I would like to use GIMP 2.6 to take a picture using the webcam.
I have read the description FILE > CREATE > and select the device for the webcam. I do this and get a subwindow titled: "xsane 0.998 SN9C1XX PC Camera Video". In this subwindow are various sizing, coloring etc. options and a button for scan. When I press SCAN button I get: Failed to start scanner: Invalid argument.
All I want is for GIMP to create an image and put it on disk.
FWIW: I verified that the system (Slackware 13.37) was correctly configured for this driver and that the driver exists as a module.
Can someone step me thru the procedure to get the image at least displayed on the screen by GIMP? What did I do incorrectly to get that error?

Later... I repeated the above process but added changing Gray to Color. That created a window with what should probably have been the image but it was entirely black. I have been suspicious of this camera for a while and think now this proves the camera is toast. But would that contradict "lsusb" showing that the webcam was found? or is it a broken feature which is not sensed?
None the less, have I got the process correct now to create a webcam image?

Try using xsane to capture your image, then you can manipulate it in GIMP.

3 members found this post helpful.

I believe the blackness is the image, i.e. camera is kaput!
Although I think I recall seeing xsane displayed somewhere in my attempts at processing. Since I am calling GIMP from an xwindows window manager, XFCE, wouldn't that indicate that xsane gets involved?

I have been following Allend's suggestion and it is perfectly working on Slackware 14.0 32 bit KDE; to be sure that your webcam works make a test on
http://mailvu.com/testCamera/TestYourWebCam.html
Bye

1 members found this post helpful.

Yes I agree I think Allend's description is correct but I was just saying that when I went thru that process all I got was the black field filling the image area which leads me to think the camera is toast.

You might try vlc to see if the webcam is working. And then do a screen shot to save an image.