Extract sequence of frames from imported MP4 - scripted?

Question

I would like to extract a sequence of images files from an imported mp4, ideally using a script. I'll then analyze the images with python to start extracting cues and other information, so they don't necessarily need to be absolute best possible quality.

For example:

frame_numbers = range(15*60*24, 30*60*24, 96)

returns 225 frame numbers between 15:00 and 30:00 at 24fps.

Can this be scripted?

If not, what is the quickest way to do this manually? (ouch!)

Answer 1

You can do this using the compositor.

All you need is to prepare a simple node setup where you have a Movie Clip (Input) Node connected to the Composite (Output) Node. Load your video into the movie clip node, set a few small params in the script below (namely the output folder where you'd like to save the extracted frames and the frame range), and run the script.

The script will copy the video dimensions and set up your render settings accordingly (but will not alter the output file format).

import bpy
from os.path import join

S = bpy.context.scene
n = S.node_tree

vidNode = n.nodes['Movie Clip']

# Set Render Settings dimensions according to video
S.render.resolution_percentage = 100
S.render.resolution_y          = vidNode.clip.size[1]
S.render.resolution_x          = vidNode.clip.size[0]

# Render desired frame numbers ( UPDATE THESE AS NEEDED )
start = 5
end   = 200
step  = 3
frame_numbers = range(start, end, step)

outputFolder = "C:/tmp/test"    # <=== Update this 
for f in frame_numbers:
    S.frame_set( f )
    fileName = str(f) + S.render.file_extension
    S.render.filepath = join( outputFolder, fileName )
    bpy.ops.render.render( write_still = True )

Copy this to a new text file in the text editor, change the values in the outputFolder variable and the start, end and step for generating frame_numbers, and press "Run Script".

If you'd like, you can also automate the creation of the node setup and load the video to the movie clip node; there are several nice answers here in StackExchange showing how to create and manipulate nodes via python.