Another forum hymen popped

[duzzit_madder]

When people upload or link up their still images of the footage they shoot, how do you do that without resorting to making the footage a graphic image file like a .bmp or a .jpg .png and so on?

[Mal]

Not sure I understand.
Please elaborate...

[duzzit_madder]

A lot of people go out and tape HD footage and instead of throwing the very large uncompressed video on the Internet they take a frame's worth so you can see the picture quality.

How do you do that without letting the computer compress the image?

[Mal]

Most NLE's have this feature built in; normally called "SNAPSHOT" or "STILL EXTRACTION" or some such.
Saving would be done in PNG or BMP or JPG. Also, if it's interlaced footage, the pic needs to be saved with DEINTERLACING.
Quicktime I think can do this also, but might need the PRO version, not sure.

[duzzit_madder]

You're a Vegas guy aren't you Mal? The preview window has a "Copy Snapshot to Clipboard" button is that the one?

[Mal]

Yes, THAT'S the one! Just open an "image manipulating software" like Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, or the free XNview, and select PASTE AS NEW IMAGE or IMPORT CLIPBOARD, then save to whatever format you like.

(and yeah, Vegas here....)

[duzzit_madder]

save to whatever format you likeIsn't this where the software takes over and compresses the image? Is there a way to do it losslessly?

[Mal]

Isn't this where the software takes over and compresses the image? Is there a way to do it losslessly?

BMP is completely lossless, as each pixel is identified with its color and luminocity, and with JPG you can choose degree of compression when you save (1% to 100%).
BMPs naturally have quite high file sizes.

[duzzit_madder]

I'll give it try, thanks Mal!