How to freeze a scene?

Bigoj wrote on 11/5/2003, 2:04 PM
The other time, i asked the same question if anyone could show me how to freeze a scene (for eg. some one could be frozen while running). Unfortunately, I didn't get any response. Can anyone show me? thanks. Plus. I caputured a video from my digital camera, While working with it, i decided to capture an image from it using the disk icon at the preiview window, but didn't work (the icon was unclickable). Can anyone tell me why? Much thanks

Comments

farss wrote on 11/5/2003, 2:31 PM
To freeze a scene capture the frame you wish to freze on, bring the still back into the timeline and extend/trim it to desired freeze length.

To the second part of your question, if you can't get that to work then my previous answer is going to cause you problems. I cannot find a way to stop it working, ah, it will not work while previewing on external monitor.

Switch back to internal monitor, set preview quality to Best and let her rip!

PS, best to save as PNG, save takes a few seconds too.
Jessariah67 wrote on 11/5/2003, 2:35 PM
Just my opinion, but using snapshot creates a jpeg that is not as "clean" as actually freezing the clip suing the velocity envelope.

Not sure why the snapshot icon is greyed-out...
jetdv wrote on 11/5/2003, 2:55 PM
The snapshot icon will gray out if you have the external monitor turned on.

Use a velocity and set the velocity to zero to freezeframe.

For more speed changing options, look at issue #9 of the Vegas Tips, Tricks, and Scripts Newsletter
johnmeyer wrote on 11/5/2003, 3:41 PM
I use the velocity envelope, like jetdv suggests.

1. Right-click on the event you want to feeze and select "Insert Velocity Envelope."
2. Position the cursor at the exact point where you want the motion to freeze.
3. Right-click on the velocity envelope and select "Add Point."
4. Zoom way in. If the point you added is not exactly over the cursor, move it there. If snapping is turned on, it should snap to the cursor.
5. Double-click on the point you added to ensure that it is set to 100% (it is easy to accidentally drag the point up and down while you are moving it left and right).
6. Next, move to either side of the cursor, right-click on the velocity envelope, and select "Add Point."
7. Move this second point below the previous point so that it too is directly over the cursor.
8. Finally right-click on this second point, and select "Set to ..." and enter "0" (zero) and press the Enter key.

What this does is immediately jump the speed of motion from normal speed (100%) to zero speed (freeze frame). You can now drage the right edge of this event as far right as you want, and the video will stay frozen. If there is audio associated with the event, it will keep playing at normal speed. You will have to decide on your own what you want to do with the audio track(s) during the freeze frame.
farss wrote on 11/5/2003, 3:50 PM
Much better way to go, why didn't I think of that!

Reaon why you gt a shift in quality extracting a still is because it will comprise to fields merged into one frame so you'll get interlace artifacts.

One advantage of the velocity envelope, some times I find it looks a little more appealing if there's a few frames slow down to the freeze.
BillyBoy wrote on 11/5/2003, 5:16 PM
I agree. If you stop too abruptly it looks artifical. Even a car hitting a wall at 60 MPH doesn't go from 60 MPH to zero instantly it takes a few fractions of a second to fully decelerate.

Remember the scene in the original Martix when Neal was getting shot at, then the bullets stopped in mid air? Not only did they slow down the action before showing the bullets hit the ground they rotated the camera angle just before.