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Still image from HD video–redux?
This topic probably already has been discussed a number of times, but…
What is the correct procedure for grabbing a frame from an HD video and processing it so that I can use it on the Blu-ray case cover? Despite how I attempt to do this (either saving to a new still image file when paused on the Vegas timeline or saving it to the PC buffer and pasting it into an image editing program–previewing on Best AND changing from interlaced to progressive under properties, too), I apparently am doing something wrong! HD grabs appear to have lost a good deal of resolution and look soft–not nearly good enough for me to do anything with them. So how exactly does one go about saving/processing a still from a 1920X1080 60i video to make it usable as a still image for whatever purpose one wants to utilize it? Thanks in adavance.
Rich Kutnick
VIDEO IMPRESSIONS -
8 Replies
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I think that’s as good as you can get. It does not matter however what preview setting you have. On older versions of Vegas grabbing an image did depend on your preview setting but that does not matter anymore. You’ll get the same image if the preview is set on auto or best.
If you put the image into photoshop and use the “unsharp” mask, you can squeeze out a bit better image.
I’m not sure on this but the resolution will always be 72dpi on the video. Maybe someone will clarify that.Roger Bansemer – PaintingAndTravel.com
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The Vegas Frame Grab (snapshot) captures an 8-bit JPEG and uses a lossy compression mode (according to MediaInfo). You can do a frame grab in VLC that is a 24-bit png file, lossless compression mode.
Here’s the difference. VLC on the left, Vegas on the right.
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com -
The .png file I get is a dead match for the hdv footage I’m viewing.
I use it for still frames and never see a difference.i7 2600 3.4 Ghz 8Gig Ram , Win 7 Pro, Vegas Pro 12
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I tried your method, Stephen, and the file saved with VLC is superior! However, I have observed that when I use the Vegas screen grab I am saving a 1920X1080 pixel, 72 pixels/inch, RGB 8 bits/channel. If I save it as a snapshot, it produces a png file with the same parameters EXCEPT that it is at 200 pixels/inch. The png that is produced in VLC has THE EXACT SAME PARAMETERS as that produced with the saved Vegas snapshot, yet visually is significantly better. So how can two files with the same apparent resolution and bit depth look so different? For instance, the Vegas png looks washed out and the blacks lean towards the gray side, while the VLC file blacks are rich and the colors are vibrant. The VLC file also is MUCH sharper! How, then, did you get a jpg from Vegas when I am saving pngs? How are you setting up VLC to capture 24-bit files when I only can muster 8-bit images? I also cannot figure out how to move frame-by-frame in VLC, but perhaps this program is incapable of that. Would you kindly clarify your methods, as I now am on the right track? Would you please go into detail your step-by-step procedure? Thanks in advance, Stephen! This will help out quite a bit!!
Rich Kutnick
VIDEO IMPRESSIONS -
Hi Stephen,
What is VLC?Roger Bansemer – PaintingAndTravel.com
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What is air?
Roger – I am surprised that you haven’t heard of VLC player. Really. It’s a really neat video player that will play practically anything because it has its own codecs.Get it now: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com -
Oh, VLC player. I know of it and had it on my system but not recently. I did not know you capture, etc. with it though. I thought it was just a player.
Roger Bansemer – PaintingAndTravel.com
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” How, then, did you get a jpg from Vegas when I am saving pngs? How are you setting up VLC to capture 24-bit files when I only can muster 8-bit images? I also cannot figure out how to move frame-by-frame in VLC, but perhaps this program is incapable of that. Would you kindly clarify your methods, as I now am on the right track? Would you please go into detail your step-by-step procedure? Thanks in advance, Stephen! This will help out quite a bit!!”
Well, one question I can answer.
The JPG/PNG option is in the Internal Preferences. Hold the shift key when you click on “Options/Preferences”, and filter on PNG. You can safely change this parameter. (In general the Internal Preferences is hidden from view because you can truly hose your installation of Vegas here.)Everything else are the defaults. Perhaps VLC frame grabs are bigger here because I run VLC in the full-screen mode.
VLC is incredibly complex and in the command line mode you should be able to capture every frame of a video clip. I haven’t figured it out yet.
But this got me to thinking of a better way.
I zoomed into the keyboard of various frame capture images in my viewer. The VLC capture showed some significant compression artifacts (JPEG compression hates solid colors and sharp contrasts). the Vegas grab was slightly better in this high-contrast area, but both VLC and Vegas captures were overcompressed.
I used the Image Sequence template in the “Render As” menu and did some experiments. Exporting as a JPEG sequence using all defaults looked just like the Vegas Frame Grab, as expected. I changed the template to “best” and exported various image formats. Upon comparison, the best was using the BMP format. The images were better than either the Vegas or VLC frame grab. (I knkow, they aren’t all the same frame).
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com
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