Frame grab
Also known as: frame capture, still from video, video still
A still image pulled from a single frame of video. High-resolution recording makes frame grabs sharp enough for social posts and even prints.
Updated
What it means
Every video is a sequence of still frames. A frame grab saves one of them as a photo. With modern cameras recording 4K, 5.3K or more, a single frame contains enough detail for a social media post, a thumbnail or a modest print.
Many action camera apps include a tool to scrub through a clip and export a frame. Editing software can do the same, and some cameras record in a special mode tuned for frame grabs, with higher resolution and a faster shutter.
It is often more reliable than trying to take a photo at the exact right moment, especially for fast action.
How it works in practice
For sharp frame grabs, use a fast shutter speed so each frame is frozen without motion blur, plenty of light, and the highest resolution your camera offers. A tall 4:3 or 8:7 mode gives more framing options for vertical images.
Frame grabs are ideal for thumbnails, cover photos and sequence images. Scrub frame by frame around the peak of a jump to find the best body position and the cleanest background.
For maximum quality, some photographers prefer burst mode instead, but frame grabs from video never miss the moment between shots.
What to watch out for
Video settings tuned for smooth motion, with a slower shutter for natural blur, produce soft frame grabs. You cannot have perfectly cinematic motion and perfectly sharp stills from the same clip.
Compressed video frames show artifacts and noise that are invisible in motion but obvious in a still. Use a high bitrate setting and good light.
Grabs from heavily stabilized footage may look slightly warped at the edges. Check the edges of the frame before posting, and crop slightly if lines bend near the corners. For prints, test the size first, since a frame that looks great on a phone may look soft when enlarged.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip delivers your highlight as 4K and 1080p video, and the 4K file is a good source for frame grabs of your best moments. Upload high-quality originals, and the AI builds your highlight.