One word, SCRIPT. You'll have to find it or write it yo'self though. I recall there was a Vegas and/or script forum on the SCS stie, don't know if it's here. There were some Vegas script experts who frequented it, maybe look them up.

1. Set Project Properties > Frame Rate to 0.333

2. File > Render As > Image Sequence

Edit: Make sure to disable resample just in case.

The script already exists.

If you have a version of Vegas Pro with the older Render Image Sequence script, use that and set the step time to 3 seconds.

finit

/**
 * This script renders a still image sequence from the current Vegas
 * project. It first presents a dialog that allows you to specify the
 * output directory, base file name, file format (PNG or JPEG), start
 * time, stop time, and step time.  Then it enters a loop that exports
 * a sequence of image files.  See below for more details.
 *
 * !! WARNING !! This script can take a very long time to complete.
 * IF YOU WISH TO STOP IT WHILE RUNNING, HIT THE <ESC> KEY.
 *
 * Revision Date: Aug. 01, 2005
 **/

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Collections;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Sony.Vegas;

public class EntryPoint
{
    
    public void FromVegas(Vegas vegas, String scriptPath)
    {

        // First save off the preview & project settings that will be
        // set by the script so they can be restored when the renders
        // are complete.
        VideoRenderQuality originalRenderQuality = vegas.Project.Preview.RenderQuality;
        VideoPreviewSize originalPreviewSize = vegas.Project.Preview.PreviewSize;
        VideoFieldOrder originalFieldOrder = vegas.Project.Video.FieldOrder;
        VideoDeinterlaceMethod originalDeinterlaceMethod = vegas.Project.Video.DeinterlaceMethod;
        Boolean needToRestoreSettings = false;

        Timecode originalCursor = vegas.Cursor;
        Timecode originalSelectionStart = vegas.SelectionStart;
        Timecode originalSelectionLength = vegas.SelectionLength;
        
        try {

            // Make a Timecode object whose value is zero for comparisons.
            Timecode zeroTime = new Timecode();

            // Set the default start, stop, and step times. If there is a
            // selection, use it for the start and stop times, otherwise do
            // the whole project.
            Timecode startTime, stopTime, stepTime;
            if (vegas.SelectionLength > zeroTime) {
                startTime = vegas.SelectionStart;
                stopTime = startTime + vegas.SelectionLength;
            } else {
                startTime = new Timecode(); // zero
                stopTime = vegas.Project.Length;
            }

            // The stepTime is the number of frames to skip forward between
            // each output file. The default value is 1 frame.
            stepTime = new Timecode();
            stepTime.FrameCount = 1;

            String projectName = "Untitled";
            if (null != vegas.Project.FilePath)
                projectName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(vegas.Project.FilePath);

            
            // Initialize list of file naming options.
            Object[] fileNamers = new Object[]
            {
                new FileNamer(),
                new BaseFileNamer("Image"),
                new BaseFileNamer(projectName),
                new TimecodeFileNamer(),
            };

            // Initialize list of file format options.
            Object[] fileFormats = new Object[]
            {
                new FileFormatItem(ImageFileFormat.JPEG, "JPEG", ".jpg"),
                new FileFormatItem(ImageFileFormat.PNG, "PNG", ".png"),
            };
            
            // Show the script's dialog box.
            RenderImageSequenceDialog dialog = new RenderImageSequenceDialog(vegas);
            if (null != vegas.Project.FilePath)
                dialog.OutputDirectory = Path.GetDirectoryName(vegas.Project.FilePath);
            else
                dialog.OutputDirectory = Path.GetPathRoot(scriptPath);
            dialog.StartTime = startTime;
            dialog.StopTime = stopTime;
            dialog.StepTime = stepTime;
            dialog.FileNamers = fileNamers;
            dialog.FileFormats = fileFormats;
            DialogResult dialogResult = dialog.ShowDialog();

            // if the OK button was not pressed, just return
            if (System.Windows.Forms.DialogResult.OK != dialogResult)
                return;

            // Get the basis for output image file names
            String outputDir = dialog.OutputDirectory;
            if (!Directory.Exists(outputDir))
                throw new ApplicationException("output directory does not exist");

            // Get the output image file name extension and corresponding
            // file format. ImageFileFormat.None indicates that the
            // current prefs setting will be used but that may not
            // correspond to the specified file extension.

