capturing all frames as photos from a movie - Any ideas?!

[devdev]

Hi

not sure if this is right section but here we go:

From time time to time, I transfer video to dvd for people.

I use canopus advc 100 to avi then tmpg encoder and dvd burner software.

Someone is offering a a rival service against me whereby they are offering to provide a free of charge dvd of all the frame images extracted from a movie (either avi or mpeg2 i suppose)

How would they do this?? and with what software??

Any ideas would be appreciated guys!

[Supreme2k]

Since you're starting in AVI, you could use Virtualdub.

File-->Save image sequence

Actually, you can open the MPG2 in VirtualDubMod, same procedure.

[Tommyknocker]

Take your pick. WinDVD, PowerDVD, Virtual Dub mod. Which is your favorite and I will tell you how to do it.

[Heywould3]

this is possible but i dont remember the SW used. i was playing around with something a while back and had it extract all the frames as jpgs or gifs or what ever.. it might have be an anamation software.. but just do a search on google for frame extraction or avi/mpg to jpg.. youll find something..
GL

P.S. the sw mentioned in previous posts will work but manually at least thats the case with the dvd SW im pretty sure thats true for vdub etc also.. the sw i saw was automated. just one click and it made a folder ofthe whole movie in jpgs with numbers.

sorry im not more help but i know its possible. dont want you to loose business lol

[Supreme2k]

That's what Vdub does. You just have to make/specify the folder, just like any other Save function.

[BJ_M]

you can also do it with tmpgenc as an alternate


but a hour or two of video converted to even high compression jpgs will eat a LOT of room (trust me on this) and not fit on a dvd ..

that is where a nice feature of virtualdubmod comes in ... "decimate by X number"

there is no reason to save 108,000 frames of a hour long movie (in your case)

so you would save every 15th frame (7200 frames) is more than enough (really in most cases in what you want to offer - every 30th frame (3600 frames) would be fine)

[devdev]

crikey - that was quick. im impressed with that lot.

i have power dvd

[BJ_M]

you said you have tmpgenc , but virtualdubmod is the way to go really

[BJ_M]

power dvd will not help you much

[devdev]

okay - i've had a go with virtual dub but when i tried to open an avi file, it came up with this message:

Couldn't locate decompressor for dvsd (unknown).
VirtualDub requires a video (VFW) compatible codec to compress video. DirectShow Codecs such as those usedby Windows Media Player are not suitable.

Any suggestions?

[Tommyknocker]

okay - i've had a go with virtual dub but when i tried to open an avi file, it came up with this message:

Couldn't locate decompressor for dvsd (unknown).
VirtualDub requires a video (VFW) compatible codec to compress video. DirectShow Codecs such as those usedby Windows Media Player are not suitable.

Any suggestions?

This only means you need a DV codec. Use the Panasonic DV codec

[thecoalman]

but a hour or two of video converted to even high compression jpgs will eat a LOT of room (trust me on this) and not fit on a dvd ..

there is no reason to save 108,000 frames of a hour long movie (in your case)
)

8 gigs @ 75k per frame 2 DVD's full of low resolution interlaced images.

Ulead MSP will do that too. I would think any high-end editor would have that feature. I'd stick with Virtualdub unless you want to spend the dough.

How about a different gimmick such as the raw AVI capture for them to use as an archive. I'm slowly getting a digital business going and that is one of the things I'm considering offering. You could tell them about the better quality and that it's nearly identical to the original unlike the mpg. If you live near me you didn't hear that

[devdev]

but will virtual dub allow me to save say every 15 frames or so?

[fmctm1sw]

but will virtual dub allow me to save say every 15 frames or so?

If not, I believe avisynth will with the selectevery() command. I remember doing this at Christmas a few years ago. I had thousands of pictures.....

[BJ_M]

but will virtual dub allow me to save say every 15 frames or so?

yes it does -- like i said , use 'decimate' - look under frame rate tab for it

[devdev]

great - ta

bjm - ive tried offering avi but people dont seem interested. perhaps its the portability!

[djmattyb]

Do you have a link to the website of the person offering the service?

[Supreme2k]

Hopefully your competition is a real competitor, rather than an aquaintance trying to steal your customers.

Preface: I do some video conversion on the side (tape to DVD, photos to CD/DVD, etc) and some of my clients are from my wife's work.

One of my wife's friends from work (Fred) was over for dinner, and he seemed interested in the work that I was doing, supposedly from a spectator's point of view ("That's interesting!") About a week or so later, one of my clients, whose project I've almst finished, asks if it's okay that I stop and they cancel with me*. They say flat out that they've found someone at work who will do it cheaper, naming Fred. Less than 24 hours later, I get a call from Fred asking "What was that thing that I do? What was that program? Do you have a copy I can 'borrow'?" Seems that Fred bought a $25 USB "capture card" so that he could not only go into business for himself, but steal my customers to boot. After a nice "chat", Fred decided to pursue alternate avenues of supplemental income

I wouldn't have minded competition, but not from someone going at it half-assed by stealing my technique and hosing the customers.

Anyway, hope I'm not thread-jacking. Just relating a story of "competition". I have a brochure that showcases the quality of my work, which is much higher than the Walgreens and other local places offering my services.







*of course I didn't let them out, much to their benefit

[devdev]

great last post

1. i dont have link to competitors site but its irrelevant anyway since they dont publicise it on their site. they offer it on quoting (good idea!)

2. Re point on people stealing things - I hear you load and clear re mates nicking stuff. Rule no1. Never admit that your plan is working otherwise someone will watch you take all the risks and then whip it away from under your nose.

But I have personally found that where i can get some kinda human contact going on - i can normally sway it!

I like the pix from video thing and im gonna give it a go as long as i can get the one in 15 frames thing to work!

Cheers to you all