# Capturing a still image from a .wmv file?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capturing-a-still-image-from-a-wmv-file/203921>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 26, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capturing-a-still-image-from-a-wmv-file/203921 "2003-09-26T06:00:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capturing-a-still-image-from-a-wmv-file/203921/1 "2003-09-26T06:00:50Z")

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I Googled this but after several tries with nothing but video editing software hits, I decided to see if the Dopers can help me.

Here’s the deal: there is a very cool video (in .wmv format) of a Spitfire flying over a news reporter. LOW. I mean crazy, I wish I had the cojones to fly that low kind of low.

It’s located [here.](http://members.shaw.ca/uberjumper/images/video/spitfirelowpass.wmv)

I have several friends that for various reasons (living in a 26.6 only dial-up area, owning an old Mac, etc) cannot view this video. I would like to be able to capture one frame from this video and send it to them as a .jpg or some other commonly used file type.

I have the .wmv file saved on my hard drive - I can play it, freeze frame it, etc. Is there any way to capture an individual frame and send it along to someone else? Or must I invest in an entire video editing suite to accomplish this one task?

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capturing-a-still-image-from-a-wmv-file/203921/2 "2003-09-26T06:13:36Z")

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You can capture the current screen using the **Print Screen** button on your keyboard (above \*_Insert_ and next to **F12** ). However, you’ll have to disable hardware acceleration for your video player for it to work correctly. For Windows Media Player, go to _Tools-\>Options_, select the _Performance_ tab, and set the _Video Acceleration_ slider to None.

Then just pause the video at the image you want, hit **Print Screen** , and paste into your image editor of choice.

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capturing-a-still-image-from-a-wmv-file/203921/3 "2003-09-26T06:16:07Z")

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Now if there were just a **Fix Coding** button somewhere on my keyboard, I’d be all set.

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**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capturing-a-still-image-from-a-wmv-file/203921/4 "2003-09-26T07:18:17Z")

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**Joe Random** thanks…that worked like a charm!