How to Save Pictures From a Webcam

Your webcam comes with software that helps you capture still images.

When you buy a computer -- especially a laptop -- in 2011, there's a good chance it will come with a built-in camera, or webcam. You can also buy external webcams that connect to your PC via USB cables. Webcams are so-called because they take low-quality videos and photos that you can send over the Internet without using all of your bandwidth. Though primarily used for video capture, webcams can take still shots too. You can save and send your webcam photos with ease.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and launch your webcam's software. Every computer manufacturer bundles its webcam-ready computers with specific software for controlling the camera. If you buy a webcam separately, it always comes with software. You may have to dig through your "Start" menu a bit to find the specific software that runs your specific webcam. If you don't know what the software is called, type "webcam" into the search bar on the "Start" menu or check your computer's manual for specific information.

2. Click "Snapshot" or "Take photo" (or similar) in your program to capture still images. Most webcam programs show you what your webcam sees as soon as the program is open. As you move, your image on the webcam moves. The specific commands vary from program to program and manufacturer to manufacturers, but standard webcam software has a "snapshot" command to take one picture.

3. Click "Tools" and "Settings" (again, or similar) to change the way your webcam records still images. You can configure the photo quality up to a preset maximum resolution. Some webcam software even allows you to record a series of images or to add digital effects to images. This depends on your camera and its default software, too. While in the "Settings" window, find out where your images are stored. Every program stores photos in a different location.

4. Click "Start" and "Computer" to open a file browser. Locate the folder where your webcam stores its photos from Step 3 to edit the photos with a graphics program or to delete and rename files. To send photos to your friends and family, open your email and attach the photos from this folder. Webcams store photos in small resolutions, so you won't have trouble emailing these files as attachments even with a very slow Internet connection.