Question Index

Q: What platform does FrameThief run on?
A: FrameThief runs on the Macintosh platform. Both Mac OS 9 and OS X are supported natively.

Q: Does FrameThief run on a PC, will it ever?
A: Not currently, and probably not in the future either. There several PC applications that have similar functionality. Please see the Links Page for some of the PC applications.

Q: Is there a manual for FrameThief?
A: Yes. The manual is located in "Manual" sub-folder of the installation.

Q: Are there any step-by-step tutorials available?
A: Currently, we do not offer any step-by-step tutorials. However, the FrameThief Manual should provide more than enough information to get started shooting with FrameThief. The manual is located in the "Manual" sub-folder of your FrameThief installation.

Q: FrameThief just gives me image files, why not a movie file?
A: FrameThief was designed to provide flexibility in the animation process; many animators want to do editing of the frames that are captured; i.e. exposure adjustment or special effects. By not compiling the frames into a movie file, FrameThief saves the animator time since the frames can be opened in any image editing application. Also, this provides another level of safety for the animator. Imagine doing a long shoot and before you finish, the computer crashes. If the application was compiling the movie on the fly, most likely your shoot will be unrecoverable. With FrameThief, this situation would have very few consequences since unless something truly horrific happens, your frames will still be in the folder that they were captured to. Since FrameThief also saves the current project after each capture/undo operation, you should be able to simply start the program and resume the shoot from where you left off without adjusting settings.
Compiling the frames that FrameThief outputs can be done in the program by using the Export Animation to QuickTime movie option. Alternatively, you can use the separate utility application called FrameSplicer to compile the frame sequences later.

Q: Does FrameThief support my camera?
A: Most likely yes. FrameThief is compatible with QuickTime compatible video sources. This includes DV cameras, Mac-compatible Web-Cams, and capture boards. Note: Some capture boards are Mac-compatible, but not fully QuickTime compliant; these boards may not work with FrameThief.

Q: Does FrameThief support Digital Still Cameras?
A: This is a very common question that does not have a simple answer. FrameThief does support capturing from the live feed that most DS Cameras provide, however, the live feed that all DS cameras provide is a lower in resolution that the frames that are recorded when the camera shoots. For example, a camera may tout a resolution of 2180x1024 with a live feed; the live feed is most likely 640x480, the resolution that a decent web-cam can provide. There is a plan to support Digital Still Cameras to a higher degree in future versions of FrameThief.

Q: I'm using iMovie and it doesn't open the QuickTime Movies that FrameThief or FrameSplicer exports, what can I do?
A: iMovie cannot open QuickTime movies, but can open DV Streams. Use the 'Convert QuickTime Movie to DV Stream' option.

Q: Why is the feed frame and the replay not in pixel-perfect alignment?
A: FrameThief's ships with the replay settings optimized for best replay speed. Unfortunately, this is at the cost of the replay's image quality. If you wish to attain pixel-perfect alignment you will need to alter some of the default settings to raise the image quality of the replay. The following settings should be modified:

  1. Replay Preferences: Change the Replay Size to 100%.
  2. Replay Preferences: Click on the Playback Speed and Compression Settings button. Adjust the Compressor to a compressor that does not alter the image quality such as Animation or None. Also, adjust the quality setting to Best (if available).
  3. Option 1: Resolution Preferences: Switch to the Custom setting and enter your capture resolution manually but use 0:0 for the Aspect Ratio adjustment. Option 2: Resolution Presets: Either create a new or modify an existing preset to have the correct resolution and an Aspect Ratio of 0:0. Then make sure that the Resolution Preferences panel is set to using the preset that you modified. Note: It may be necessary to close and re-open the preferences dialog in order to see the changes made to the preset in the Resolution Preferences panel.
  4. Adjust your Animation Window size to the largest size allowed.

Q: The replay is not working and the status at the bottom of the Animation Window says "(Replay Disabled)...". Why?
A: The replay was either disabled from the Replay Preferences or by aborting the replay compilation. You can re-enable the replay in the Replay Preferences.

Q: On Mac OS X, my frame files always open in Classic's Picture Viewer, can I switch this to another application?
A: Sure. Using the Finder, select one of the frames and choose Show Info (Cmd-I) from the File Menu. In the window that shows up, select "Open with application" from the drop-down list. Click on the icon and select the application you would like to use to open the frames with. Click on the "Change All..." button to make the change for all of the frames.

Q: I'm trying to load an MP3 file as my audio sync track and I don't get a waveform, why?
A: FrameThief does not support the loading of MP3 files as audio sync tracks. Please convert the MP3 to another format such as AIFF.

Q: I'm finding the help tags really annoying, any way to turn them off?
A: Yes, choose "Hide Help Tags" from the Help menu.

Q: Can FrameThief prevent a video source from turning off?
A: No, there is little that FrameThief can do to keep the camera from timing-out and turning off. However, most cameras do have certain states in which they do not power down. A couple of words of warning first:

Cameras running for extended periods of time may cause damage to the CCD of the camera. Just as with computer monitors, leaving a camera running without a change in subject matter may cause the image to 'burn-in' or even destroy the actual CCD.

  1. Do not run from a just off of the battery, always use the power supply.
  2. Try to run the camera with and without a tape.

Q: I'm using iMovie and it doesn't open the QuickTime Movies that FrameThief or FrameSplicer exports, what can I do?
A: iMovie cannot open QuickTime movies, but can open DV Streams. You can convert the QuickTime movie you created into a DV Stream, by using the QuickTime Movie to DV Stream option in FrameThief and FrameSplicer.

