OT: Computer Software

[The Sushi Hunter]

I was playing a DVD on my computer and wanted to "extract" photos from it. So when I'm playing the video in the computer, it's crystal clear and all but when I pause it, it looks a little bit distorted. And when I do a screenshot of the frame that's paused, it looks just the same....distorted.

Does anyone know if there is a special kind of software program that I can use to get nice sharp images off of video? Thanks

[Don]

Doesn't Windows movie maker split it into individual frames? Try that first as it's free.

[Sarah]

DVDs don't take screencaps the same way AVI/MPGs do so I doubt Windows Movie Maker would work... what's the program you're using to capture, Sushi?

[Don]

Check out this link. It might offer a little help.

http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/11/capt ... ndows.html

[The Sushi Hunter]

DVDs don't take screencaps the same way AVI/MPGs do so I doubt Windows Movie Maker would work... what's the program you're using to capture, Sushi?

How would I be able to convert to MPG format? The DVDs I am working with were recorded from a VHS plugged into my Panasonic DVD burner. So the computer only comes into the picture when I'm playing those DVD's and attempt to do a screenshot while it's on pause.

The screenshot software that I am using, I'm unsure what it is, it's some generic software that came already in the computer I'm using.

Thanks.

[Sarah]

Well... if it's copied from a VHS it's not going to be crystal clear anyway... I can't quite see how 'bad' they are because you sized them so small, can you just link me to a bigger one?

My guess is that you're about as good as you can get, though. Maybe you can try the step forward/back on your DVD player to edge it slightly and get a better frame...

[The Sushi Hunter]

The thing that gets me confused is the fact that when I watch them on a large screen tv, the video is supurb in all aspects. But if I want to screenshot a specific frame on my computer, the image that I capture is not as clear on the computer screen as it was on the large TV screen. So what gives? The image I get on the computer is many times smaller then on the TV, yet the one on the tv is many times clearer. I would think it's the other way around, but I guess I'm wrong. So my next attempt would be to get some sort of computer program that is designed to take screenshots from video, and do so without loosing or distorting any of the quality.

[csiako]

try to do the screenshot without pausing
can you link the screenshot so we can see the problem?