MacMost Q&A Forum • View All Forum QuestionsAsk a Question

How Do I Get a Still Shot From iMovie?

I am trying to get a jpeg or png shot from a video clip in iMovie and then copy or drag it to the desktop for use in another program. Is this possible? I tried right-clicking and adding a still frame, but I cannot seem to copy or drag it elsewhere.
—–
Jean

Comments: 21 Responses to “How Do I Get a Still Shot From iMovie?”

    12 years ago

    Doing it in iMovie isn't easy. But it is easy from QuickTime X. So go back to the original source video. You can control+click on the clip in the event, and choose Reveal in Finder. Then open that file in QuickTime X.
    Then find the frame you want. You can use the arrow keys to get it exact. Then simply copy with Edit, Copy (Command+C). You can now paste it in any image editing program. Even use Preview if you like. Then export from there in the format you want.

      Jean
      12 years ago

      Thank you. By Quicktime X do you mean Quicktime Player or is X a different app that I need to acquire?

        12 years ago

        QuickTime Player, yes.

        Jean
        12 years ago

        Ok, I got it! I created a new project in iMovie with the small clip then Share/Export using Quicktime/Movie to Image Sequence. I then retrieved my chosen image from those that were exported. Thanks for setting me in the right direction.

          12 years ago

          Once you are in QuickTime Player, just Command+C and you have a copy of the current frame. No need to export into am image sequence.

      Michel
      11 years ago

      What if the command c option isn't highlighted when you go to do it? I can't seem to copy the frame in either program.
      any ideas?

        11 years ago

        It will only work in QuickTime Player. And only in a recent version (Lion or Mountain Lion).

    Jean
    12 years ago

    Thank you.

    Kate
    12 years ago

    After command+c, where do I retrieve the image? Or where do I paste it to make a jpeg? Thanks for the help!

      12 years ago

      Any image editing program (Photoshop, Seashore, SketchBook, etc) or any app that uses images (Word, Pages, etc). You can also use Preview (Choose New, From Clipboard).

    Twyla
    12 years ago

    Gary, thanks so much for info. I left my camera in video mode when I had planned for stills of the first day of school. You info has been a lifesaver.

    Deb
    11 years ago

    Where do I retrieve the image after command c? I do know where it goes?

      11 years ago

      Command+C is the universal command for copy. It copies the contents to the buffer. So you would go somewhere else that can accept the contents (in this case an image editing program) and use Command+V to paste.

        Deb
        11 years ago

        Thank you for the advise......I'll try it. I'm technically challenged!

        Deb
        11 years ago

        Sorry, but what's and where do I find the buffer?

          11 years ago

          Don't worry about where it is, just know that you copy and paste from the buffer. Just like with text on a word processor, but in this case it is an image instead of text.

    Deb
    11 years ago

    I can hear it copy, but I haven't been able to paste anywhere.......BTW, I'm not of the computer generation :-(

      11 years ago

      You'll need to use an image editing program to paste them into. Perhaps you can get help from someone who can walk you through it in person?

        Deb
        11 years ago

        OK time to go to the Apple Store :-)

    kimberlie
    11 years ago

    Ok Gary, i am following your instructions. I have movie in Quicktime and arrow to the right frame by frame. once i got to the frame i want to turn into a still image i copied then opened adobe photoshop and that is where I get stuck. No way to paste once there. if I go to edit, i can't click on paste and command v doesn't work. Help

      11 years ago

      Do you have a document open? You need to be working in a document to be able to paste something. Create a new document -- File, New. I think Photoshop may even size the new document to fit the clipboard.

Comments Closed.