grabbing stills from an HDV file

Brent Marks · November 9th, 2007, 12:25 AM

grabbing stills from an HDV file - HELP!

Hi,

I have a 60i HDV file....

I need a way to automatically capture/grab stills from the video.

I need them be as clear/vibrant and as sharp as possible.

I am currently using Vegas 7 to automatically render out stills every 5 or 10 seconds...
They look pretty good... but I am wondering... is there a better way?
To get even better stills?

Thanks for all your help!

Wesley Cardone · November 9th, 2007, 04:16 PM

I often extract still frames from HDV using Premiere Pro CS3. When you shoot 1,800 still frames per minute, there are times when you find funny things where you least expect them (i.e. see: http://www.wcardone.com/tonguelashing.jpg).

Quality wise all you can do is deinterlace the photo. Other than that you need to select the exact frame you want since an adjacent frame may contain a nearly identical picture but have some bluring because of motion.

The 1.57 megapixel images make nice 4x6 prints.

Gareth Watkins · November 9th, 2007, 04:24 PM

Hi there

I use PPro and get pretty good stills from an HDV clip... Just save frame.. they are not however publishing standard, unless that's all we have. Ok for an internet site but lack definition and resolution for much else. Just goes to show how much worse SD stuff was I've had printed...

As Wesley says you'll need to de-interlace your 60i footage...

But I think you'll find Vegas is capable of getting as good a footage as it gets from an interlaced video. You'll not get better than 1440x1080.

regards
Gareth

Brent Marks · November 9th, 2007, 11:04 PM

I need to be able to do it automatically.... not ever picture has to be great...

but I have about 100 thirty minute videos... and i need to get about 300-500 good/usable pics from each video for a website.

Is there a good way to automate this process?

THANKS!

Wesley Cardone · November 10th, 2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Marks

Is there a good way to automate this process?

THANKS!

I am inclined to say, "No." My reasoning is that you usually must hand-select the precise frame you want. Maybe 20% of the time there is a little motion captured showing a blur which will go away if you just flip the the adjacent frame.

If there is a way to automate the process you would be unhappy with the overall result.

Wesley

Daniel Ross · November 11th, 2007, 12:35 AM

Open in Quicktime. Press ctrl+c. Open any photo program; paste; save.
This will include interlacing, though, which is unavoidable with 60i. You can get rid of it using a few methods of interpolation, from simple vertical blur to a specific deinterlacing filter (there's on in photoshop if you have that).

Alternatively, you could convert the video to progressive in the first place.

Also, QT itself deinterlaces (though not with the best algorithm) by default [or you can turn this on in the video settings of movie properties, if it is off]; you could then take a screen capture [as it doesn't copy or export by default].

Note: There is also an export option, and you can choose "picture" [ie, frame], in QT, but only with the pro version.

November 9th, 2007, 12:25 AM	#1
Brent Marks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Houston TX and New Orleans LA Posts: 300	grabbing stills from an HDV file - HELP! grabbing stills from an HDV file - HELP! Hi, I have a 60i HDV file.... I need a way to automatically capture/grab stills from the video. I need them be as clear/vibrant and as sharp as possible. I am currently using Vegas 7 to automatically render out stills every 5 or 10 seconds... They look pretty good... but I am wondering... is there a better way? To get even better stills? Thanks for all your help! __________________ I produce High Quality content with My Certain Style... I cover South Padre, TX to Tampa Bay, FL FYI: That includes... Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Beaumont/ Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile, Penscola, Ft. Walton, Panama City... Any every little city and town in between. If you need anything, Let's talk...

November 9th, 2007, 04:16 PM	#2
Wesley Cardone Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chelsea, Michigan Posts: 104	I often extract still frames from HDV using Premiere Pro CS3. When you shoot 1,800 still frames per minute, there are times when you find funny things where you least expect them (i.e. see: http://www.wcardone.com/tonguelashing.jpg). Quality wise all you can do is deinterlace the photo. Other than that you need to select the exact frame you want since an adjacent frame may contain a nearly identical picture but have some bluring because of motion. The 1.57 megapixel images make nice 4x6 prints. __________________ Wesley Cardone www.WCardoneProductions.com, Detroit and Lansing, Michigan

November 9th, 2007, 11:04 PM	#4
Brent Marks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Houston TX and New Orleans LA Posts: 300	I need to be able to do it automatically.... not ever picture has to be great... but I have about 100 thirty minute videos... and i need to get about 300-500 good/usable pics from each video for a website. Is there a good way to automate this process? THANKS! __________________ I produce High Quality content with My Certain Style... I cover South Padre, TX to Tampa Bay, FL FYI: That includes... Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Beaumont/ Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Biloxi, Mobile, Penscola, Ft. Walton, Panama City... Any every little city and town in between. If you need anything, Let's talk...

November 9th, 2007, 04:24 PM	#3
Gareth Watkins Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: France Posts: 578	Hi there I use PPro and get pretty good stills from an HDV clip... Just save frame.. they are not however publishing standard, unless that's all we have. Ok for an internet site but lack definition and resolution for much else. Just goes to show how much worse SD stuff was I've had printed... As Wesley says you'll need to de-interlace your 60i footage... But I think you'll find Vegas is capable of getting as good a footage as it gets from an interlaced video. You'll not get better than 1440x1080. regards Gareth

November 11th, 2007, 12:35 AM	#6
Daniel Ross Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Marin & Davis, CA, USA Posts: 418	Open in Quicktime. Press ctrl+c. Open any photo program; paste; save. This will include interlacing, though, which is unavoidable with 60i. You can get rid of it using a few methods of interpolation, from simple vertical blur to a specific deinterlacing filter (there's on in photoshop if you have that). Alternatively, you could convert the video to progressive in the first place. Also, QT itself deinterlaces (though not with the best algorithm) by default [or you can turn this on in the video settings of movie properties, if it is off]; you could then take a screen capture [as it doesn't copy or export by default]. Note: There is also an export option, and you can choose "picture" [ie, frame], in QT, but only with the pro version.