Grabbing stills from video at DVinfo.net

Brandon Wood · August 2nd, 2005, 06:04 PM

Hey everyone,

I am trying to grab still frames from my video clips from within Vegas and add them to the end of the clip to get that freeze frame effect.

Anyone know how to do this? Is there a shortcut key?

thanks!

Patrick King · August 2nd, 2005, 06:28 PM

Brandon,

What I'm about to describe is on page 221 of the Vegas 6 manual, so if I lose you, you'll be able to read it for yourself. This is one technique (Edward will be along shortly to explain how to do the same thing with a Velocity Envelope.)

On the Video Preview window is a icon that looks like a floppy disk. Place the stationary cursor on the exact place on the timeline that you want to become the 'still image'. Change the preview setting to BEST, then click the floppy disk icon (Save Snapshot to File...). Save as a .png so that you can use the alpha channel for masking (if desired). Then and the saved .png to the Project Media pool and add it into the timeline where you want it to play; stretch as necessary if you don't want it to be the default 'still' duration you established in Options.

Brandon Wood · August 2nd, 2005, 06:39 PM

aaahaaa Patrick...you ARE the King!

Thanks man

Patrick King · August 2nd, 2005, 06:47 PM

Brandon,

I thought Edward would have been on by now, but since not, I think this is his Newletter that discusses 'stills' in video.

If not here is the Newsletter section of his indispensible website: JetDV.com

Edward Troxel · August 3rd, 2005, 07:22 AM

What can I say... I like to SLEEP!

I would definitely use the Velocity Envelope for this purpose. Plus if you use the velocity envelope, you have the option of gradually slowing down instead of a sudden stop. I discuss changing the speed of a clip in Vol 1 #9 of the newsletter.

Vol 1 #5 (which is the newsletter referenced above) discusses taking a snapshot on the timeline which will actually answer the original question.

Greg Jacobson · August 3rd, 2005, 04:07 PM

It seems to me that when I just copy to clipboard and then paste into Photoshop I get a higher quality still.

Is this possible or am I just seeing things?

Glenn Chan · August 3rd, 2005, 09:09 PM

Greg: You aren't really getting a higher quality still.

In Vegas, you may not be seeing your footage at its highest resolution. This depends on the video preview window settings. 320X230 or 720X480, draft/good/preview/best preview mode, etc.

Photoshop can affect the appearance of your still because of color management.

That's probably why you're "seeing things".

Edward Troxel · August 4th, 2005, 07:15 AM

There's also another difference. If you save a snapshot (assuming NTSC) you will get an image that is 655x480. If you copy to clipboard, you will get an image that is 720x480. The first method takes into account the pixel aspect differences. The other doesn't.

Steven Davis · August 5th, 2005, 01:05 PM

Edward, what newsletter. Subscribe me up, info [at] droptodesign (DOT) com

Edward Troxel · August 5th, 2005, 01:27 PM

Just go to http://www.jetdv.com and click on the "Newsletter Archive" section. They're all listed. I recommend downloading them to your hard drive for easy future reference as needed.

The link is also under my name on my posts.

Brandon Wood · August 5th, 2005, 07:07 PM

Thanks Edward for all your help too.

August 2nd, 2005, 06:04 PM	#1
Brandon Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mauriceville, TX Posts: 146	Grabbing stills from video Hey everyone, I am trying to grab still frames from my video clips from within Vegas and add them to the end of the clip to get that freeze frame effect. Anyone know how to do this? Is there a shortcut key? thanks!

August 2nd, 2005, 06:28 PM	#2
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Brandon, What I'm about to describe is on page 221 of the Vegas 6 manual, so if I lose you, you'll be able to read it for yourself. This is one technique (Edward will be along shortly to explain how to do the same thing with a Velocity Envelope.) On the Video Preview window is a icon that looks like a floppy disk. Place the stationary cursor on the exact place on the timeline that you want to become the 'still image'. Change the preview setting to BEST, then click the floppy disk icon (Save Snapshot to File...). Save as a .png so that you can use the alpha channel for masking (if desired). Then and the saved .png to the Project Media pool and add it into the timeline where you want it to play; stretch as necessary if you don't want it to be the default 'still' duration you established in Options. __________________ Fear No Weevil!

August 2nd, 2005, 06:47 PM	#4
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Brandon, I thought Edward would have been on by now, but since not, I think this is his Newletter that discusses 'stills' in video. If not here is the Newsletter section of his indispensible website: JetDV.com __________________ Fear No Weevil!

August 4th, 2005, 07:15 AM	#8
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	There's also another difference. If you save a snapshot (assuming NTSC) you will get an image that is 655x480. If you copy to clipboard, you will get an image that is 720x480. The first method takes into account the pixel aspect differences. The other doesn't. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

August 5th, 2005, 01:27 PM	#10
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Just go to http://www.jetdv.com and click on the "Newsletter Archive" section. They're all listed. I recommend downloading them to your hard drive for easy future reference as needed. The link is also under my name on my posts. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

August 2nd, 2005, 06:39 PM	#3
Brandon Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mauriceville, TX Posts: 146	aaahaaa Patrick...you ARE the King! Thanks man

August 3rd, 2005, 07:22 AM	#5
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	What can I say... I like to SLEEP! I would definitely use the Velocity Envelope for this purpose. Plus if you use the velocity envelope, you have the option of gradually slowing down instead of a sudden stop. I discuss changing the speed of a clip in Vol 1 #9 of the newsletter. Vol 1 #5 (which is the newsletter referenced above) discusses taking a snapshot on the timeline which will actually answer the original question. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

August 3rd, 2005, 04:07 PM	#6
Greg Jacobson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New York Posts: 141	It seems to me that when I just copy to clipboard and then paste into Photoshop I get a higher quality still. Is this possible or am I just seeing things?

August 3rd, 2005, 09:09 PM	#7
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Greg: You aren't really getting a higher quality still. In Vegas, you may not be seeing your footage at its highest resolution. This depends on the video preview window settings. 320X230 or 720X480, draft/good/preview/best preview mode, etc. Photoshop can affect the appearance of your still because of color management. That's probably why you're "seeing things".

August 5th, 2005, 01:05 PM	#9
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Edward, what newsletter. Subscribe me up, info [at] droptodesign (DOT) com __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

August 5th, 2005, 07:07 PM	#11
Brandon Wood Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mauriceville, TX Posts: 146	Thanks Edward for all your help too.