the page explaining the part you are working on.

I tried watching a Bob Hunt video while building a lost foam wing. Would have been much easier and faster with written instructions.

[Brett Buck]

Might be quicker and cheaper for the producer but think about it for a second.. If you are building a kit would you rather be watching a video or have the instructions in front of you turned to the page explaining the part you are working on.

I tried watching a Bob Hunt video while building a lost foam wing. Would have been much easier and faster with written instructions.

   I have a rocket kit that has video instructions - and only video instructions - and it's really terrible. You can't find what you need and there are essentially no good illustrations. Maybe it's just not a well-done video, and you could do it right, but this one is terrible. I probably don't need instructions, but a few simple drawings would be very helpful.

   BTW Bob, I have had pretty good luck using a ringlight for illumination on macro stuff. Lighting seems to be a real key to any photo-illustration.

   Brett

[Bob Reeves]

   BTW Bob, I have had pretty good luck using a ringlight for illumination on macro stuff. Lighting seems to be a real key to any photo-illustration.

   Brett

Didn't have a ring light, sure would have been nice.. I used an old trick from my past and taped a couple loose layers of paper towel over the cameras built in flash to defuse the light. Not quite as good as a ring light but worked pretty well.

[Joseph Patterson]

       All I can say is Bob knows his s.........................................tuff!! Yawl thought I was gonna say sump'in else!

[john e. holliday]

On my ISW build I have been hitting Walters site quite a bit to see the build sequence. 

[Bob Reeves]

On my ISW build I have been hitting Walters site quite a bit to see the build sequence. 

Pretty sure Walter wouldn't ask even if it might be something he could use, we have our issues. In any case it looks like everyone has saved me the time it would take to put the installation package together, no takers which is fine with me. Just thought it might be useful and I didn't mind sharing..

[Joe Just]

Bob, Thanks for the input.  I may be changing my own "Building Guide"  format in the future. BTW  I have two of the Kodak  cameras you noted. I really like them! Attached is just a sample of the quality of shots I get with absolutely no talent behind the lens.

Joe   

[john e. holliday]

Now don't get down.  There might still be somone who could use it.  Even in other things than model planes.  If all goes well will see you guys this summer.  

[Bob Reeves]

Bob, Thanks for the input.  I may be changing my own "Building Guide"  format in the future. BTW  I have two of the Kodak  cameras you noted. I really like them! Attached is just a sample of the quality of shots I get with absolutely no talent behind the lens.

Joe   

Great little cameras aren't they.. We used them in a Rock climbing wall photo system we sold to Bush Gardens in Tampa. A little slow but at the time they weren't bad.. I still have 3 of the things and every photo I have ever posted was taken with one of the three. When they were current they sold for close to $300.00 now you can buy a 9 or better MP that does movies for under a hundred.

Now don't get down.  There might still be somone who could use it.  Even in other things than model planes.  If all goes well will see you guys this summer.   

I'm not the least bit down, I wrote the program because it was what I needed at the time and it served it's purpose well. I call that a win...

[Wynn Robins]

the build articles I have done (and am doing) for RSM - I set the camera up on a tripod - then hit the timer delay - 5sec - get in where I need to be and let it do its thing.


if I need a wider shot - I get my wife to take it......

might be too simple -but it works great

[Wynn Robins]

I am wondering if the time invested in taking all of the still photos, formatting, and inserting into a word document, then formatting the word document so everything fits right, then printing all those pages with the photos (could yeild a large number of pages). If it were not simpler and cheaper to video the construction process, trim and assemble the clips and burn the whole thing to a CD or DVD. (CD's DVD's are real cheap now a days). Just about every later model DVD player and PC can play back video files. Just use a format that windows or Mac plays back natively. Heck if you encode it to MP4 you can even play back the video on a Smart Phone. This way you can have running commentary in addition to imagery. (The FLIP video camera made this sort of stuff real easy)

I have a feeling that when compared side by side the video solution ends up being quicker and cheaper. These days many product manufacturers no longer supply paper manuals or instructions. Everything is in electronic for on CD. Some do not even supply a CD, just a slip of paper saying that if you want the manual or instructions you have to go online and download it from there. You want a hard copy, well that is extra.

I use microsoft publisher - works real easy - once you get the template setup - it is just drag and drop with photos andd text