Creating Still Images/High quality JPG's...please help

Question

We are in desparate need of creating quality still images from captured video. Basically, we have footage in mini DV format that we import into Final Cut HD using a Sony Clamshell deck. What is the best way to make high quality still images?
We tried it this way....Export Quicktime as Still image...and it just looks bad, Even after De-interlacing it within Photoshop. We need it to look exactly like it does if we simply press pause on the deck or pause within Final Cut.

Answer 1

When you start with DV material, the highest res you can for a still image capture is 720x480 (non-square) or the equivalent of a really bad quality cheepo still camera. (~640x480 square pixels)
To avoid the need to deinterlace, (the horrors of which are described below) find sections in your masterpiece that have VERY LITTLE motion, i.e. everyone/thing standing/existing absolutely still with the camera locked down on a tripod. These sections will yield the very best possible still images.
If you have motion the frame, the still images will exhibit 'tearing' which comes from the two fields of video being recorded ~1/60 second apart. The second field shows elements displaced from the first field - hence a kind of internal image shifting going on. The only real way to deal with these kind of images is to deinterlace them - that is - decide which field you are going to keep and throw away the other.
When you have deinterlaced the image, you have in effect reduced it from a 720x480 image to a 720x240 image. The image pixel count REMAINS 720x480 but with half the vertical information as the remaining lines are doubled or interpolated to build back to 480 lines.
Confused yet? I hope not...
Still, if you know you'll want stills from a project, it's better to carry around a small digital still camera, you'll get better results. Otherwise, plan on pretty small prints.
Good luck.
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