The original query had to do with capturing from VHS.

On a Mac the easiest method is as follows:

1. Connect the vcr (preferably a high-end machine to ensure optimum
picture quality) to a mini-dv camcorder with an analogue-to-digital
converter (most new camcorders have this as a standard feature)

2. Plug the camcorder into the Mac via firewire

3. Capture video footage with iMovie (free program). Others may recommend
Final Cut Pro or Express, but iMovie is sufficient.

4. Once captured, find the desired frame and same as an image file. Or,
output as a full-quality video file, open in Quicktime, and save image
(TIFF format for example) through Quicktime (the Quicktime option may be
necessary as iMovie -- if my memory is right -- only allows you to save
low-quality images. You definitely want to have the highest resolution at
all times)

5. Chances are the image will be interlaced, in which case Adobe Photoshop
can be used to de-interlace the image, do colour-correction or other
necessary tweaks

An earlier recommendation to convert to dvd first is not recommended as
dvd is a compression format and you want to maintain a high-quality file
throughout.

dw

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Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite
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