Webcam in C#: AForge.NET

AForge.NET is another C# framework to do image processing and others. For further information just go to http://www.aforgenet.com/framework/

Here, I want to show you another way to access your webcam using AForge library. I found this library is more complete and so far work for me.

I can select one of webcams attached in my laptop (I plugged another USB Webcam).. and wow, awesome!

Now, download and extract the AForge library from http://www.aforgenet.com/framework/downloads.html, download this project here (using VS2005, don’t forget to change the extension from “.doc’ to “.rar”).. and I hope you will have fun with your webcam.

Also, remember to Add Reference for AForge.Video.dll and AForge.Video.DirectShow.dll into the project.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

using AForge.Video;
using AForge.Video.DirectShow;

namespace cam_aforge1
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        private bool DeviceExist = false;
        private FilterInfoCollection videoDevices;
        private VideoCaptureDevice videoSource = null;

        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        // get the devices name
        private void getCamList()
        {
            try
            {
                videoDevices = new FilterInfoCollection(FilterCategory.VideoInputDevice);
                comboBox1.Items.Clear();
                if (videoDevices.Count == 0)
                    throw new ApplicationException();

                DeviceExist = true;
                foreach (FilterInfo device in videoDevices)
                {
                    comboBox1.Items.Add(device.Name);
                }
                comboBox1.SelectedIndex = 0; //make dafault to first cam
            }
            catch (ApplicationException)
            {
                DeviceExist = false;
                comboBox1.Items.Add("No capture device on your system");
            }
        }

        //refresh button
        private void rfsh_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            getCamList();
        }

        //toggle start and stop button
        private void start_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if (start.Text == "&Start")
            {
                if (DeviceExist)
                {
                    videoSource = new VideoCaptureDevice(videoDevices[comboBox1.SelectedIndex].MonikerString);
                    videoSource.NewFrame += new NewFrameEventHandler(video_NewFrame);
                    CloseVideoSource();
                    videoSource.DesiredFrameSize = new Size(160, 120);
                    //videoSource.DesiredFrameRate = 10;
                    videoSource.Start();
                    label2.Text = "Device running...";
                    start.Text = "&Stop";
                    timer1.Enabled = true;
                }
                else
                {
                    label2.Text = "Error: No Device selected.";
                }
            }
            else
            {
                if (videoSource.IsRunning)
                {
                    timer1.Enabled = false;
                    CloseVideoSource();
                    label2.Text = "Device stopped.";
                    start.Text = "&Start";
                }
            }
        }

        //eventhandler if new frame is ready
        private void video_NewFrame(object sender, NewFrameEventArgs eventArgs)
        {
            Bitmap img = (Bitmap)eventArgs.Frame.Clone();
            //do processing here
            pictureBox1.Image = img;
        }

        //close the device safely
        private void CloseVideoSource()
        {
            if (!(videoSource == null))
                if (videoSource.IsRunning)
                {
                    videoSource.SignalToStop();
                    videoSource = null;
                }
        }

        //get total received frame at 1 second tick
        private void timer1_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            label2.Text = "Device running... " + videoSource.FramesReceived.ToString() + " FPS";
        }

        //prevent sudden close while device is running
        private void Form1_FormClosed(object sender, FormClosedEventArgs e)
        {
            CloseVideoSource();
        }
    }
}

Snapshots:

Select webcam source

Seeing into the monitor...