Screenshot of Quicktime movies...

spineblaZe · 20th Nov 2003, 06:25 PM

Why can't I do it? When I take a screenshot, the spot where the movie is supposed to be is blank... I've tried paint and photoshop, same results...

hyrulian · 20th Nov 2003, 10:22 PM

Before I get to the solution, I'll explain a bit first about what's going on. Many media playing programs (including Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, QuickTime) and TV Tuner programs use a feature of the video card known as "hardware overlay." The video window is painted a solid color in Windows (usually a very dark red) and the video card driver/hardware "overlay" the video image over that solid color. So the result is, you see a video image, but as far as Windows screen capturing is concerned, it's just a window with a solid color, just as Windows made it.

Only one program can use the video overlay at a time. This is what makes it easy to get around this problem. First, make sure all your media-playing programs are closed. If you have a TV Tuner in your computer, start the TV program. This is the easiest way to make sure the video overlay is already occupied. If you don't, open Windows Media Player, start playing a video file, then pause (not stop) it. Now, when you open your QuickTime movie, because the video overlay is already in use, it will have to draw in software directly onto the window. This will allow you to capture the video image using any normal means.

If this doesn't work, go to "Control Panel" -> "QuickTime" and choose "Video Settings" in the drop box. Click the "Safe Mode (GDI Only)" option, and click OK. This will disable all hardware acceleration for QuickTime video playback and force software-only drawing. You shouldn't use this method unless you have to, though, because this method will significantly reduce your QuickTime playback performance.

Hope this helps!

spineblaZe · 21st Nov 2003, 01:24 AM

OMFG H.H. j00 HOT LETS SEX

Worked like a charm, you're my hero!!!

missPoopShoot · 4th Dec 2003, 06:57 AM

... or, go to the edit menu in Quciktime, use the "Copy" function, and then "Paste" the capture into a new Photoshop document...

that works too.

Just tried it on a mac and it was fine anyway...

Useful tip for other programs that don't have a copy paste functionality though HH

Thanks

Zur · 4th Dec 2003, 07:53 AM

http://www.fraps.com/

Fraps allows you to capture pictures or videos that are painted in overlays

.

20th Nov 2003, 06:25 PM	#1
spineblaZe VFX Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr. 8th, 2003 Location: MN Posts: 2,420	Screenshot of Quicktime movies... Why can't I do it? When I take a screenshot, the spot where the movie is supposed to be is blank... I've tried paint and photoshop, same results...

20th Nov 2003, 10:22 PM	#2
hyrulian Rainbow Brite Join Date: May. 20th, 2001 Location: Chula Vista, CA Posts: 9,545	Before I get to the solution, I'll explain a bit first about what's going on. Many media playing programs (including Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, QuickTime) and TV Tuner programs use a feature of the video card known as "hardware overlay." The video window is painted a solid color in Windows (usually a very dark red) and the video card driver/hardware "overlay" the video image over that solid color. So the result is, you see a video image, but as far as Windows screen capturing is concerned, it's just a window with a solid color, just as Windows made it. Only one program can use the video overlay at a time. This is what makes it easy to get around this problem. First, make sure all your media-playing programs are closed. If you have a TV Tuner in your computer, start the TV program. This is the easiest way to make sure the video overlay is already occupied. If you don't, open Windows Media Player, start playing a video file, then pause (not stop) it. Now, when you open your QuickTime movie, because the video overlay is already in use, it will have to draw in software directly onto the window. This will allow you to capture the video image using any normal means. If this doesn't work, go to "Control Panel" -> "QuickTime" and choose "Video Settings" in the drop box. Click the "Safe Mode (GDI Only)" option, and click OK. This will disable all hardware acceleration for QuickTime video playback and force software-only drawing. You shouldn't use this method unless you have to, though, because this method will significantly reduce your QuickTime playback performance. Hope this helps! __________________ My Profiles: Facebook :: MySpace :: Steam My Photo Album :: FragBU Community Wiki :: IRC Quotes

21st Nov 2003, 01:24 AM	#3
spineblaZe VFX Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr. 8th, 2003 Location: MN Posts: 2,420	OMFG H.H. j00 HOT LETS SEX Worked like a charm, you're my hero!!! Last edited by spineblaZe; 21st Nov 2003 at 01:25 AM.

4th Dec 2003, 07:53 AM	#5
Zur surrealistic mad cow Join Date: Jul. 8th, 2002 Posts: 11,319	http://www.fraps.com/ Fraps allows you to capture pictures or videos that are painted in overlays . __________________

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4th Dec 2003, 06:57 AM	#4
missPoopShoot voodoo rage Join Date: Jul. 13th, 2003 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,337	... or, go to the edit menu in Quciktime, use the "Copy" function, and then "Paste" the capture into a new Photoshop document... that works too. Just tried it on a mac and it was fine anyway... Useful tip for other programs that don't have a copy paste functionality though HH Thanks