By Roman Loyola

Senior Editor, Macworld Jul 26, 2022 4:15 am PDT

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The Mac’s FaceTime digital camera sucks–720p or 1080p, it doesn’t matter. But Apple could make tremendous cameras, like those within the iPhone, and with macOS Ventura and iOS sixteen, Apple is leveraging its iPhone cameras so they can be used as a webcam thru a brand new enhancement to macOS’s Continuity Camera characteristic.

If you’re unwell of being embarrassed via the Mac’s photograph first-class throughout video conferences, otherwise you demand higher high-quality for video recordings of your self that you want to apply, Continuity Camera is a godsend. And fortunately, it’s so easy to installation and use, that you’ll come to depend upon it and best use the Mac’s built-in camera in emergencies.

Here’s a way to installation and use Continuity Camera. But first, here are the requirements:

A prototype of Belkin’s iPhone mount for MacBook, which uses MagSafe to keep an iPhone at the pinnacle of a display.

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Open the Settings app in your iPhone and then tap General > AirPlay & Handoff, then flip the switch on for the Continuity Camera Webcam putting. Exit Settings.

Mount the iPhone on pinnacle of the Mac’s display the usage of a holder or mount, or set it up using a tripod or a few other method. You can even maintain the iPhone–the cellphone simply needs to be inside Bluetooth variety of the Mac.

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On your Mac, open the video app you need to apply: FaceTime, Zoom, and many others. (In this demo, I am using QuickTime.) After launching the app, go to the placing that lets in you to select a digicam; in QuickTime, there’s a menu subsequent to the report button. The name of your iPhone must seem inside the list of available cameras. Select your iPhone, and that’s it! You have to be the use of your iPhone as the Mac’s webcam. (Note: At the time of this writing, iMovie did now not help Continuity Camera.)

You may also be capable of pick out the iPhone’s microphone as the audio enter device. Where you pick the microphone relies upon at the app. In QuickTime above, it’s inside the same menu because the camera choice.

How Desk View appears in macOS Ventura walking on an iMac.

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Desk View uses the Ultra Wide digicam at the iPhone (iPhone 11 or later required) to shoot a view of your table. It also can seize you at the equal time, so you can do computer demonstrations,

At the time of this writing, but, Desk View has a set perspective view, and that attitude is such that it could’t see a MacBook keyboard if the iPhone is established on top of the pc’s display–Desk View captures the vicinity approximately a foot in front of the laptop. Apple hasn’t stated whether the perspective will be adjustable in the future.

To turn on Desk View, you need to have Continuity Camera jogging. Open the Control Center within the menu bar and click on at the Video Effects button (this button will no longer seem if the digital camera isn't always running). A Video Effects menu appears; choose Desk View. This is likewise in which you turn off Desk View.

A Desk View app will launch. To be capable of see the video app you're the use of and the DeskView app on the same time, You can attempt tiling the home windows to help you see them (Window > Tile Window to Left/Right Side of Screen), but, a few apps (like FaceTime) won’t work with tiling.

A demonstration of how Center Stage keeps a person inside the middle of the photograph body.

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Center Stage is an impact that maintains you in the middle of the body (iPhone eleven or later required). With Continuity Camera jogging, open the Control Center inside the menu bar and click on on the Video Effects button. A Video Effects menu appears and you then choose Center Stage.

Here’s what the iPhone webcam looks as if with Portrait mode off (left) and on (right).

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Portrait mode is an impact that blurs the background. In Control Center within the menu bar, click at the Video Effects button. In the Video Effects menu, select Portrait and the background will blur.

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Studio Light uses the iPhone flash as a light to liven up your photo (iPhone 12 or later required). With Continuity Camera going for walks, open the Control Center inside the menu bar and click on the Video Effects button. Then select Studio Light.

When an iPhone is getting used as a Mac webcam, this display appears on the telephone.

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All you need to do is stop the video app you’re the usage of to your Mac. The iPhone can also show the display screen proven above, and all you have to do is faucet Disconnect.

Roman has protected technology because the early 1990s. His career commenced at MacUser, and he's labored for MacAddict, Mac