How do I convert mini-dv footage into a nice print?

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Hi Everyone,

I went to a Bonsai show yesterday aftrenoon,did a lot of filming (which fortunately turned out reasonably well) and am asking for help in how to turn several individual frames into tiffs (or high quality jpegs) that are suitable for prints.I know one of the limitations is the frame size is only 720 by 480.Is this good enough to get a nice standard 4 by 6 print down at the local CVS?

What process and programs would I need to accomplish this objective please?

Any input is welcome as I didn't have enough time to shoot dv video and take stills.

Thanks,
Bruce

[redwudz]

I use VirtualDub Mod. You may need to add a DV codec to open the video after you have transferred it to the computer from the camera. The Panasonic DV codec would work.

Then in VDM, you can 'snapshot' the frame in .tga, .bmp or .png format. Or you can copy it to the clipboard and use other formats to save it in. VDM will let you step through the video frame by frame with the arrow keys. It should print fairly good to a 4 x 6 size. You can also use a graphics editor to make some adjustments. I use Photoshop, but there are freeware alternatives like The Gimp: http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

[SingSing]

You should check whether your DVcam can transfer a still frame from the video into the picture card aka SD card ? My DVcam can do just that.

[mats.hogberg]

the frame size is only 720 by 480.Is this good enough

May do, but it all depends on your expectations. First, you'll have to resize to the proper AR, and then - face it, it will be far from what you've come to expect from todays 8 megapixel cameras.

/Mats

[Canon GL-2 Guy]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your input thus far.

I'm definitely don't expect anything close to what a digi cam would yield in regards to quality but would accept it for what it is!Wel.at least it's something....

As far as the converting to the proper aspect ratio (AR) goes,how is that done?
What is the size of a "4 by 6" print in pixels?I resize from 720 by 480 to what?

Any further help in unraveling this would be greatly appreciated.

Bruce

[redwudz]

I think 720 X 480 pixels is the same aspect ratio as 6 X 4 inches. You can let your graphics editor do the resize to the final print size. Keep the prints small like that and that should cover most of the video 'imperfections'. You may also be able to apply some color correction, contrast or brightness and some 'noise' filtering to clean them up if needed.

[mats.hogberg]

I think 720 X 480 pixels is the same aspect ratio as 6 X 4 inches.

Ah - quite right. But the DV is 4:3, so should be resized to 720x540. Then you either have to:
cut some (60 pixels total) off top and/or bottom
or
add some "pillars" left & right (45 pixels both left and right)
add to make it 3:2 AR.

/Mats