Video conversion
Convert M4V to PNG
M4V is a video file, and PNG is a single still image, so converting between them pulls one frame out of the video and saves it as a picture. Open the M4V in a converter, pick the frame you want, and export it as PNG. Doing this on your own computer means the video never leaves your machine.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .m4v
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- iTunes / Apple video
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .png
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Screenshots, logos, UI assets
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert M4V to PNG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert M4V to PNG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4V video, or a whole folder of them.
- Choose PNG as the output, and set which frame or timestamp you want captured.
- Convert. The PNG stills are written next to your original videos, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4V vs PNG: what actually changes
| M4V | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Motion and audio, over time | One still frame, no motion or audio |
| File size | Large, minutes of footage | Small, a single image |
| Quality | Lossy, compressed for playback | Lossless, exact pixels of that frame |
| Opens everywhere | Mostly Apple's video format and compatible players | Yes, universal image support |
| Transparency | No | Supported by the format, though a frame grab is opaque like the video it came from |
| Keeps video info (title, chapters) | Yes, stored in the file | No, a still frame doesn't carry that along |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4V to PNG when you need a single still image pulled from a video, like a thumbnail, a screenshot for a document, or a reference frame for design work.
Keep the M4V if you actually need the video itself, since converting to PNG only gives you one frame and throws away the motion and audio.
Why not just use an online converter?
Pulling a still from a home movie or screen recording isn't something you'd want to hand over to an unfamiliar server just to get one image back. Many online frame-grabber sites require you to upload the entire video before they'll show you a single frame. Converting on your own computer means the video file stays put, and only the PNG you asked for gets created.
Questions
Does converting M4V to PNG lose quality?
The PNG itself is lossless, so the frame you pull out is saved at full quality with no extra compression. Any quality loss already happened earlier, when the video was originally compressed into M4V.
Do I get one PNG, or one for every frame?
By default you get one PNG for the frame or timestamp you choose. Extracting every single frame of a video would mean thousands of images, which isn't what most people mean by converting M4V to PNG.
Will the PNG keep the video's title or chapter markers?
No. Metadata like the title, chapters, or purchase info lives in the M4V container and doesn't carry over to a plain still image.
Can I do this without uploading my video?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet grabs the frame on your own computer, so the video never has to travel over the internet or sit on someone else's server.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.