Easy Mac OS X Lion - Kate Binder [42]
Click the name of the person to whom you want to talk.
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Tip: In a Rush?
A quicker way to begin a videoconference is to click the camera button next to the name of the person with whom you want to chat. You can start an audio chat session quickly by clicking the microphone button next to a buddy’s name.
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Tip: Let’s Have a Party
To conference with multiple people, +click to select their names in the Buddy List window; then click the Start Video Chat button. To add a participant during a chat, click the + button in the chat window.
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Click the Start Video Chat button at the bottom of the Buddy List window.
The video window opens and you can see yourself; when your buddy answers, you can see both your buddy and yourself in the window.
Click the Full Screen button to expand the window to fill your screen.
Click the Mute button to freeze the video and mute the audio of yourself.
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Tip: Knock Knock
If someone initiates a video or audio chat with you, you see a dialog box telling you so. As soon as you’ve combed your hair, you can click Accept to begin chatting.
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Note: No Webcam? No Worries
If you haven’t got a webcam but you do have a digital camcorder, you can use that instead. You’ll find a small tripod helpful in positioning the camera so it can “see” your face; try looking for one at the dollar store.
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Applying Special Video Effects
This isn’t your grandma’s iChat, that’s for sure. These days, video chats can make use of some of the same special effects found in Photo Booth (turn to “Applying Fun Photo Effects” in Chapter 10 to learn more). As long as you and the people you’re chatting with are all using at least Mac OS X Leopard, you can go to town with these cool effects.
In your iChat buddy list, click the camera button next to a buddy’s name to begin a video chat.
Click Effects to open the Video Effects window.
Click the arrows to scroll through the different effects that you can use.
Click the thumbnail of an effect to apply it to your video image.
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Tip: Don’t Overdo It
Using special effects takes a lot of processing power, and even more when more than one chat participant is using effects. If your video gets slow and jerky, or parts of the picture are dropping out, try removing the effects for better performance.
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Click the Original thumbnail to remove the video effect from your image.
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Note: In the Background
When using iChat’s background effects, watch the screen to set them up properly. iChat will tell you to step out of the screen for a short time so that it can see what the background looks like without you.
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Giving a Presentation over iChat
Instant messaging is cool, true. Video chat is even cooler. And when you want to show off a file on your Mac to someone you’re chatting with, you can now use the ultimate cool iChat feature: iChat Theater. You’ll be able to run photo slideshows, flip through documents, play videos, and more, all visible to both you and anyone you’re chatting with.
In iChat, choose File, Share a File with iChat Theater.
Choose the file you want to show.
Click Share.
A dialog box tells you to begin a video chat.
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Note: Just a Quick Look
iChat Theater works with any file that you can view using Quick Look in the Finder (see “Previewing a File,” in Chapter 2). So, if you want to see how a file will look in iChat Theater, try it out using Quick Look first.
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Tip: Take a Look at This
If you want to present an iPhoto album as a slideshow, choose File, Share iPhoto with iChat Theater in step 1.
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Click the Video Chat button next to a buddy’s name in the Buddy List.
When the presentation begins, use the arrows to navigate through the file you’re sharing.
Click the Full Screen button to view the file on the entire screen.
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Note: Skipping a Step
If you already have a video chat going, you won’t see the dialog