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FSWEBCAM(1)			  User Commands 		     FSWEBCAM(1)

NAME
     fswebcam - Small and simple webcam for *nix.

SYNOPSIS
     fswebcam [<options>] <filename> [[<options>] <filename> ... ]

DESCRIPTION
     fswebcam  is  a small and simple webcam app for *nix. It can capture images
     from a number of different sources and perform simple manipulation  on  the
     captured  image.  The  image  can be saved as one or more PNG, JPEG or WEBP
     files.

     The image can be sent to stdio using the filename "-". The output	filename
     is formatted by strftime.

CONFIGURATION
   Configuration File
     Config files use the long version of options without the "--" prefix. Com-
     ments start with a # symbol at the beginning of the line.

   General Options
     -?, --help
	    Show a usage summary.

     -c, --config
	    Load  options  from  a file. You can load more than one config file,
	    and can mix them with command-line arguments.

	    Note: This option can not be used from within a configuration file.

     -q, --quiet
	    Hides all messages except errors.

     -v, --verbose
	    Print extra information during the capture process.

     --version
	    Print the version number and exit.

     -l, --loop <frequency>
	    Continually capture images. The time between images is specified  in
	    seconds.

	    Default behaviour is to capture a single image and exit.

	    Note:  The	time to capture the next image is calculated relative to
	    the epoch, so an image will not be	captured  immediately  when  the
	    program is first started.

     --offset <seconds>
	    Sets  the  offset to use when calculating when the next image is due
	    in loop mode. Value can be positive or negative.

     --count <number>
	    Sets the number of times to capture an image in loop mode before ex-
	    iting.

	    Default is 0, loop forever.

     -b, --background
	    Run in the background. In this mode stdout and console  logging  are
	    unavailable.

     --pid <filename>
	    Saves  the	PID of the background process to the specified file. Ig-
	    nored when not using background mode.

     -L, --log [file/syslog:]<filename>
	    Redirect log messages to a file or syslog. For example

	    --log output.log
	    --log file:output.log
	    --log syslog

     --gmt  Use GMT instead of the local  timezone  when  formatting  text  with
	    strftime.

   Capture Options
     -d, --device [<prefix>:]<device name>
	    Set the source or device to use. The source module is selected auto-
	    matically unless specified in the prefix.

	    Default is /dev/video0.

	    Available source modules, in order of preference:

	    V4L2 - Capture images from a V4L2 compatible video device.
	    V4L1 - Capture images from a V4L1 compatible video device.
	    FILE - Capture an image from a JPEG or PNG image file.
	    RAW - Reads images straight from a device or file.
	    TEST - Draws colour bars.

     -i, --input <input number or name>
	    Set  the input to use. You may select an input by either it's number
	    or name.

	    Default is "0".

     --list-inputs
	    List available inputs for the selected source or device.

	    fswebcam -d v4l2:/dev/video1 --list-inputs

     -t, --tuner <tuner number>
	    Set the tuner to use.

     -f, --frequency <frequency>
	    Set the frequency of the selected input or tuner. The value  may  be
	    read as KHz or MHz depending on the input or tuner.

     -p, --palette <name>
	    Try to use the specified image format when capturing the image.

	    Default is to select one automatically.

	    Supported formats:

	    PNG
	    JPEG
	    MJPEG
	    S561
	    RGB32
	    RGB24
	    BGR32
	    BGR24
	    YUYV
	    UYVY
	    YUV420P
	    BAYER
	    SBGGR8
	    SRGGB8
	    SGBRG8
	    SGRBG8
	    RGB565
	    RGB555
	    Y16
	    GREY

     -r, --resolution <dimensions>
	    Set the image resolution of the source or device. The actual resolu-
	    tion  used	may differ if the source or device cannot capture at the
	    specified resolution.

	    Default is "384x288".

     --fps <frames per second>
	    Sets the frame rate of the capture device. This currently only works
	    with certain V4L2 devices.

	    Default is "0", let the device decide.

     -F, --frames <number>
	    Set the number of frames to capture. More frames mean less noise  in
	    the final image, however capture times will be longer and moving ob-
	    jects may appear blurred.

	    Default is "1".

     -S, --skip <number>
	    Set  the number of frames to skip. These frames will be captured but
	    won't be use. Use this option if your camera sends some bad or  cor-
	    rupt frames when it first starts capturing.

	    Default is "0".

     -D, --delay <delay>
	    Inserts  a delay after the source or device has been opened and ini-
	    tialised, and before the capture begins. Some devices need this  de-
	    lay  to  let the image settle after a setting has changed. The delay
	    time is specified in seconds.

     -T, --timeout <seconds>
	    Adjusts the timeout period in seconds for frame capture. This should
	    be increased for exposures longer than 10 seconds.

	    Default is "10".

     -R, --read
	    Use read() to capture images. This can be  slower  but  more  stable
	    with some devices.

	    Default  is  to  use mmap(), falling back on read() if mmap() is un-
	    available.

     -s, --set <name=value>
	    Set a control. These are used by the source modules to control image
	    or device parameters. Numeric values can be expressed as a	percent-
	    age of there maximum range or a literal value, for example:

	    --set brightness=50% --set framerate=5

	    Non-numeric controls are also supported:

	    --set lights=on

	    V4L2 features a type of control called a 'button'. These controls do
	    not take any value, but trigger an action. For example:

	    --set "Restore Factory Settings"

	    Control names and values are not case sensitive.

	    Note:  Available  controls	will vary depending in the source module
	    and devices used. For more information see the  --list-controls  op-
	    tion.