            //String imageFileNameExt = Path.GetExtension(imageFileName);
            String fileExt = dialog.FileFormat.Extension;
            ImageFileFormat imageFormat = dialog.FileFormat.Format;
                
            // Get the start, stop, and step times specified in the
            // dialog.
            startTime = dialog.StartTime;
            stopTime = dialog.StopTime;
            stepTime = dialog.StepTime;

            // Make sure the step time is legal.
            if (stepTime <= zeroTime) {
                throw new ApplicationException("step time must be greater than zero");
            }

            // compute the total number of image files that will
            // be rendered.
            Timecode deltaTime = stopTime - startTime;
            if (zeroTime > deltaTime) {
                throw new ApplicationException("start time must be before the stop time");
            }
            long deltaFrames = deltaTime.FrameCount;
            long stepFrames = stepTime.FrameCount;
            if (0 == stepFrames) {
                throw new ApplicationException("insufficient step time");
            }
            int fileCount = (int) (deltaFrames / stepFrames);

            // prepare the file namer.
            FileNamer fileNamer = dialog.FileNamer;
            fileNamer.FileCount = fileCount;
            fileNamer.StartTime = startTime;
            fileNamer.StopTime = stopTime;
            fileNamer.StepTime = stepTime;
                
            // compute the list of image files that will be rendered.
            ArrayList snapshots = new ArrayList();
            fileNamer.FileIndex = 0;
            fileNamer.CurrentTime = Timecode.FromNanos(startTime.Nanos);
            DialogResult overwritePrompt = DialogResult.None;
            
            while (fileNamer.CurrentTime <= stopTime) {

                // compose the file name
                String filename = Path.Combine(outputDir, fileNamer.NameFile() + fileExt);
                bool fileExists = File.Exists(filename);

                // if the file already exists, prompt the user
                // (only once).
                if (fileExists && (DialogResult.None == overwritePrompt)) {
                    String msg = "One or more image files already exist.  Do you want to overwrite them?";
                    String cap = "WARNING: Files Exist";
                    MessageBoxButtons btns = MessageBoxButtons.YesNoCancel;
                    MessageBoxIcon icon = MessageBoxIcon.Warning;
                    MessageBoxDefaultButton defBtn = MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button3;
                    overwritePrompt = MessageBox.Show(msg, cap, btns, icon, defBtn);
                }

                if (DialogResult.Cancel == overwritePrompt) {
                    // skip all images
                    snapshots.Clear();
                    break;
                } else if (fileExists && (DialogResult.No == overwritePrompt)) {
                    // skip this one but allow others
                } else {
                    snapshots.Add(new SnapshotInfo(filename, Timecode.FromNanos(fileNamer.CurrentTime.Nanos)));
                }

                // increment the image index and current time.
                fileNamer.FileIndex++;
                fileNamer.CurrentTime += stepTime;
            }

            if (0 < snapshots.Count) {
                needToRestoreSettings = true;

                // Seek to the start frame
                vegas.Cursor = startTime;

                // Set the preview quality and size.
                vegas.Project.Preview.RenderQuality = VideoRenderQuality.Best;
                vegas.Project.Preview.PreviewSize = VideoPreviewSize.Full;

                // Set the field order and deinterlace method
                vegas.Project.Video.FieldOrder = VideoFieldOrder.ProgressiveScan;
                vegas.Project.Video.DeinterlaceMethod = VideoDeinterlaceMethod.InterpolateFields;

                // render the snapshots.
                foreach (SnapshotInfo snapshot in snapshots) {
                    RenderStatus renderStatus = vegas.SaveSnapshot(snapshot.File, imageFormat, snapshot.Time);
                    if (RenderStatus.Complete != renderStatus) {
                        break;
                    }
                }
            }

        } catch (Exception e) {
            MessageBox.Show(e.Message);

        } finally {

            // if needed, restore the project and preview settings
            if (needToRestoreSettings) {
                vegas.Project.Preview.RenderQuality = originalRenderQuality;
                vegas.Project.Preview.PreviewSize = originalPreviewSize;
                vegas.Project.Video.FieldOrder = originalFieldOrder;
                vegas.Project.Video.DeinterlaceMethod = originalDeinterlaceMethod;
                vegas.Cursor = originalCursor;
                vegas.SelectionStart = originalSelectionStart;
                vegas.SelectionLength = originalSelectionLength;
            }

