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To capture a frame in DaVinci Resolve, park the playhead on the exact image you want, then choose the method that matches your goal: use Color > Viewer right-click > Grab Still to save a reference still in the Gallery, or choose File > Export > Current Frame as Still for a direct image-file export. Gallery stills can then be exported as JPEG, PNG, TIFF and several other formats.
Choose the right capture method
Resolve has two separate still-frame workflows. Both start with the same essential step: move the timeline playhead to the precise frame you want. A still is taken from the frame currently shown in the Viewer, so capturing before the playhead is correctly parked produces the wrong image.
| Method | Best for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Grab Still | Color work, shot comparison and grading references | A reference still in the Color page Gallery, with grading metadata retained with that Gallery still |
| Current Frame as Still | A quick, standalone image file | An image exported directly from the current frame without first creating a Gallery still |
Capture a still in the Color page
1. Park the playhead
- Open the timeline containing the shot.
- Move the playhead until the Viewer shows the exact frame you need. Check details such as a person’s expression, an on-screen title or the beginning of an action before capturing.
2. Use Grab Still
- Open the Color page.
- Right-click inside the Viewer and choose Grab Still.
- The captured still appears as a thumbnail in the Color page’s Gallery.
You can also choose View > Grab Still. On macOS, the documented shortcut is Option-Command-G. A compatible DaVinci control panel can perform the same action with its GRAB STILL control, but a control panel is not required.
3. Export the Gallery still
- In the Gallery, right-click the still thumbnail.
- Choose Export.
- Select the destination folder, enter a filename and choose an image format.
- Confirm the export, then open the resulting file to verify that it is the intended frame.
The Resolve manual documents DPX, CIN, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, PPM, BMP and XPM as available still-export formats. JPEG and PNG are the practical choices for most general-purpose use: JPEG is commonly used when a compact photograph-style file is sufficient, while PNG is commonly chosen when you want a lossless image. Resolve’s available options can vary with the installed version and operating system.
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Export the current frame directly as a JPG or PNG
If you do not need a reference still in the Gallery, use Resolve’s direct command:
- Park the playhead on the desired frame.
- Choose File > Export > Current Frame as Still.
- In the save dialog, choose a folder, filename and format such as JPEG or PNG.
- Save the file and check it outside Resolve.
This route avoids the extra Gallery step. A Blackmagic Design forum answer also confirms that a keyboard shortcut can be assigned to Current Frame as Still if you use the command frequently. The exact shortcut-assignment screen depends on your Resolve version, so search the application’s keyboard-customization commands for that menu name rather than relying on an old shortcut guide.
Grab Still versus Current Frame as Still
Use Grab Still when the image is part of your color workflow
The Color page Gallery is designed for visual references. Keeping the still there lets you compare shots while grading, and the Gallery still preserves the grading metadata associated with that reference. Export it later when you need a file for review, documentation or delivery.
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Use Current Frame as Still when you only need a file
The direct export command is the shorter path for a one-off JPG or PNG. It is appropriate when you do not need a reusable Gallery reference and want the current Viewer frame written to disk immediately.
Which format should you select?
| Format | Use it when | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|
| JPEG | You need a widely supported, compact image for quick sharing | It is a compressed format; use PNG, TIFF or another documented format when your workflow requires a different type. |
| PNG | You want a lossless still for documents, references or further editing | Files can be larger than JPEG files. |
| TIFF | Your downstream application or print workflow requests TIFF | Confirm that the receiving application accepts the chosen TIFF variant. |
| DPX or CIN | A post-production workflow specifically requires an image-sequence format | These are specialized formats rather than the usual choice for a casual frame grab. |
| PPM, BMP or XPM | A legacy or application-specific workflow requires one of these formats | Choose them only when the destination software calls for them. |
What to do when the command is missing
Grab Still is not in the right-click menu
Grab Still is a Color-page command. Switch to the Color page and right-click directly in the Viewer. If the context menu still does not show it, use View > Grab Still instead.
You are on Edit, Cut or another page
You do not need the Color page for the direct file-export route. Keep the playhead on the required frame and try File > Export > Current Frame as Still. Use the Color page only when you want a Gallery reference still.
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The Gallery thumbnail is not where you expected
Grab Still places the result in the Color page Gallery, not in a folder on your drive. Right-click the thumbnail and choose Export to create the external image file.
The shortcut does nothing
The documented Option-Command-G shortcut is for macOS and applies to View > Grab Still. For another operating system, or for the direct-export command, use the menus or assign your own shortcut in Resolve’s keyboard-customization settings.
The menu labels differ from a tutorial
Blackmagic Design lists a DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Manual dated 08 Sep 2026. Menu names and default shortcuts can change between releases and operating systems. If a command is absent, check the manual that matches the Resolve build installed on your computer rather than assuming the tutorial’s version is identical.
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Quality and workflow checks before you deliver the still
- Confirm the playhead is on the intended frame, not merely near it.
- Decide whether you need a Gallery reference (Grab Still) or only an image file (Current Frame as Still).
- Choose the format required by the person or application receiving the file.
- Use a descriptive filename so the frame can be identified later.
- Open the saved image after export and verify the destination, extension and visible content.
- Keep the Gallery still if you may need to compare or re-export the reference during color work.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a separate tool for capturing web pages, not a replacement for Resolve’s frame-export commands. If the image you need is a webpage rather than a video frame, its API returns a PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF from one GET request. Before capture it can accept cookie or consent banners and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks, CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the result with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers.
See the ScreenshotNeo documentation for all options. A basic request is:
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpThe same request in Python:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)And in Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);For web captures, ScreenshotNeo also supports full-page shots with lazy images loaded, CSS-selector element capture, dark mode, 12 device presets plus custom viewports, retina scale, PDF paper settings and page ranges, HTML/CSS rendering, custom JavaScript and CSS, pre-capture clicks, hidden selectors, selector or network-idle waits, request and resource blocking, custom headers, cookies, user agents, Authorization, timezone and geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, chosen cache TTLs, signed links, asynchronous jobs with signed webhooks, bulk capture of up to 100 URLs per call, a usage API and an OpenAPI specification. Its parameter names are compatible with those used by other screenshot APIs, which can simplify a migration.
| Plan | Included shots | Price |
|---|---|---|
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a control panel capture a Resolve still without using the mouse?
Yes. The DaVinci Resolve manual lists the GRAB STILL control on a compatible DaVinci control panel as an alternative to the Viewer command or View menu.
Which Resolve manual should I consult if instructions conflict?
Use the manual matching your installed build. Blackmagic Design currently lists the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Manual dated 08 Sep 2026, while menu names and shortcut defaults may differ in other releases or operating systems.
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The Bottom Line
For a color reference, use Color > Grab Still and export the Gallery thumbnail. For the fastest standalone JPG or PNG, choose File > Export > Current Frame as Still after parking the playhead on the exact frame.
Quick Recap
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