Extracting a still from a video (for printing purposes)

[Tuffcookie]

Has anyone ever done this? I have run into a brick wall with Windows Live Movie Maker. I need a program that will allow me to save the still in a JPG format. I've looked at VirtualDub and wonder if it's any good. At least it's a free download.

I realize the quality of the photo will be low but I only need to capture for a 4 x 6 size print and probably won't be using it too often.

TC

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I think you can in Lightroom 4 and higher, I know it has video support

 

[cobright]

virtualdub will do it but it's a complicated bit of software. Not so much what you are doing but the thing in general.

Try VLC Media Player from www.videolan.org. It's my go-to video player, free, lots of features but they stay hidden till you need them. Go to preferences and set the snapshot directory then run your video. stop it where you like or hit the snapshot function (video menu) while it's running.

Easy.

What else is easy ... run it in whatever, pause it, then run microsoft web snipping tool. (assumes a windows environment)

 

[photo_chick]

Keep in mind that HD video is 1080 x 1920 which is right around 2MP. A 4x6 image at 300 DPI (what is considered print resolution) is 1200 x 1800 pixels. And it will only make a decent 4x6 if it's good quality video.

Easiest way to get it requires no software. Set your monitor to the highest resolution you can. Play the video full screen and take a screen shot. The problem with this method is that you're limited by your monitor's resolution.

Another way is do download a free 30 day trial of Premiere and grab the stills you need with it.

 

[MedicBill]

Keep in mind that HD video is 1080 x 1920 which is right around 2MP. A 4x6 image at 300 DPI (what is considered print resolution) is 1200 x 1800 pixels. And it will only make a decent 4x6 if it's good quality video.

Easiest way to get it requires no software. Set your monitor to the highest resolution you can. Play the video full screen and take a screen shot. The problem with this method is that you're limited by your monitor's resolution.

Another way is do download a free 30 day trial of Premiere and grab the stills you need with it.

I actually do this often and it works well. My computer/monitor supports a 1920x1080 resolution and I just convert the screenshot to a jpg in paint. Easy and effective.

 

[Tuffcookie]

You guys are the greatest!!!

I took a picture of the screen and got the photo!:



Granted, it is not the greatest quality but, as you can see, it was a very important moment in the lives of two good friends!

Thank you, so much!

TC

 

[laniers]

The quality of a still from a video is only going to acceptable for the smallest print sizes.

 

[Atlas722]

virtualdub will do it but it's a complicated bit of software. Not so much what you are doing but the thing in general.

Try VLC Media Player from www.videolan.org. It's my go-to video player, free, lots of features but they stay hidden till you need them. Go to preferences and set the snapshot directory then run your video. stop it where you like or hit the snapshot function (video menu) while it's running.

Easy.

What else is easy ... run it in whatever, pause it, then run microsoft web snipping tool. (assumes a windows environment)

I also like VLC Media Player. I use it to make screen caps from DVDs and video files that I download from the Internet. It also makes screen caps from videos I
make with my smartphone and my Nikon p&s digital camera.

Plus it runs on both Windows and Mac.