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Level 1

8 points

How to capture a Still frame from Imovie 11

I have read that this cannot be done. What I have noticed in the upgrade is this

1) I can still use the ctrl - click method and reveal in finder in video captured before version 11

2) With V11 I can can still control -click in the event library and choose
*add still from to project*

3) This will get it in the project window

4) I can then sometimes get the ctrl-click to work on the still in the project window and chose
*reveal in finder*

5) But i only see the clip in the finder window and cannot save or export it out as a JPEG or TIFF

Can this not be done period on version 11?

Imac, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Dec 25, 2010 1:16 PM

28 replies

Dec 26, 2010 10:28 PM in response to Ziatron

What is a "Snowy OS"?

Not "Frosty The Snowman" but "Snow Leopard" 🙂

John

PS Sorry, didn't see Lorna's reply until after I had posted!

Message was edited by: John Cogdell - added PS

Dec 26, 2010 10:34 PM in response to Lorna from Hawaii

Thanks for the link Lorna, and sorry about repeating your Snowy explanation - just missed the second page of postings!

John

Dec 27, 2010 10:16 AM in response to Lorna from Hawaii

John,

A good friend of mine who is savvier than I am about such things says that she ditched Skitch after she discovered the (she says) far more flexible, far superior app called VOILA. I am downloading Voila right now so I can compare, but if my friend says that it's better, I am inclined to believer her.
Here is the URL that I found for VOILA. http://www.globaldelight.com/voila/voila_download.php

At any rate, both would be far superior to Grab, because Grab does not go beyond just "selecting."

=Lorna

Dec 27, 2010 8:44 PM in response to Lorna from Hawaii

John and everyone: I downloaded that VOILA program and it really looks good -- better than Skitch, which I earlier recommended. Here is a URL to click to see a short video on what VOILA can do. It's quite a powerful little program. http://www.globaldelight.com/voila/voila_download.php

And no, I am not associated or affiliated with the makers of Voila! I just want to share good things when I find them. So many people here have helped me. It's on trial now and if I buy it before Dec. 21 there is a 25% discount. I know that I will buy it.

--Lorna

Dec 27, 2010 8:56 PM in response to Lorna from Hawaii

Mpeg streamclip should give you the maximum quality available.

Dec 27, 2010 10:40 PM in response to Lorna from Hawaii

I downloaded that VOILA program and it really looks good -- better than Skitch, which I earlier recommended.

Thanks for the information on Voila Lorna. I have looked at that program previously. Both Skitch and Voila do more than I really need as far as capturing stills from video is concerned. As AppleMan1958 mentioned, top quality stills can be captured using the free program MPEG Streamclip. I mainly use screen grabs - not using Grab, but just the key combo I mentioned earlier (Command>Shift>4), which is one of the Grab shortcuts.

Just a quick mention on your link for Voila. The link takes you to a page that triggers an automatic download of the program - probably not a good idea for most of us here! For those interested in having a look at Voila, here's a link to the product page (this won't trigger a download): http://www.globaldelight.com/voila/voila_overview.html

Thanks again for your helpful suggestions Lorna.

John

Dec 27, 2010 10:45 PM in response to John Cogdell

Yes, I found that out too, when I went to the website to purchase my copy.. +and another download began in spite of me not clicking download.+ And I already had actually more than one copy on my desktop while I was practicing with it and watching the video.

I use Skitch and will use Voila in a zillion ways. I use Skitch every day. Each and every day! (Though not on iMovie.)

~~Lorna

Dec 27, 2010 10:53 PM in response to Lorna from Hawaii

I use Skitch every day. Each and every day! (Though not on iMovie.)

Your needs are clearly different to mine! I can see where these programs could be very useful, with their extra features over and above screen capture. I will keep them in mind if I find I have a need for them. Thanks again Lorna.

John

Feb 7, 2011 3:01 PM in response to John Cogdell

Here are some rough notes on what has worked for me:

*From event window*
- Position to the frame you want using left/right arrow keys
- Control click to 'Add Still Frame to Project'. The preview in the project window may not appear to match the desired frame but you have actually get 4 secs worth of the desired frame (with a bit of Burns effect). It is added to the end of the project

*From project window*
- Position to the frame you want using left/right arrow keys
- Control click to 'Add Freeze Frame'. The preview in the project window may not appear to match the desired frame but you have actually get 4 secs worth of the desired frame. This clip is inserted as a new clip, splitting the original clip.

- Now, to speed things up, delete all other clips in the project window and trim your frozen clip from 4 sec to be be say 0.2 sec.
- In Share menu select 'Export to Quicktime....'
- In Export drop down select 'Movie to Image Sequence'
- Type in a meaningful base file name in the Save As dialog
- Select options of your choosing. I like .PNG. Interlacing seemed to make no difference on my AVCHD video. I got 960*540 either way
- Type Save

You will end up with a bunch of image files, eg base_name 000.png, base_name 001.png, base_name 001.png, etc

Likely there are improvements to this procedure. But, it got the job done.

This should not be so difficult. I fear for Apple if they keep going down this route with crap like this and Quicktime X (which is a disaster)

Jun 4, 2011 10:43 PM in response to kentga54

Not sure if you figured it out, but in iMovie 11 when you import video it creates Event folders. Locate the event folder containing the video from which you wish to grab stills. Drop the movie file into MPEG Streamclip, move the playhead to the still you want then under File do Export Frame or Option+Command F. Choose your quality and file type and save it where you want it. iMovie 11 does not need to be open.

misso1

Level 1

0 points

Jan 4, 2013 5:17 PM in response to kentga54

Moving Stills from iMovie to iPhoto.

1. Create a New Project in iMovie

2. Select the frame(s) from which you want to extract the still.

3. Control-click and select > Add still frame to project

4. In File > Project Properties > Initial Photo Placement > Fit in Frame: Initial Video Placement > crop. (You might also have to reduce the clip duration to the minimum.).

5. Share Project > Export Movie > Quick Time Movie (select a location)

6. Go to the Location in Finder. Drag the pic to iPhoto.

Hey presto! An editable still in iPhoto. Worked for me.

Ionexch

Level 1

0 points

Feb 8, 2013 2:10 AM in response to misso1

I tried the streamclip suggestion and it worked but despite selecting high quality picture and then manually inputting a high picture resolution I was disappointed by the picture quality

What I now do is move multiple small clips from the event to the project window (the ones I have selected as having good stills) Then export the project to a HD movie format and open it with VLC media player

Then pause the film at the still and right click mouse,selecting snapshot.Works fine and quality excellent

You only get the stills you want (in png format that are easily used to create a photo book or share etc)

Why do Apple release new versions of software like iMovie that require us to jump through hoops to perform pretty standard tasks that older versions handled?

Apr 1, 2013 6:25 PM in response to AppleMan1958

One can also create a still in the project, and play it back in fullscreen. Then, press Shift + Command + 3 to capture a screenshot.

It will be saved as a .png file, but can then be converted to .jpg in a variety of ways. Some cropping may be necessary, but I find it to be the easiest method.

How to capture a Still frame from Imovie 11