extract still picture from video

Tex Wilson wrote on 3/26/2006, 7:34 AM

I want to use a still picture I copied from a video and print it to use as a cover on my DVD case. Since it is an AVI file, is there a way I can move it to a program where I can print it?

Comments

Tim L wrote on 3/26/2006, 8:19 AM

Yes, this is very easy.

Look at your preview window. There is an icon that looks like a floppy disk (I think... I'm not at a computer with VMS installed right now). Clicking this icon will save a photo of whatever is in the preview screen. A window will open allowing you to specify a file type, and a destination filename and location.

You will have the choice of saving as JPG or as PNG (portable network graphics). PNG is probably better, if whatever program you are sending it to can accept this format, as PNG is supposed to be a completely lossless format (result is an exact reproduction of the original). However, the JPG version will probably work just as well in most cases, and people may be more comfortable with JPG.

One thing to remember, however, is that the quality of the picture you save from the preview window is dependent on the quality setting of the preview window itself. Select the "Best - Full" setting, then locate the exact frame in your video/avi file. Use ALT-left arrow and ALT-right arrow to step one frame at a time, if necessary, to get just the right frame.

Note also that the image you save is exactly what's in the preview window (except that I believe it will save the full image, even if you only see a portion of the "Best - Full" image in your preview.) Whatever effects you have applied -- titles, color enhancements, chromakey, etc -- will be in the saved photo, just as you see it in the preview window.

Tim L