how can I convert MP4 files to image files e.g., JPG: My camera somehow got set on taking videos when I was out in a photography class so all the photos I took showed up as MP4 files.

marthadp

My camera somehow got set on taking videos when I was out in a photography class so all the photos I took showed up as MP4 files. Does anyone know how I can convert those files back to image files? I've searched the internet to no avail. Thanks in advance.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

It is often called "frame grabbing". Common software like Lightroom does it. All video editing software like Adobe Premier Elements does it. Video viewing software like VLC does it. I've not tried the Windows or Apple software, but I think it does too.

What software do you have?

Phreedom Loc: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

marthadp wrote:

My camera somehow got set on taking videos when I was out in a photography class so all the photos I took showed up as MP4 files. Does anyone know how I can convert those files back to image files? I've searched the internet to no avail. Thanks in advance.

Google "convert video to jpg images" to find numerous programs for doing what you want. Many allow you to do it, for free, online.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I second downloading the free VLC media player. It will play your mp4 video, allow you to stop at the frame you want, then take a snapshot of that frame, giving you a jpg image. Bear in mind that unless you are shooting 4K video, the frames of a video will be at much lower resolution than still pics. If you are shooting video at the highest HD resolution of 1920 x1080, you will get a jpg image approximately 2MP in size.

marthadp

I have Photoshop CC 2015.5, ON1, NIK - Windows 7 64 bit..

bsprague wrote:

It is often called "frame grabbing". Common software like Lightroom does it. All video editing software like Adobe Premier Elements does it. Video viewing software like VLC does it. I've not tried the Windows or Apple software, but I think it does too.

What software do you have?

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Bobspez wrote:

I second downloading the free VLC media player. It will play your mp4 video, allow you to stop at the frame you want, then take a snapshot of that frame, giving you a jpg image. Bear in mind that unless you are shooting 4K video, the frames of a video will be at much lower resolution than still pics. If you are shooting video at the highest HD resolution of 1920 x1080, you will get a jpg image approximately 2MP in size.

I agree. VLC is very useful, and that with your cameras (a Nikon P600 or Panasonic DMC-ZS100) it is most likely that you will be limited to 1980 x 1024 resolution at best, unless the Panasonic camera was set to 4K which it appears to support. It will be a bit of work to extract still images, so only the OP can decide whether it is worth the effort.

I have no idea which video applications support 4K video. It looks like VLC may, but might need a few configuration tricks. It may also depend on the age / performance of the computer. Perhaps some of our video oriented contributors can address that.

Good luck to Martha

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

marthadp wrote:

I have Photoshop CC 2015.5, ON1, NIK - Windows 7 64 bit..

If you have the CC, you can have Lightroom where I think it is slightly more intuitive. With Photoshop, you open the video file, "scrub" or slide to the frame you want and do a File > Save As... then pick a format like JPG.

Short demo video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIQzPGfBhWU (Done on an Apple, so the Save As screen is a little different on a PC).

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Martha,

Did it work?

marthadp

Yes - it worked beautifully! Thank you so very much!! I have been so frustrated over this - particularly since the photos were part of a photography class - I even went to a photography store today & asked about it & was told it wasn't possible to convert the videos to images... Thank you!

bsprague wrote:

If you have the CC, you can have Lightroom where I think it is slightly more intuitive. With Photoshop, you open the video file, "scrub" or slide to the frame you want and do a File > Save As... then pick a format like JPG.

Short demo video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIQzPGfBhWU (Done on an Apple, so the Save As screen is a little different on a PC).