---
name: "sqcam"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "qcam"
version: "0.91-12.1+b1"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sqcam"
---

# sqcam(1)

get pictures from B&W Connectix QuickCam(tm)

## NAME

qcam, xqcam - get pictures from B&W Connectix QuickCam(tm)

## SYNOPSIS

**sqcam** \[ **-B***bpp* \] \[ **-b***brightness* \] \[ **-c***contrast* \] \[ **-s***scale* \] \[ **-h** \]

## DESCRIPTION

**sqcam** is a program that displays the output of a QuickCam on a system using svgalib.

### OPTIONS

- **-s***scale*

  *scale* can be 1, 2, or 4.  It specifies what fraction of the QuickCam data should be discarded. *scale* of 1 indicates that all the data should be sent. *scale* of 2 indicates that half of the pixels on each line and half of the lines should be discarded, resulting in 1/4 as much data being transferred. *scale* of 4 likewise means a fourfold shrinking in each direction.

- **-B***bpp*

  Bits per pixel.  Valid values are 4 (giving sixteen shades of gray) and 6 (giving 64 shades of gray).

- **-b***brightness*

  Exposure time.  Useful values are 1-254, with low numbers indicating short exposures (for use in bright light) and high numbers indicating long exposures (dim light). *brightness* of 255 puts the Cam in "bulb mode", which is not useful with **qcam** and **xqcam**.

- **-c***contrast*

  *contrast* is normally set at 104.  Low numbers indicate low contrast.  Valid values are 0-255.

- **-h**

  Print usage information.

## FILES

/etc/qcam.conf	Configuration file

## SEE ALSO

The QuickCam Third Party Developers web page at **http://www.crynwr.com/qcpc**.

## BUGS

Autodetection is very brittle.

The new Color QuickCam is not handled with this software, although there are Color Cam drivers available from the web site.

The wide-angle lens of the QuickCam gives an ugly barrel distortion. Michael Herf has written [**warp**(1)](/warp/1.md) to fix this, but since [**warp**(1)](/warp/1.md) doesn't know what part of the CCD is in the image, it only works on images whose center is the center of the CCD.

## AUTHORS

Scott Laird (original code), Brian Scearce (bidirectional and dark current modifications),  **xqcam** window scaling, edge detection), Ed Orcutt (autoexposure modifications), Dave Plonka (locking code).