        }
    }
}



// Form subclass that is the dialog box for this script
public class RenderImageSequenceDialog : Form
{
    private Vegas myVegas;

    private TextBox myOutputDirBox = new TextBox();
    private Button myBrowseButton = new Button();

    private ComboBox myFileNamerCombo = new ComboBox();
    private ComboBox myFileFormatCombo = new ComboBox();
    
    private TextBox myStartTimeBox = new TextBox();
    private TextBox myStopTimeBox = new TextBox();
    private TextBox myStepTimeBox = new TextBox();

    private Button myOKButton = new Button();
    private Button myCancelButton = new Button();
    
    public RenderImageSequenceDialog(Vegas vegas)
    {
        myVegas = vegas;
        
        this.Text = "Render Image Sequence";
        this.FormBorderStyle = System.Windows.Forms.FormBorderStyle.FixedDialog;
        this.MaximizeBox = false;
        this.StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
        this.Width = 540;
        
        int leftMargin = 4;
        int topMargin = 8;
        int buttonWidth = 80;
        int ffWidth = 420;
        int fflWidth = 120;
        int top = (2 * topMargin);
        
        AddLabeledControl("Output Directory:", leftMargin, top, fflWidth, ffWidth, myOutputDirBox);

        myBrowseButton.Location = new Point(myOutputDirBox.Right + 4, myOutputDirBox.Top - 2);
        myBrowseButton.Width = buttonWidth;
        myBrowseButton.Text = "Browse...";
        myBrowseButton.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.System;
        myBrowseButton.Click += new EventHandler(this.HandleBrowseButtonClick);
        Controls.Add(myBrowseButton);

        top = myBrowseButton.Bottom + topMargin;

        myFileNamerCombo.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
        AddLabeledControl("File Names:", leftMargin, top, fflWidth, ffWidth, myFileNamerCombo);

        myFileFormatCombo.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList;
        myFileFormatCombo.Location = new Point(myFileNamerCombo.Right + leftMargin, top);
        myFileFormatCombo.Width = 86;
        Controls.Add(myFileFormatCombo);

        int tclWidth = 120;
        int tcWidth = 200;
        top = myFileNamerCombo.Bottom + topMargin;
        AddLabeledControl("Start Time:", leftMargin, top, tclWidth, tcWidth, myStartTimeBox);
        top = myStartTimeBox.Bottom + topMargin;
        AddLabeledControl("Stop Time:", leftMargin, top, tclWidth, tcWidth, myStopTimeBox);
        top = myStopTimeBox.Bottom + topMargin;
        AddLabeledControl("Step Time:", leftMargin, top, tclWidth, tcWidth, myStepTimeBox);
        
        top = myStepTimeBox.Bottom + (2 * topMargin);

        myOKButton.Text = "OK";
        myOKButton.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.System;
        myOKButton.Location = new Point(this.Width - (2*(buttonWidth+10)), top);
        myOKButton.Width = buttonWidth;
        myOKButton.DialogResult = DialogResult.OK;
        AcceptButton = myOKButton;
        Controls.Add(myOKButton);

        myCancelButton.Text = "Cancel";
        myCancelButton.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.System;
        myCancelButton.Location = new Point(this.Width - (1*(buttonWidth+10)), top);
        myCancelButton.Width = buttonWidth;
        myCancelButton.DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel;
        CancelButton = myCancelButton;
        Controls.Add(myCancelButton);

        this.ClientSize = new Size(this.ClientSize.Width, myOKButton.Bottom + 8);
    }
    
    void AddLabeledControl(String labelText, int left, int top, int labelWidth, int totalWidth, Control control)
    {
        Label label = new Label();
        label.Text = labelText;
        label.Location = new Point(left, top);
        label.Width = labelWidth;
        label.TextAlign = ContentAlignment.MiddleLeft;
        Controls.Add(label);
        
        control.Location = new Point(label.Right, top);
        control.Width = totalWidth - labelWidth;
        Controls.Add(control);

    }

    public String OutputDirectory
    {
        get { return myOutputDirBox.Text; }
        set { myOutputDirBox.Text = value; }
    }
    
    public Timecode StartTime
    {
        get { return Timecode.FromString(myStartTimeBox.Text); }
        set { myStartTimeBox.Text = value.ToString(); }
    }

    public Timecode StopTime
    {
        get { return Timecode.FromString(myStopTimeBox.Text); }
        set { myStopTimeBox.Text = value.ToString(); }
    }

    public Timecode StepTime
    {
        get { return Timecode.FromString(myStepTimeBox.Text); }
        set { myStepTimeBox.Text = value.ToString(); }
    }

