Here are some tips for using the Take a Picture From Preview function in Windows Movie Maker.
Still
Taking a photo from preview is a basic function of Windows Movie Maker. What this does is take whatever current image is in the preview monitor window and then save a picture from it. This then saves the still image outside of Windows Movie Maker as an independent picture file. From here you can use it for anything, including a production still or promotional image. When you are selecting the perfect still image to capture from your preview monitor in Windows Movie Maker you have to choose it just right by connecting principles of photography with the technology of the Windows Movie Maker video editing software.
No Motion
The first thing you have to remember is that most images from your video clips are going to be in motion. When you stop at a specific moment in your Windows Movie Maker Timeline you may see that there is not actually a great still image there. When you are trying to take a picture from preview, or a freeze frame, you have to rest your marker on an image that has limited motion. It is best to select a clip from video of a still object or while the subjects of the frame are in rest.
Image Quality
You are likely going to alter the image you took from the preview so you need it to be of a certain quality. Make sure that the video you are taking the preview image from has a reasonable resolution and was in focus. If the aperture or shutter settings were off you are going to have a tough time with the still image later on.
Clean
A clean image is going to be much better than one that has been altered. You can alter the still image easily once you get it out of Windows Movie Maker, so you should take it from raw footage. This mainly means keeping it relatively free of Windows Movie Maker video effects and video transitions.
Saving
When you are saving a picture from the preview monitor you go up to Tools in the Windows Movie Maker task bar and select Take Picture From Preview. Here you can just select the name of the image and save it somewhere on your computer storage area. Make sure these are all clearly labeled and numbered as you are taking this from a previous project and therefore is more susceptible to getting lost in the catalogue of raw footage. Give it a unique title so it does not get confused with the Windows Movie Maker editing project.