How to Take Pictures From Video: 8 Methods For PC, Mac, Android

Have you ever watched a captivating video and wished you could pluck out a perfect, high-quality photo from its frames? Sometimes, that ideal image seems trapped within the moving visuals, elusive and just out of reach. But fear not, for there are ways to extract that desired still photo without compromising on picture quality.

Sure, you could resort to capturing a screenshot, but depending on your computer’s capabilities and the video’s quality, the resulting image might fall short of your expectations. Luckily, there are free tools available that can help you achieve the desired outcome, offering a plethora of options you might not have even considered.

In this guide, we will embark on a journey to unravel the secrets of extracting high-quality photos from video files. From simple techniques to advanced tools, we will explore the methods that will empower you to capture those perfect moments frozen in time. So, come along as we delve into the realm of free tools and uncover the wonders they hold. Get ready to unlock the potential hidden within videos and transform them into stunning still images that will leave you in awe.

Get ready to seize that perfect shot, even when it’s buried within a video. Let us embark on this enlightening adventure together, where education meets storytelling, and the world of photography merges with the realm of moving images.

Key Takeaways

To capture a still image from a video, your options vary depending on the device you’re using.
On PC and Mac, you can use VLC Media Player to take a snapshot of a video frame.
Windows users can use the Snipping Tool or take a screenshot and crop the desired image.
Chrome users can utilize the Video Screenshot Extension to extract high-quality images.
Mac users have the built-in screenshot feature or can use the Safari screenshot extension to save frames.
iMovie on Mac allows you to extract a still image by pausing the video and going to Share => Image.
Android users can use dedicated apps or the screen capture function to save photos from videos.
iPhone users can use the Video to Photo app or take a screenshot of the paused video frame.
Kapwing is a web-based solution for extracting images from videos online by converting the video file format.

How to Take Pictures From Video: Your Options

If you’re looking to capture a still image from a video, there are a few choices to choose from. Your approach will vary depending on whether you’re using a PC, Mac, Android phone, or iPhone.

Take a screenshot with VLC Media Player(Mac and PC)

Open any video file in VLC
Go to the “Video” dropdown menu and select “Snapshot”
On Windows, this is Shift+S
On Mac, this is Command + Option + S

Capture a Picture from a Video on PC

This section will run through the most common ways to get the image you want from a video on a Windows PC.

1. Snipping Tool

In Windows 10 and 11, the built-in Snipping Tool does a great job of cutting a still image from the video you’re watching, so you don’t even need a third party app.

Open the start menu, search “Snipping Tool” and click the app
Pause your video at the point you would like to capture a picture
Click “new” in the Snipping Tool and drag the selection box over the still image you want

All done! Your picture will now save to a location of your choosing. In a future update of Windows 10, this Snipping Tool will be updated to a similar app called “Snip & Sketch”

Screenshot and Crop

At any time in Windows 10, you can hold down the Windows key + “print screen” to take a screenshot. If you then open this picture in the gallery app, you’ll be able to crop out the image you want from the still in your video.

Chrome

For Google Chrome, there are plenty of third party apps, but the Video Screenshot Extension allows you to quickly and easily get the picture you want from a video.

Simply install the extension through Chrome and click the new button that appears on your video. This will extract a high-quality image and save it to a location of your choosing.

Save a Still Picture from a Video on Mac

Your options for saving the frame you want from a video are a little different on a Mac, but they’re just as simple.

Screenshot

Mac users also have access to a handy built-in screenshot feature that does a great job of saving a still frame from a video.

Search the word “screenshot” in Spotlight and open the app
Click and drag the crop box over the frame you want in the video
Click “capture”

That’s it! Your frame can now be saved to a location of your choosing. Mac users can also press shift+control+5 to open this app at any time.

Extract a Video Frame With Safari

The Safari screenshot extension is a premium option for users to capture photo from a video on any pages they’re visiting.

Pause the video you want to capture a frame from
Click the safari extension to save a screenshot that includes your frame
Crop the captured image so it includes only the frame you want

You’re finished! Your frame is now saved and ready to go.

Capture an image with iMovie

Open iMovie and load your video file
Pause the video in iMovie at the frame you want to convert to a still
Open the File dropdown menu and go to Share => Image
Choose a file name and save it wherever you want

Android

If you need to save a photo from a video while using an Android phone, there are a few options available.

Android App

There are number of app options for saving a photo from a video. This app from the Play Store makes it quick and easy. Simply choose a video from your device that you’d like to save a photo from and in a few short taps, you’ll have the photo you need.

Open the app and choose a video from your phone
Decide whether you need a range of images or just one photo
Tap save

You now have the photo you wanted grabbed right from your video!

Screen Capture

Android phones come with a built-in screen capture function that can be used to save a still image from a video.

Hold down the power button and volume down button simultaneously to snap the frames you need. Use your phone’s image editor to crop out any unwanted elements from your screenshot.

iPhone

If you use an iPhone, there is a really neat nice third party app that you can use to capture an image from videos.

Video to Photo

Video to Photo is a free iOS app that automatically pulls videos from your camera roll into the app. Then you can save a single image from any frame in the video and the app will save the new image in the same resolution as the video.

Check it out here

Grab a screenshot

Newer iPhones have Retina displays, which means the native screen resolution is quite high. You can just take a screenshot on a paused video frame and you’ll still end up with a really decent photo.

Kapwing

What if the options above don’t quite cut it? There are several web-based solutions you can use to take photos from a video online. One great example is Kapwing. Kapwing is an online video converter that can change the file format of your video.

Navigate to the Kapwing video converter
Upload or paste a link to your video
Pause the video on your chosen frames, choose “JPEG” and click download

After following these steps, the video convertor will extract and grab an image from your video to be saved in a location of your choosing.

Kapwing is just one example of online video converters like this. Feel free to search around and find an option that works for you. Kapwing happens to have an easy-to-use UI and simple controls, but other sites are available.

Conclusion

As we reach the end of this article, we hope it has shed light on the simple yet powerful methods available for extracting the images you desire from online videos. The process is refreshingly easy, and with a mere screen grab, you can capture the content you need and unleash its potential.

It’s important to note that the specific options for image extraction may vary depending on the operating system you use. Whether you’re on a Mac or a Windows computer, both systems offer straightforward approaches to capturing images, albeit with slight differences. Always ensure that you have the necessary permissions to take images from the videos you’re working with, respecting the rights of content creators.

Now, armed with this newfound knowledge, you have the tools to extract those perfect images trapped within online videos. Let your creativity and imagination soar as you harness the power of visual storytelling. Embrace the freedom to capture moments, freeze time, and share your unique perspective with the world.

So go forth, explore the vast realm of online videos, and seize the images that speak to you. Unleash your creativity, for the possibilities are boundless. The right image is waiting, ready to be discovered.