Comments

Grazie wrote on 7/17/2006, 12:28 AM
When JPEG is unchecked we get a BMP.

This makes a file size for the same material BuMP up:

BMP = 2,359kb
JPEG = 39kb

Have you tried the Deinterlace option?

Looking at both sets of Still BMP<>JPEG it is a call between SIZE=ease of use for Vegas AND quality. Deinterlace option does give me - I think! - a nice enough pic?

So, when we turn OFF JPEG we get a BIGGER BMP file. I don't believe Vegas goes any deeper than that?
Chienworks wrote on 7/17/2006, 2:43 AM
VidCap saves the stills in the size you see them on the screen. Set the capture preview window zoom to 100% and you'll get full resolution captures.
Grazie wrote on 7/17/2006, 7:28 AM
I should've recognised this from setting PREVIEW in Vegas to full!! Seesshh . . Thanks for "mopping-up" Kelso.

But I was correct about the BMP . ..
DJPadre wrote on 7/17/2006, 9:03 AM
to get teh best possible images, u can switch from JPG to PNG right n the timeline.

Make sure ur not"blending fields" and turn ur preview to "best full "
for larger pics (make sure the full frame is visible... or better yet, change ur project to a HD 720p

for sharper images, grab mike crashes deinterlacer and run that through ur master output and turn off vegas deinterlacing

for larger pics, create a 24p 1080 project..

Its faster than doing al tis in photoshop...
DelCallo wrote on 8/18/2006, 8:47 PM
Ok, I've captured my video and want to also capture some stills from the timeline. I know how to change the preview resolution. How to I switch from jpg to png? Do I just change the file type after clicking on the save to file icon in the preview window or is there some other way to make this switch?

Thanks.

Del
kentwolf wrote on 8/18/2006, 10:08 PM
>>Do I just change the file type after clicking on the save to file icon...

Yes.
DelCallo wrote on 8/19/2006, 5:49 AM
Thanks, Kentwolfe.
I haven't really been using any of my video stuff that much recently so I'm a little rusty. I have to say, I am a bit disappointed in the quality of the still images. Perhaps it is just a limitation of my equipment. I am using 8mm DV. The video is clear as a bell, but the still pics are not sharp.

I've tried all the tweaks suggested here. The stills look fine on my computer screen, but, if I open them in either format in Photoshop, it is very apparent that these are not high res pics.

I wanted to print some snapshots - actually printed a few. The results are ok if you don't get too close. Fine for folks to look at, I guess. One thing I like about capturing stills from videos is the linear choice you have to catch a person at just the right moment - before they blink, look down, frown, whatever. The disspointing aspect is that the quality of the pics just isn't there.

Anyhow, if I am missing anything in terms of improving my results, please let me know.

Thanks.

Del
farss wrote on 8/19/2006, 5:59 AM
Assuming you set Preview to Best Full I'm afraid there's not much you can do. Bear in mind assuming there's any motion in the frame you need to de-interlace as well and that means pretty well loosing half the vertical resolution.

Also conside that the largest preview Vegas will display is at native resolution and you start to see that the preview window shows things looking pretty good. However rescale to print and things go downhill, if you printed the image at 150dpi it'd look good and be pretty small.

But here's another little issue, moving images have more resolution than still images from the same sensor, that's even before you factor in the possibility of needing to de-interlace. I'd always felt this to be the case but it took Adam Wilt to explain why, well I'm extrapolating from something he said in a different context but it explains what I see (I think?).

Bob.
JJKizak wrote on 8/19/2006, 6:07 AM
I just compared some timeline stills (best/full) of the same frame jpg verses png and noticed the jpg was a bit shy on color saturation. Learn something every day.

JJK
Grazie wrote on 8/19/2006, 6:30 AM
"Learn something every day."

Count youself lucky! I do!
rs170a wrote on 8/19/2006, 6:52 AM
"Learn something every day."


Grazie, I'm disappointed. I thought (after 8955 posts) that you knew it ALL :-)

Mike
Jonathan Neal wrote on 8/19/2006, 2:02 PM
Also (if this hasn't already been figured out), you can:

1. Capture the footage with the frames you want.

2. Lay the captured footage on the timeline.

3. Locate the frame you want in the timeline.

4. In your video preview window toolbar, make sure your Preview Quality is set to Best (full).

5. In your video preview window toolbar, click the disk-icon Save Snapshot to File...

By default, it will save the image as a JPEG, but if you would prefer to save it as a PNG then follow these steps.

1. Hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard while going to O

2. Go to the new tab, Internal, and find the setting Save snapshot as PNG. TIP: You can search the prefs at the bottom to help you locate this setting.

3. Change the Value to the right of that Field to TRUE.

4. You're done, follow the first directions I gave you; now your Snapshots will be high-quality PNG files.