    public Object[] FileNamers
    {
        set
        {
            myFileNamerCombo.Items.Clear();
            myFileNamerCombo.Items.AddRange(value);
            myFileNamerCombo.SelectedIndex = 0;
        }
    }
    
    public FileNamer FileNamer
    {
        get { return (FileNamer) myFileNamerCombo.SelectedItem; }
        set { myFileNamerCombo.SelectedItem = value; }
    }

    public Object[] FileFormats
    {
        set
        {
            myFileFormatCombo.Items.Clear();
            myFileFormatCombo.Items.AddRange(value);
            myFileFormatCombo.SelectedIndex = 0;
        }
    }

    public FileFormatItem FileFormat
    {
        get { return (FileFormatItem) myFileFormatCombo.SelectedItem; }
        set { myFileFormatCombo.SelectedItem = value; }
    }
    
    protected void HandleBrowseButtonClick(Object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        String outputDir = null;
        myVegas.FileUtilities.SelectDirectoryDlg(this.Handle,
                                                 "Select Output Directory",
                                                 myOutputDirBox.Text,
                                                 false,
                                                 out outputDir);
        if (null == outputDir)
            return; // canceled
        OutputDirectory = outputDir;
    }

}

public class SnapshotInfo
{
    public String File;
    public Timecode Time;
    
    public SnapshotInfo(String file, Timecode time)
    {
        this.File = file;
        this.Time = time;
    }
}

public class FileFormatItem
{
    public ImageFileFormat Format;
    public String Name;
    public String Extension;

    public FileFormatItem(ImageFileFormat fmt, String name, String ext)
    {
        this.Format = fmt;
        this.Name = name;
        this.Extension = ext;
    }

    public override String ToString()
    {
        return String.Format("{0} ({1})", this.Name, this.Extension);
    }
}

public class FileNamer
{

    // The following variables can be used by NameFile.
    public String PorjectName;
    public int FileIndex;
    public int FileCount;
    public Timecode StartTime;
    public Timecode StopTime;
    public Timecode StepTime;
    public Timecode CurrentTime;
    
    public virtual String NameFile()
    {
        int renderCountDigits = this.FileCount.ToString().Length;
        return String.Format("{0:D" + renderCountDigits + "}", this.FileIndex);
    }


    public override String ToString()
    {
        this.FileCount = 100;
        this.StartTime = Timecode.FromNanos(0);
        this.StopTime = Timecode.FromFrames(100);
        this.StepTime = Timecode.FromFrames(1);

        this.CurrentTime = Timecode.FromFrames(0);
        this.FileIndex = 0;
        String n0 = NameFile();

        this.CurrentTime = Timecode.FromFrames(1);
        this.FileIndex = 1;
        String n1 = NameFile();

        this.CurrentTime = Timecode.FromFrames(2);
        this.FileIndex = 2;
        String n2 = NameFile();

        return String.Format("{0}, {1}, {2}, ...", n0, n1, n2);
    }

}

public class BaseFileNamer : FileNamer
{
    public String BaseName;
    
    public BaseFileNamer(String baseName)
    {
        this.BaseName = baseName;
    }

    public override String NameFile()
    {
        return String.Format("{0}_{1}", this.BaseName, base.NameFile());
    }
}

public class TimecodeFileNamer : FileNamer
{
    public override String NameFile()
    {
        StringBuilder name = new StringBuilder(this.CurrentTime.ToString());
        name.Replace(':', '_');
        name.Replace(';', '_');
        name.Replace('.', '_');
        name.Replace(',', '_');
        name.Replace('+', '_');
        return name.ToString();
    }
}

I recall there was a Vegas and/or script forum on the SCS [site], don't know if it's here.

Here and goes way back (just FYI).

Gentlemen, thank you so very much. Huge timesaver (from a boring chore). This forum rocks.

What changes are required to get this script to run in VP later than 13? Thanks.

Ok, found Nicks FAQ, works with just this change ..

Change .. import Sony.Vegas;

...to this:

import ScriptPortal.Vegas;

@dxdy

Feel free to check the solution that worked best for you (even if its Nick's ;?)

Thanks Musicvid, this may come in handy, useful tool, a lot of work, whoever the author is thanks.

Next question, how do you install the above script with one sentence?

JJK

Next question, how do you install the above script with one sentence?

JJK

@JJKizak See section 8 of this post (in far more than one sentence).

What I found very instructive was observing some sample images saved with and without resample. You really need to switch off resample in say, project properties.