Screen-grabbing from a DVD

[James-Clarke]

Hi,

A client of mine has only a DVD for me to get images for her site from. It opens up in Windows Media Player and I am unable to get any screenshots from it when I use the Print Screen key (for legal reasons, I assume).

Does anybody know of any software I would be able to use to get any screenshots off the DVD, or any ideas of another resort I could go to?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

James

[Smokie]

Go into your options/preferences/whatever and turn off hardware acceleration. That'll force the picture to go through your CPU, so it'll get noticed by your screencap software.

[James-Clarke]

Thank you very much, Smokie!

[seemitch]

I have the same question! But Smokie, where is the options/preferences menu you mentioned to turn off hardware acceleration? In Windows Media Player? Or under the Control Panel somewhere?

Thanks!

[Smokie]

Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.

In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab, and then click the Advanced button.

Click the Troubleshoot tab, and then choose the desired level of hardware acceleration.

[DrRedSkwirrell]

Some friends of mine have a nice compact screenshot prog if it's any use.
Works like the 'prntscn' key but you can use as many times as you like instead of just once.
Saves all files as bmp's which you can convert within the prog to jpg's, if you want to.
Obviously, you can still work with the images in PhotoShop or whatever to edit / trim, etc.
It's completely free; No ad's, no strings.
It is owned and copyrighted (in case some brightspark tries to flog it as their own).
It default directs to 'Paint' and it's an old prog now so you need to re-define the address XP uses for Paint (if you're using XP), but that's simple enough to do and I can post an easy instruction for it.
I could post a link to the prog here (if I'm allowed) or via message (which I'm assured is allowed)

[Webforumz Staff]

Just post the link! If you ever do anything wrong, then we'll let you know.

If you're really that unsure, then read our posting rules and guidelines (link in my signature).

[DrRedSkwirrell]

Thx Sirkent, I read through 'em and still not sure. Din't want to upset anyone on my 1st days.

Anyway, it's called the EURO Screenshot Tool. You can get it here; http://www.euro-downloads.com/ss2.zip

After you've installed it, you'll need to re-direct it towards Paint (if you're using XP or later).
Open the prog and select the options button. Enter "C:\WINDOWS\system32\mspaint.exe".
This is the XP default location so alter it if yours is not in the default location.

"BMP Explorer" will open the folder where the image is stored as a bmp. By selecting an image and "Make" jpg, then clicking bmp or jpg at the top you can toggle the two formats. I seem to remember the default compression is 70% which I increased to 100% on my copy. This files are still quite small once you've chopped them.[/url]

Screenshots are saved directly to disk, not memory, so it's light on resources as well which is handy for movies etc. It's activated by use of the PrntScn key which bypasses the clipboard while the prog's running.

[Odd Ball]

Hi, this is my first post here.

I've been trying to capture some stills off a DVD film using the Euro screen saver tool. All I get is a black screen. Tried turning off overlays in media player but this makes no difference. Tried turning off hardware acceleration but the DVD would not play. Resorted to downloading Snagit but again no luck. What I need is to capture some stills foff the DVD for my website with the minimum of fuss. Can anyone please help? Spent about four hours fafin about so far!

Thanks, I feel a bit of a !

[moojoo]

Open it with VLC cause it is better than media player anyway =P. Alternately couldn't you just "Explore" the DVD?

[Ryan Fait]

The DVD player in OS X just flat out won't let you take screenshots while it's open. It's highly irksome.

[Daniel]

Wouldnt this be breaking copyright laws?

[Ryan Fait]

Well, even if the program is in the background and I want to take a screenshot of my browser or something else, it won't let me.

[snow]

I guess it depends what DVD it is, and what your purposes are - but surely capturing stills from a film shouldn't be a problem?

I know for my Sister's wedding DVD the videographer held the copyright, but we took stills from it using InterVideo WinDVD (it had the same problem with capturing black screens) so she could put them on her bebo site! I'm sure no one could object to that useage... As I say - situation dependant.

[moojoo]

Like I said, Mac or Windows use VLC

Alternately on OS X this may work for. Type this in the terminal screencapture -i ~/Desktop/dvd.png

[Ryan Fait]

Haha. I don't like VLC. It "squares out" way to much for my pleasant viewing. QuickTime is much better for regular video as well.

[moojoo]

So then use the terminal, Grab may still work, I know Snapz Pro does and quit complaining like a little girl =P.

[Ryan Fait]

Haha. I had the trial of Snapz Pro. It sucks though

[JacobHaug]

Try Snagit 8.2. Really good program and pretty cheap too, you could always use the trial and get what you need, or buy it if you think you will use it a lot.