Q: After returning to a previously shot project, FrameThief is displaying black frames in place of the frames I shot, why?
A: Black frames in the Replay mean that FrameThief having trouble locating the actual frame files from the project. This can happen if the frame files or projects are moved to another location on the hard drive or to another drive. The fix is to simply point FrameThief to the current location of the frames. This can be accomplished by opening the project and choosing "Settings" from the Animation menu. Then, re-setting the "Save Frames To" path to the current location of the frames. FrameThief should then recompile the replay with the actual frames.

Q: FrameThief displays "No Feed Connected" message over color-bars, why?
A: The most likely cause for this is that FrameThief was unable to load support plug-ins that allow the program to connect to feed and provide animation tools. The "Plugins" folder that contains the plug-ins must be located in the same folder as the application. If the FrameThief application icon was moved to another location (i.e. the Desktop) without the Plugins folder, you would experience that error message and the lack of feed connectivity and tools. The rule of thumb is that the 'FrameThief' application icon should always be in the same folder as the 'Plugins' folder. Moving the FrameThief application icon back into the "FrameThief 2.1" folder should resolve the issue. Afterwards, please make sure that "QuickTime Video" is selected for both the 'Grab Video Feed Using' and 'Capture Frames Using' lists in the "Capture Sources" preferences panel.

Q: After downloading FrameThief, when I click on the downloaded file it opens with the wrong application like QuickTime Player.
A: FrameThief is distributed in a StuffIt (.sit) archive, if your system does not have any support for unpacking sit files, it will exhibit this symptom. Please download and install the free StuffIt Expander
Trial from the following location:
http://my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html
Once installed, you should be able to extract the FrameThief distribution.

Q: Import/Export: Exporting animation displays "Movie Compiler Error: -32766"
A: This error indicates that FrameThief's stored compression settings for the export are no longer valid. While this is rare, it does happen sometimes after a Software Update to QuickTime. To overcome the error:

  1. In the Export dialog, click the Edit button next to the compression information area.
  2. In the dialog that shows up, change the compressor (top pop-down list) to something else and then back to the compressor that you would like to use.
  3. Hit OK.
  4. The export should work as normal now.

Q: FrameThief always connect to my iSight camera, how can I get it to connect to my DV camera?
A: First, please try the following:

How can I change FrameThief's Video Source?

If that does not help, please make sure that your "FrameThief 2.1" is installed into the Applications folder of your hard-drive.

Q: FrameThief is not recognizing my DV camera that's connected through USB.
A: DV cameras pipe video through their FireWire connections. The USB connection is typically used to transfer still images from a memory card and other proprietary functionality. Please try re-connecting with a FireWire cable and connectors.

Q: How can I change FrameThief's Video Source?
A: To switch FrameThief's video source:

  1. Open up the Preferences.
  2. Select the QuickTime Video Feed preferences panel.
  3. Click the button next to Video Source
  4. Choose the source you would like to use and OK out of the dialogs.
From then on, FrameThief should use the selected source.

Q: How can I change my Video Device's Settings (contrast, focus, zoom, and etc.)?
A: To change your video device's settings:

  1. Open up the Preferences.
  2. Select the QuickTime Video Feed preferences panel.
  3. Click the button next to Video Source
  4. Modify the settings and OK out of the dialogs.

Q: I'm trying to draw on top of the frames using the Sketch tool, but my drawings are not saved with the frames.
A: The Sketch tool can be used for drawing animation assist geometry such as motion paths, TV-safe borders, frame-markers, and etc. At this time, there is no paint-on-the-feed type of functionality in FrameThief.

Q: No tools are available and I'm seeing the "No feed connected" over color bars in the Animation Window.
A: The most likely cause is that FrameThief is having trouble finding the Plugins folder. The Plugins folder contains files necessary for FrameThief to connect to feeds, load tools, and etc. The following is a quick representation of the standard FrameThief folder structure:

  • FrameThief 2.1 [installation folder]
    • FrameThief [the application]
    • Plugins [folder]
      • Lightbox [folder]
        • Lightbox [plugin]
      • QuickTimeVideo [folder]
        • QuickTimeVideo [plugin]
      • Timelapse [folder]
        • Timelapse [plugin]
      • ... [other plugin folders ...]
If for whatever reason, the FrameThief application was moved to another location (i.e. the Desktop) without the Plugins folder, you would experience the connection problem and lack of feed connectivity and tools. The rule of thumb is that the 'FrameThief' application icon should always be in the same folder as the 'Plugins' folder. Moving the FrameThief application icon back into the FrameThief 2.1 folder or re-downloading the application should resolve the issue. Also, please make sure that QuickTime Video is selected for both the Grab Video Feed Using and Capture Frames Using lists in the Capture Sources preferences panel.

Q: Recreating the replay, FrameThief displays "Movie Compiler Error: -32766"
A: This error indicates that FrameThief's stored compression settings for the replay are no longer valid. While this is rare, it does happen sometimes after a Software Update to QuickTime. To over come the error:

  1. Go into the Preferences (FrameThief->Preferences)
  2. Choose Replay in the top navigation bar.
  3. Click on the button next to Playback Speed and Compression.
  4. Make sure that there is a Frame per second value specified and it is not Custom.
  5. Hit OK.
  6. Back in the replay preferences, make sure that Replay Enabled is checked and hit OK once again.

Q: When capturing a frame I receive "Movie Compiler Error: -32766" or "Movie Compiler Error: -32767" or "Movie Compiler Error: -8960"
A: Please see: Recreating the replay, FrameThief displays "Movie Compiler Error: -32766"




Last Modified: 7/9/2006
Copyright 2006 FrameThief Inc.