capture still images from video - best tool

[jimspoon]

Looking for the best tool for capturing still images from video, mainly DV-AVI files, but other sources as well.

I like to scroll through a big video file, capture images to still image files along the way. What I need:

- big image window
- easy navigation through file with keyboard
- easy navigation to best frame
- fast forward / rewind through video - variable speeds - while maintaining sound
- direct save of frame to numbered image files

I've tried the following today: VirtualDub, Studio 8, Ulead VideoStudio, Video2Photo, Imagegrab, BSPlayer.

VirtualDub - has big window, good navigation, particularly left and right keys to pick exact frame. But I don't see a way to fast forward / reverse. I can move forward and back 50 frames at a time by pressing Alt+arrow, but this is too much. No direct save of image file - have to copy image to clipboard, then save in another program - I use Irfanview.

Pinnacle Studio - navigation is good. But window is too small. Audio is lost during fast forward/reverse.

BSPlayer - almost what I want, but no way to navigate frame by frame.

ImageGrab - no keyboard control for navigating to exact frame.

Video2Photo - jerky playback. Can't find any keyboard navigation.

So far the best solution for me is VirtualDub, because of the big window and the easy keyboard frame-by-frame navigation.

[reboot]

I doubt you'll find anything better than vdub.

[BrainStorm69]

I second reboot's comment. Also, you can save directly to file with vdub, or at least I can with vdubmod. I'm not at home right now, so I can't tell you the exact way to do it, but maybe later this evening I can do so.

[FulciLives]

Go with VirtualDubMod and copty paste to the clipboard then paste that into your image editing program be it PhotoShop or whatever.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[BrainStorm69]

To save the file directly in vdubmod, after you open the video file and stop at the frame you want, click on "video" on the menu bar, and then click on "Snapshot source frame" on the drop down menu. A dialog box then comes up to allow you to save directly to a file that you name yourself. There is a "save as type" option to save as a .tga file, a .bmp file, or a .png file.