iSight : Improving Your iSight's Picture
As mentioned in the Title box - there are pages that were written a little while ago by EZ Jim, a poster on the Apple Discussions who contributed to iSight and iChat Discussions. The words the following pages are EZ Jim's
Use the the Information Column Menu for EZ Jim's pages
Improving Your iSight's Picture
:: This page was written for the External iSight, but some of these tips may also be helpful with the Built-In iSight. See THIS TOPIC for more about the new Built-In iSight. ::The Apple software you use with iSight makes iSight sort of a "point and shoot" automatic web cam. Focus, color balance, and exposure are all set automatically.
You can improve your picture by using some simple techniques like having good lighting, sitting still, and not waving hands in front of iSight that will cause the camera to attempt to re-focus.
There are also Apple Technical Support Articles entitled
- iSight's video "stutters" in low light when I turn it on and
- Use good lighting for the best iSight picture
As explained in your iSight User's Guide, if you are using your iSight with iChat AV, iChat AV automatically detects your Internet connection speed and optimizes video for best performance. If you are using iChat AV 2.1 and the video looks choppy, you or the person you are chatting with may need to set the bandwidth limit to a lower level. In iChat AV, choose iChat > Preferences and click Video. Then choose a setting from the Bandwidth Limit menu.
(iChat AV 3 requires more bandwidth. Leave the bandwidth limit set to "None" in iChat AV 3 unless you are sharing a T1 or faster internet connection with other Macs or if iChat AV 3 will not work unless you change the limit setting. For blocky iChat AV 3 video see Help for iChat AV 3 Problems.)
Although it may be more "adjusting" than "improving" your iSight's picture, some people want more control over their iSights than Mac's built-in auto-everything approach. iGlasses is a third party addition to iChat AV that allows you to make some adjustments to your iSight’s picture. (Edit 2024:- The link is via Way Back Machine and any download may not work. Try searching CNET for a download if you are trying to run iChat).
Some, if not all of iGlasses' functions are also included in iChatUSBCam from the same company. (Edit 2024:- Same as above).
Both of these products allow you to "try before you buy". See the above links for information on their capabilities, features, and terms.
Although it does not actually "adjust" your iSight, SightLight FireWire Light for iSight added light to brighten your iSight's picture (Edit 2024:- Product ended in aboutb 2007 so Link removed). My SightLight added cold, blue-colored light that is not flattering to faces, particularly when there is also some other light in the room. However, SightLight is a highly portable source of light for my laptop when there is no other light. Because some users do not like the color of the light, I suggest you try SightLight before you buy.
If you want opinions on these products from those who have actually used them, search the iSight and iChat AV Discussions areas for the above product names.
Made on a Mac®
© 2005, 2006 EZ Jim
© 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
Updated September 2006. Moved to Gargoyles Mar 2007. Major review October 2024 towards HTML5
Information Column
EZ Jim's iSight Stuff
Plain Text links to related Pages
For Screen Readers
EZJim Folder
EZJimindex Index of EZ Jim's iSight and Other InfoUsing iSight Using iSight
EZJim page2 Where to Find Help for iSight
EZJim page3 About the Built-In iSights
EZJim page4 How to Test your iSight is Functional
EZJim page5 Improving your (External) iSight's Picture
EZJim page6 Possible Conflicts with iSight an iChat
EZJim page7 Some Applications you can Use with an iSight
EZJim page8 iSight V DV Camcorder or other Web Cam
EZJim page9 Mounts for your External iSight
EZJim page10 iSight Versions (External)
EZJim page11 How to Turn your iSight Really Off
EZJim page12 iSight and the PC
EZJim page13 Common PC Applications and Chatting
EZJim page14 Mac Video Chat with PCs
EZJim page15 Using An iSight with iChat
EZJim page16 Help for iChat 3 Problems
EZJim page17 How to Get iChat working again
EZJim page18 Check your Broadband Speed
EZJim page19 OS X Maintenance
EZJim page20 Updating the OS
EZJim page21 Reinstalling the OS
EZJim page22 Macintosh System Stability
Made on a Mac®
