Photoshop Contact Sheet with Video files: Change Thumbnails

[mike233]

When making a contact sheet with Video files, is there a way to change the frame that it uses for the thumbnail? It seems to default to the first frame, is there a way I can tell it to use the last frame of a mid frame? Or even a way to tell it not to use a frame that is all one color. I have a bunch of stock footage and some of it starts off on a blank white frame, so the thumbnails are blank white.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I think the still frame/thumbnail/poster frame/… is a feature of the file.

Maybe you should ask on one of the video-cantered program Fora for advice on changing that.

Or maybe this is helpful

How to Change the Thumbnail for Video in Windows Media Player | Techwalla.com

Can I change the thumbnail image associated wit... |Official Apple Support Communities

Adobe Experience Manager Help | Creating Custom Video Thumbnails using Dynamic Media

[mike233]

Changing the file thumbnails doesn't effect Photoshop's Contact sheets. I believe this is because they just default to the first frame.

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

I think you are right.

But when one creates a pdf from Bridge’s Output Module that seems to honour mov-files’ Poster Frames.

[mike233]

The normal Bridge Contact Sheet II system just redirects to Photoshop. I didnt realize Bridge could create a PDF. Is it essential the same as making a contact sheet? How do I do that?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

You may have to install the Output Module manually but it may offer some convenience over Photoshop’s Contact Sheet II.

How to install Adobe Output Module in Bridge CC 2017

[mike233]

Never mind I figured out a solution:

I installed the Adobe Output Module for Bridge.
That will exports the thumbnails the way they look in Bridge. 

[Trevor.Dennis]

mike@m2c  wrote

When making a contact sheet with Video files,

Is this a Photoshop feature?  Can you describe how to find it?  OK, I found it.  Bridge > Tools > Photoshop > Contact Sheet II

Well I tried it twice, the second time after changing the preview frame in Bridge, but it still reverted to the first frame when making the Contact Sheet, so I have a feeling it is not easily doable — but before reading your post, I didn't even know CS worked with video files.

So it is going to come down to grabbing the relevant still frame from each video, and saving them to a folder from which you can build your contact sheet.  Brian O'Neil Hughs shows you two ways to do this in this video