the way I do it is click "Save snapshot to file" above the preview (You know, it looks like the standard "save" icon--The disk--), then, i put that picture in after my video and extend it to be as long as I want it to. This way is nice because then you can do seperate video effects on the freeze frame easily.

OK - you got me there, I cannot find that function anywhere?

"Above the preview" ?

Cheers

Kevin,

The "save snapshot" icon looks like a floppy disc and is above the video preview window. I wouldn't go that route, however, because it converts the frame to a jpeg and there is noticeable quality loss (IMHO).

If the event is "stretching" when you have looping turned off, are you holding down CTRL? That will stretch/slow it down. Right click on the event, choose "properties" uncheck "loop" and it WILL extend the last frame of the clip as a freeze frame.

The velocity envelope is a great tool, but it can start to mess with you depending on event alterations. The most fail-safe way to get a good quality, freeze is to literally choose the place where you want to freeze, split the event at that point, choose the newly-created clip to the right of the cursor (the first frame of which would be the frame you want to freeze), rightclick+V to view the velocity envelope and set the velocity of the new clip to "0" -- drag to your heart's content.

HTH

Hmm - I have no icon like that above the preview window. I'm on version 4.0d - what are you using?

Not that I'd use it anyway - the velocity envelope makes more sense to me as you can adjust your frame without having a fixed file.

Cheers

Han,

The reason you didn't get a still by dragging the end of the event is that this only works if this is also the last frame of the original media clip, rather than the event which is part of the clip.

You can double click the event to create a region then Render this as a new clip. This new clip will than have the last frame you're after, and you will get a still by dragging the end after disabling Loop.

The best way is to use the velocity envelope.

All versions of Vegas 4 and Vegas 3 have had the save snapshot button above the preview window (I don't remember on Vegas 2 but an sure it was there too. Wasn't on it long enough.)

Finally found it - had to maximise the preview window :-)

I use an external monitor so have the preview frame set very small.

Cheers

Thanks to everyone who responded to my inquiry. Special thanks to Peter for explaining why the documented method didn't seemingly work as described.

It remains to be seen but for freeze frames at the end of an event, rendering the event as a new clip and replacing the original seems the most straightforward. I should then be able to add any additional effects while preserving the quality.

The fact that this and other effects can be achieved in a variety of ways serves to demonstrate the power of this software. :-]

What I do...

1.) Cut the video exactly where you want it to freeze.
2.) Take a Full/Best PNG (or jpg; PNG is better) capture of the last frame; right where you cut.
3.) Expand the still PNG as long as you want.

Works great.

The velocity envelope is definitely better than the snapshot method. Two reasons:

1. The snapshot you take will almost always be the wrong resolution (unless you use one of the snapshot scripts, which take care of changing not only the preview window resolution to best, but also temporarily changing the project properties). Snapping at the wrong resolution and then using this snap will result in a jump cut, either by chaning the aspect ratio, or the resolution (sharpness).

2. The velocity envelope lets you do a slight slowdown prior to the freeze. Slowing down the motion over 3-5 frames rather than abruptly feezing is often a better effect than a suden transition from full motion to a still.

I haven't measure the number of clicks etc. for each method, but the velocity envelope doesn't require many steps.