best software to extract/capture still image from DVD

[baffy]

I was wondering what software this forum liked to extract or capture a frame from a DVD. Ideally it would capture at high resolutions and allow it to be saved in standard image formats such as JPEG or TIF.

I don't suspect it can be done directly from the DVD - I suspect that some steps are needed to rip the video first to get it into a format that can be edited and then extract as needed from there.

Many thanks any suggestions.

[ammck55]

Welcome to the forum:

Most software players have a single frame capture function. With Power DVD, IIRC, you simply hit the "C" key and it automatically sends the captured frame to whatever destination the preferences are set. A lot of the time the captured frame will be in .bmp format, but you can pull that up in any photo editor and convert.

That's just an example. Dig in the help files of your software player and see what you can come up with.

ammck55

[jggimi]

Additionally:[list=1]
DVDs do not have "high" resolution. They are either 720x480 if NTSC, or 720x576 if PAL.
DVDs do not have square pixels, like your PC does. You will have to resize the images (or your player will) to the correct Display Aspect Ratio.
DVDs have either a Display Aspect Ratio of 16:9, or of 4:3.
[/list=1] See Aspect Ratios Explained (http://www.doom9.org/aspectratios.htm) for more info.

[SallyDog]

i would highly recommend virtual dub since you can easily grab the specific frame(s) you're after.

[baffy]

ammck55 - My PowerDVD keeps freezing on this computer, I will try it on another. What about WinDVD?

Sallydog - I've downloaded virtual dub and it looks interesting, but it appears that I must rip the DVD first and get the video into an AVI or MPEG format, true? Additionally, which software do you like for this?

jggimi - thanks for reminding me about resolution

[ammck55]

The only time I recall Power DVD freezing was when I'd been doing screen cap's and had left the hardware accelerator turned off. Check this by: Rt-Click the desktop > Properties > Advanced > Troubleshoot, and re-set the hardware accelerator to "Full" if it's currently set to "None".

Here's the WinDVD capture directions straight from the help files:

WinDVD now allows users to capture a static image during movie playback. Press the "P" key at any time to capture a BMP file of a moving or static image. Capture does not work on zoomed regions and on some hardware motion compensation graphics chips. If you are having a problem, try disabling hardware motion compensation and capturing again.

Captured bitmaps are stored in the Capture subdirectory of the WinDVD directory on your hard drive. Captured files are numbered sequentially: cap001.bmp, cap002.bmp, and so on.

ammck55

[SallyDog]

Sallydog - I've downloaded virtual dub and it looks interesting, but it appears that I must rip the DVD first and get the video into an AVI or MPEG format, true? Additionally, which software do you like for this?

Use DVD Decrypter to rip first. For what you're trying to do, all you need is the vobs, which can be opened directly with vdub. You can rip everything from the entire dvd down to individual chapter(s), your choice.

[baptist]

Originally posted by ammck55
Welcome to the forum:

Most software players have a single frame capture function. With Power DVD, IIRC, you simply hit the "C" key and it automatically sends the captured frame to whatever destination the preferences are set. A lot of the time the captured frame will be in .bmp format, but you can pull that up in any photo editor and convert.

That's just an example. Dig in the help files of your software player and see what you can come up with.

ammck55

Is the 'captured frame' a screenshot or not? Sorry, what is 'IIRC'? I've got Power DVD installed.Thanks.

[SallyDog]

Originally posted by baptist
Is the 'captured frame' a screenshot or not? Sorry, what is 'IIRC'? I've got Power DVD installed.Thanks.

If I Remember Correctly (IIRC). Look here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30047) for more abbreviations.

[baffy]

The virtualDub is exactly what I needed. Thanks

[SallyDog]

Good, I'm glad you were successful.