Trackmate :: Portable Plexi Cliffhanger

Step 3 Set it up

Everything is packed up in an over-the-shoulder bag. The first couple images show all the contents together (including a laptop).

Pull out the acrylic sheet (if frosted, make sure the frosted side is facing up) and the C clamps.

Clamp the sheet to the table with about 2-3 inches of overlap to ensure a solid mount.

Place the clamp-light to the bottom of one of the C clamps under the table. Always be careful with where the light is mounted as a hot bulb next to paper, fabric, the table, etc. can start a fire. Using a low-wattage fluorescent bulb makes things a lot safer, but still be careful.

Setup the tripod under the table. Place the webcam on top of the tripod pointed up towards the overhanging plexiglass (the camera should be as close as possible while still being able view all of the illuminated area). Try to align the camera square with the table.

Mounting the camera to the tripod can be a bit tricky. Experiment with different brackets and clamps. I found that a simple twist-tie holding the camera's cord tightly worked as a strong-enough mount for the PS3 Eye camera (although a custom bracket would be even better).