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Take a Still Picture (Snapshot) from a Video Clip

Sometimes you need a picture but all you have is a video clip. For example, you forgot to charge your camera’s battery for the dance recital, and now all you have is a video of the event. But you really would like a picture to email to your family or to print for a scrapbook.

This tutorial shows you how to take a still picture from a video clip. Whatever is in the preview window can be captured as a still picture.




NOTES
The quality resolution of a still picture obtained this way is not as sharp as a still picture taken with a digital camera. For emailing and for adding into a movie, you may not notice the difference. You notice it the most if you need to print the picture in large size.

Homework

  • In the Collection pane, double click on a video to preview it.
  • Pause the video on an interesting spot.
  • Use the nudge buttons to get it to the precise spot.
  • Take a snapshot of the frame and save it into the folder My Pictures with a descriptive file name.

Leave A Comment

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Vic Avery Oct 2, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    Using “Windows Movie Maker” What is the step-by-step procedure to take a snapshot from a video for purposes of making a still picture?

  • 2 Myrtha Chang Oct 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    Hi Vic, taking a still picture from a video is very easy toi do with Windows Movie Maker.

    Step 1. Import the video clip into Windows Movie Maker.
    Step 2. Press the play button to play the video in the Preview window.
    Step 3. When you are at the scene you want, press Pause.
    Step 4. Under the Preview window is a little icon that looks like a camera. Click that icon.
    Step 5. A window will pop up asking you where you want to save the still image file.
    Hope that helps.
    Myrtha