Topaz MomentComments on:

By: stradyg7

stradyg7 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:25:42 +0000

This program seems great, I missed the boat though, came one day late..can someone help me out…dont want to pay 40$, yes call me cheap.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:29:37 +0000

Thanks for the kind words and enjoy the free software!

Remember, if you have any difficulty with installing or using Topaz Moment don’t hesitate to email us at support[at]topazlabs.com like many others have done – it doesn’t matter if you got it for free, we’ll still give prompt technical support.

Here’s some solutions for a few problems that you’ve listed:
1. If Windows Media Player can play your video but Topaz Moment can’t, go to Options->Internal Filters in Topaz Moment and uncheck every item in both Source Filters and Transform Filters. Then restart Topaz Moment and try again.

2. If you can’t play your video in either Windows Media Player or Topaz Moment, you might need a codec. http://www.freecodecs.com has the K-Lite Codec Pack which we recommend, however, it’s an external package and we take no responsibility for its contents. Also, if installing K-lite doesn’t work, try updating Realplayer and Quicktime to their latest versions.

3. Vectored Faces: Try reducing the default Sharpness setting (it’s set a bit high on default). In general you usually want to reduce the default settings for Sharpness, noise reduction, and the Auto Color and Contrast settings quite a bit when capturing stills.

I’ve read the commends and will be considering the suggestions brought up by many posters for possible inclusion in future releases. In any case, enjoy and contact me at eric.yang[at]topazlabs.com if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments.

Again, thanks so much for your interest. Make sure to join our mailing list at http://www.topazlabs.com – you have the chance to win a free copy of the software of your choice at the end of every month, and you’ll always know about the latest news.

Cheers,
Eric Yang
Sales and Marketing, Topaz Labs
eric.yang[at]topazlabs.com

By: MrFishy

MrFishy — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:50:07 +0000

Barring any HUGE issue w/this software, there’s little doubt it will be high up on the list of GAOTD’s best/favorite ‘08 giveaway’s, maybe even #1.
Easy to use and a whole lotta fun!
Wonderful app . . . a real winner, Albert!

By: Terry Allred

Terry Allred — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:35:04 +0000

One of the best software packages for capturing stills out of video. I use it daily in creating still images from existing video, for use in Story boarding new video/games. IT does a much better job than the built in capture even from Vegas or other editing packages. It also “auto-paints” the image to improve the “pixelation” I missed this offer due to being out of town. Sad because I needed another system loaded with it.

By: copmom

copmom — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:55:06 +0000

#128.. – in my seemingly successful WinXP Home installation, no such folder appeared. Maybe only once you actually create and save a still?

It IS after you SAVE a still!

By: BM

BM — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:14:27 +0000

It works ok in XP on my laptop, but crashes on my Vista machine. It doesn’t like my nvidea driver, causes it to crash and recover. Then the program locks up. Windows Media Player keeps trying to load up as well. May be conflicting with it. As a result, I tried downloading it to my laptop (XP) and it worked fine. Only tried it with a DVD. Tried to freezeframe a snowy picture and capture it. It smoothed it out with a slight waxy look, but much better than the original. Nice.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:00:55 +0000

#64 I had the same problem with batch captures basically restarting from the beginning of the movie file and running in a loop. Also, when using enhanced mode I don’t get the frame I select, I get the image from several frames later. It’s a great image, but not the specific one I’m trying to get.

Any suggestions?

By: JAMES MOSIER

JAMES MOSIER — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:05:37 +0000

# 45 is ON POINT… thanks for the examples! GET IT! Installed w no problem. Stills from video have always been poor at best. This program is phenominal. It gathers adequate info from frames before and after your selected still “moment” and renders a picture that is hard to beat. If you want, further manipulation can be done with a few simple tools offered within the program but it will also call up known editors for your work in progress should you choose. Just spectacular! I always carry my “still cameras” but with this program you might never pull one out unless doing portrait work. It has serious applications and is a time saver for wanting certain shots that you thought you would never have because you were shooting video. BEST results on video that is shot with minimal movement taking place within the frame. Heavy movement still produced keeper pics. Unbelievable Results! Until now you never used a video camera for still work. My Sony DCR-SR80 shoots exceptional video and produces the worst stills. Now I have stills from video that easily fall into the 6 – 8 megapixel catagory. THANK YOU!!! GAOTD!! and Thanks to all those gifted people that created TOPAZ. I will blog this to my friends at VideoMaker Magazine. The average person using a decent video camera can safely leave their “still” camera at home or in the bag. This program is that good! It is a MUST program for anyone’s Media toolbox!!! A 10 and 2 Thumbs Up!!

By: Antonio

Antonio — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:50:52 +0000

Fine snapper!!

It needs an easier way to open “on-HD” movie files (aka .VOB files), imho, however. Choosing File>Open File/Media only opens a folder-full of .vob files, which really makes finding the exact video portion to Snap, well…more-difficult-than-it-should-be.

Too-bad, too, that it’s not constructed as a “plug-in” for any other DVD-player. The one its used (WMP, yes?) is dulls-as-rust. Make it work with GOM or my fav…KMPlayer, please?!

Kind of a slooow procedure to capture, and rather difficult to find an exact spot to start Snap, but that’s WMP for lack-of-functionality, and not Topaz-Moment, methinks. A kinda-crude program, sorry. But thanks!

By: TNT

TNT — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:51:35 +0000

I’ve wanted a program like this for a long time. Thanks GOTD!