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vCam

vCam

A browser extension that creates a virtual webcam with adjustable settings like aspect ratio, zoom, and enable/disable controls. Supports Chrome and Firefox.

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Introduction

vCam is a browser extension that helps you to create a virtual camera with some useful customization options, such as controlling the camera aspect ratio and controlling the camera zoom level. This project is developed to address the need for a flexible & user-friendly webcam configuration tool that can enhance the video streaming experience.

Problem Statement

Many user face limitations with their built-in or external webcam while meeting or video streaming. In some cases, users want to customize the camera aspect ratio or maybe want to zoom a bit. There are some software that solves this issue, but there is no such lightweight web-based tool to help with that.

Objectives

The primary goals of vCam are:

  1. Provide a Virtual Webcam - This helps to create a separate entity from a real webcam, where the user can customize whatever he wants. If he needs to switch back, then he can easily switch back to the original one.
  2. Aspect Ratio Customization - Support multiple aspect ratios (Landscape, Portrait, Square)
  3. Zoom Functionality - Provide zoom control for better framing
  4. Cross Browser Support - Ensures compatibility with Firefox & Chrome browsers

Development Process

Technology Stack

  • JavaScript – Core scripting language for the extension.
  • HTML & CSS (Bootstrap) – UI/UX design for the extension popup.
  • Manifest v3 (Chrome) – Modern extension framework.
  • Manifest v2 (Firefox) – Adaptation for Mozilla compatibility.

Key Challenges & Solutions

  • Creating a Virtual Webcam
    • Challenge: There is no such native support to create a virtual webcam using JavaScript
    • Solution: After tons of research, I found a POC from spite/virtual-webcam where we can modify the MediaDevices web API and create a fake webcam by cloning streams from the real webcam.
  • Dynamic Webcam Adjustments
    • Challenge: There are some limited ways to communicate with web pages from an extension. So, we can’t just reflect changes quickly on a web page.
    • Solution: Implemented a clear instruction mechanism using Runtime Messaging API & Window Messaging API to apply changes in real-time on the web page. But to reflect the changes, we need to toggle the camera off/on or refresh the page.
  • UI Simplicity & Usability
    • Challenge: Ensuring users can easily understand and use the extension.
    • Solution: Used Bootstrap components for a clean, intuitive interface.

Result & Impact

  • vCam provides seamless webcam customization without the need for third-party software.
  • Users can quickly adjust their camera settings for different use cases (like streaming, video calls, and recording).
  • The project supports both Chrome and Firefox, making it widely accessible.

Future Enhancement

To further improve vCam, future updates will focus on:

  • Camera source selection – Allow users to switch between different webcam inputs.
  • Real-time preview – Provide an instant preview of changes.
  • Additional filters & settings – Introduce brightness, contrast, and other enhancements.

Conclusion

vCam successfully bridges the gap between hardware webcam limitations and user customization needs. By offering an intuitive, browser-based solution, it enhances video streaming flexibility and provides a smoother user experience. With ongoing development, vCam is set to become an essential tool for anyone looking to customize their webcam settings effortlessly.

Project Stacks

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • Web Extension