"Capture Image" greyed out

Randy Brown wrote on 9/19/2002, 5:08 PM
It's been more than 24 hours since I bugged you guys so...Using a Canon XL-1, I have no problems capturing tape but for some reason capture image is greyed out ( I even cued the tape up to the still). Help only states to select "capture image" (duh) and there's nothing under troubleshooting.
Thanks in advance,
Randy

Comments

Randy Brown wrote on 9/20/2002, 10:47 AM
really...no suggestions at all?
mako wrote on 9/20/2002, 11:50 AM
Randy,

I don't usually take "photos" on my XL-1s. I'd rather do that with my digital camera. But anyways, I was just playing around with the camera and noticed that when the camera is connected to the firewire, and you put it into record mode (I had it in Automatic mode), the capture image button was available! Of course you need to be running the video capture program either launched by VV or by itself. So, I was seeing the camera's output on the preview screen or the capture program. I then pressed the capture image, and voila presto... I had a jpg image captured into my media pool.

Now if you want to get a "photo" image in from the XL-1, don't use the capture video program. I tried to "get" a photo from the camera using this, but ended up getting an avi file instead. You might want to try the "get photo" item under the file menu. I tried this, but was a bit confused as how to get the "photo" from the camera. Again, I'd rather stick with my digital camera. Let us know if you figure this one out. Goodluck.

Art
Randy Brown wrote on 9/20/2002, 2:59 PM
You're right Art, if the XL-1 is in VCR mode the capture image is not available but it is if I put the camera into record mode.
So I just need a really long firewire! :-)
I have a client coming at 3pm but I'll keep messing with it and report back. Meanwhile if anyone else has suggestions... BTW, my digital camera is a $150 HP, surely I can get better stills with the XL-1 (I hope).
Thanks Art,
Randy
salad wrote on 9/20/2002, 5:37 PM
"Enable Still Image Capture", in VidCap/Options/Pref.'s/Capture Pref.'s, is selected by default. Maybe you can check to make sure this is "checked" off.
Mine is active in VTR mode.
Randy Brown wrote on 9/21/2002, 9:07 AM
That was one of the first things I checked, but thanks anyway Salad. When you say yours is active in VCR mode, is that with an XL-1?
Thanks again,
Randy
salad wrote on 9/22/2002, 2:03 PM
Randy,
I don't have an XL-1.....
I did find one more thing that can cause this to grey out, forgot that I read this here in the forum(I think).
If I have "Enable DV device control" checked in VidCap/General/first item on list...then my "Capture Image" button goes grey. Uncheck it/Apply/OK/ and it comes back. May have to click "reconnect to current device".......but, prob'ly not.

Good luck!
Randy Brown wrote on 9/22/2002, 5:28 PM
Thanks Salad, you're right, and it does capture a frame of the 6 second "photo" that the XL-1 takes. Unfortunately it's the same quality as if I saved a frame from an .avi clip(as a .jpg)in VV3. When you press the "photo" button on the XL-1, VV3 seems to see it as just 6 seconds of video (which maybe it is). Maybe it's not meant to be a photo verbatim (like the Sony PD150 capturing to a memory stick) just a "frozen" 6 second film clip that would appear like a photo if viewing on a TV. Oh well, thanks for the suggestions Salad and Art.
Randy
salad wrote on 9/22/2002, 6:20 PM
Oh well,
There are some other settings to play with in the Capture settings: deinterlace image option, capture as JPEG(vs. bmp when unchecked, I believe)etc.
I like to get my stills(if they MUST come off the DV source) by using Virtual Dub.
Capture the footage, and in VDub set in/out points for the approx. frame I want, and render as still image sequence(BMP's)to a folder. Each BMP is about 1MB. Use a media browser to find the frame you like the best and bring into Photoshop to "do the best you can" at making it look better. Keeping in mind that it originated from a video clip, you can't get too excited about the quality.
The Still Capture on these little DV cams do offer better resolution than the video, but it's not like you can cap vid and snap stills at the same time, so I very seldom use mine, but it's enough to get one interested in considering a........5 MPixel digital camera.
Randy Brown wrote on 9/23/2002, 8:48 AM
Right again Salad, I probably will wind up getting a better DV camera but I was just thinking that if the XL-1 takes 6 seconds to take a "still", maybe it's good enough quality that I won't need to. They should change the "photo" button to "6 second video that kinda resembles a still if you want to watch it on your TV" button.
Thanks again Salad,
Randy
salad wrote on 9/23/2002, 9:08 AM
Hi Randy,
I just did a still image cap with Vidcap, and saved to media pool as .BMP, it worked well and don't look to bad, but it's only 307KB.
I think the reason that it appears as a 6 sec vid clip is because you are dragging this on to the timeline, and the still image length might be at the default setting of 5 sec's.
To change this, go to VV (not vidcap)Options/Pref's/Editing/half way down the page..."New still image length(seconds)".
jetdv wrote on 9/23/2002, 11:15 AM
salad, you misunderstand. The XL-1 has a "photo" button that, when pressed, takes the current image and records it onto the MiniDV tape for 6 seconds. That is where the "6 seconds" is coming from - he is just trying to capture one frame from that 6-second clip. Unfortunately, this "photo" will never be up to the quality of a digital "camera" - it's still "video" quality and NOT "still" quality.
salad wrote on 9/23/2002, 12:14 PM
Ahhh! Now I get it, thanks jetdv.
Sorry for misunderstanding that part Randy!
Randy Brown wrote on 9/24/2002, 10:27 AM
Yes, unfortunately jetdv is right (and explained it much clearer than I). Thanks for everyones replies though.
Randy