video editing?

[sailor86]

I have a video file and I'd like to take a "still" from the video to show on the file icon. How can I accomplish this? I run Windows XP Home.

[Tinkerboy]

Have you tried just doing a print screen ?

[arraknid]

Have you tried just doing a print screen ?

That'll only work as long as there's no overlay present. You'll soon know because the screen will show as black in the PrintScreen capture. If it is black, in WMP, click on the Tools menu, then Options, and then click the Performance tab.

Next, click the Advanced button and, in the Video Acceleration area, clear the Use overlays check box.

[sailor86]

First of all, what's PrintScreen capture?

[MrDarn]

Print Screen capture is an utility whereby you are able to take a 'snapshot' of your computers screen exactly as it looks the moment you take the capture.

To do it, you need a picture editing program. luckily, Windows comes with one called 'paint'

Get the screen in such a way that the part you want 'captured' (or 'printed') is as you want it, then press the [Prt Sc] key once.

Then open your Paint program (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint) Select File > Paste.

Edit the picture as required, then save it.
(the picture will usually be displayed in the 'select all' mode, enabeling you to 'drag' the whole picture so the top left corner of the bit you want to save is in the top left of the screen, cutting the bits you dont want out.)

Voila!

Have a play with a few random screen prints before you go for the master, that way your mistakes wont matter

[sailor86]

Okay. I've got it down to where I can save it. I followed your directions to the point where the picture is in the top left corner. I tried hitting "save" and "save as" and the picture comes up black. I read where I need to adjust clicking on tools and so on but where do I find the tools button that I need? I tried various and they don't have "performance" as an option.

[MrDarn]

That'll only work as long as there's no overlay present. You'll soon know because the screen will show as black in the PrintScreen capture. If it is black, in WMP, click on the Tools menu, then Options, and then click the Performance tab.

Next, click the Advanced button and, in the Video Acceleration area, clear the Use overlays check box.

Try arraknids advice.....

[sailor86]

I fingered it out. All's ok on the western front. Thanks a bunch for the assist.

[sailor86]

Great. Now what if I have a 10-minute video and I want to edit it down to a 1 minute clip in order to email it, how do I do that?

[arraknid]

As you have XP, you have Windows Movie Maker which will enable you to edit your movie down to the size you want. It also has lots of special effects and transitions.

Just click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, Windows Movie Maker.