     --list-controls
	    List  available  controls  and their current values for the selected
	    source module and device. For example:

	    fswebcam -d v4l2:/dev/video2 --list-controls

   Output Options
     These options are performed in the order they appear on the command line,
     only effecting images output later on the command line. For example:

	    fswebcam -r 640x480 output1.jpeg --scale 320x240 output2.jpeg

	    Will create two images, "output1.jpeg" containing a full  resolution
	    copy  of  the  captured image and "output2.jpeg" containing the same
	    captured image but scaled to half the size.

     --no-banner
	    Disable the banner.

     --top-banner
	    Position the banner at the top of the image.

     --bottom-banner
	    Position the banner at the bottom of the image.

	    This is the default.

     --banner-colour <#AARRGGBB>
	    Set the colour of the banner. Uses the web-style hexadecimal  format
	    (#RRGGBB)  to  describe the colour, and can support an alpha channel
	    (#AARRGGBB). Examples:

	    "#FF0000" is pure red.
	    "#80000000" is semi-transparent black.
	    "#FF000000" is invisible (alpha channel is at maximum).
	    Default is "#40263A93".

     --line-colour <#AARRGGBB>
	    Set the colour of the divider line. See --banner-colour for more in-
	    formation.

	    Default is "#00FF0000".

     --text-colour <#AARRGGBB>
	    Set the colour of the text. See --banner-colour  for  more	informa-
	    tion.

	    Default is "#00FFFFFF".

     --font <[file or font name]:[font size]>
	    Set the font used in the banner. If no path is specified the path in
	    the  GDFONTPATH environment variable is searched for the font. Font-
	    config names may also be used if the GD library has support.

	    If no font size is specified the default of "10" will be used.

	    Default is "sans:10".

     --no-shadow
	    Disable the text shadow.

     --shadow
	    Enable the text shadow.

	    This is the default behaviour.

     --title <text>
	    Set the main text, located in the top left of the banner.

     --no-title
	    Clear the main text.

     --subtitle <text>
	    Set the sub-title text, located in the bottom left of the banner.

     --no-subtitle
	    Clear the sub-title text.

     --timestamp <text>
	    Set the timestamp text, located in the top right of the banner. This
	    string is formatted by strftime.

	    Default is "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M (%Z)".

     --no-timestamp
	    Clear the timestamp text.

     --info <text>
	    Set the info text, located in the bottom right of the banner.

     --no-info
	    Clear the info text.

     --underlay <filename>
	    Load a PNG image and overlay it on the image, below the banner.  The
	    image is aligned to the top left.

	    Note:  The	underlay is only applied when saving an image and is not
	    modified by any of the image options or effects.

     --no-underlay
	    Clear the underlay image.

     --overlay <filename>
	    Load a PNG image and overlay on the image, above the banner. The im-
	    age is aligned to the top left.

	    Note: The overlay is only applied when saving an image  and  is  not
	    modified by any of the image options or effects.

     --no-overlay
	    Remove the overlay image.

     --jpeg <factor>
	    Set  JPEG  as  the	output image format. The compression factor is a
	    value between 0 and 95, or -1 for automatic.

	    This is the default format, with a factor of "-1".

     --png <factor>
	    Set PNG as the output image format. The compression factor can be  a
	    value between 0 and 9, or -1 for automatic.

     --webp <factor>
	    Set  WEBP  as  the	output image format. The compression factor is a
	    value between 0 and 100, or -1 for automatic.

	    Requires WEBP support in libgd.

     --save <filename>
	    Saves the image to the specified filename.

	    Note: This isn't necessary on  the	command-line  where  a	filename
	    alone is enough to save an image.

     --revert
	    Revert  to	the  original captured image and resolution. This undoes
	    all previous effects on the image.

	    Note: This only reverts the image itself, and not  options	such  as
	    font, colours and overlay.

     --flip <direction[,direction]>
	    Flips  the image. Direction can be (h)orizontal or (v)ertical. Exam-
	    ple:

	    --flip h	Flips the image horizontally.
	    --flip h,v	Flips the image both horizontally and vertically.

     --crop <dimensions[,offset]>
	    Crop the image. With no offset the cropped area will be  the  center
	    of the image. Example:

	    --crop 320x240    Crops the center 320x240 area of the image.
	    --crop 10x10,0x0  Crops the 10x10 area at the top left corner of the
	    image.

     --scale <dimensions>
	    Scale the image.

	    Example: "--scale 640x480" scales the image up or down to 640x480.

	    Note: The aspect ratio of the image is not maintained.

     --rotate <angle>
	    Rotate the image in right angles (90, 180 and 270 degrees).

	    Note: Rotating the image 90 or 270 degrees will swap the dimensions.

     --deinterlace
	    Apply a simple deinterlacer to the image.

     --invert
	    Invert all the colours in the image, creating a negative.

     --greyscale
	    Remove all colour from the image.

     --swapchannels <c1c2>
	    Swap colour channels c1 and c2. Valid channels are R, G and B -- for
	    Red, Green and Blue channels respectively.

	    Example: "--swapchannels RB" will swap the red and blue channels.

     --exec <command>
	    Executes  the  specified command and waits for it to complete before
	    continuing. The command line is formatted by strftime.

SIGNALS
     SIGHUP
	    This causes fswebcam to reload it's configuration.

     SIGUSR1
	    Causes fswebcam to capture an image immediately without  waiting  on
	    the timer in loop mode.

KNOWN BUGS
     The  spacing between letters may be incorrect. This is an issue with the GD
     library.

REPORTING BUGS
     Please report bugs to <phil@sanslogic.co.uk>.

SEE ALSO
      ncftpput(1), strftime(3)

AUTHOR
     Written by Philip Heron <phil@sanslogic.co.uk>.

fswebcam 20200725		  25 July 2020			     FSWEBCAM(1)

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