Video conversion
Convert MPEG to JPG
Converting MPEG to JPG doesn't turn the whole clip into a picture, it pulls a single frame out of the video and saves that frame as a still image. Open the MPEG in a converter, choose JPG as the output, and it captures a frame as a photo. Doing this on your own computer means the video never has to leave 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
- .mpeg
- Type
- Video
- Typically
- Broadcast, DVD
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .jpg
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- The universal photo format
- Compression
- Lossy
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert MPEG to JPG on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert MPEG to JPG
- Open Morphjet and drag in the MPEG file, or a whole folder of clips.
- Choose JPG as the output format. Morphjet grabs a frame from the video to save as an image.
- Convert. The JPG is written next to your original video, and nothing leaves your machine.
MPEG vs JPG: what actually changes
| MPEG | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Moving video, usually with sound | One still frame, no sound |
| File size | Large, a whole clip's worth of frames | Small, a single image |
| Quality | Lossy, more so on older MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 encodes | Lossy, with a small extra loss when the frame is saved as JPG |
| Opens everywhere | Needs a video player | Yes, opens in any browser, app, or photo viewer |
| Keeps metadata (EXIF) | Some, like recording date, not GPS | Little to none, since it's a captured frame rather than a camera photo |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert MPEG to JPG when you want a still image from a video, such as a thumbnail, a preview picture for a document or slide, or a specific moment you'd like to keep or print as a photo.
Keep the original MPEG if you need the motion or the sound, since converting to JPG throws away everything in the clip except that one frame.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old camcorder footage and home videos saved as MPEG are often personal, family gatherings, kids growing up, moments people wouldn't want on a stranger's server. An online converter has to receive the whole video file to pull a frame out of it, and that clip sits on someone else's machine while it processes. Converting on your own computer keeps the footage local the entire time.
Questions
Does converting MPEG to JPG lose quality?
A little. The frame comes from already-compressed video, and saving it as JPG adds a small further loss on top. Footage from older MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 sources will look softer than a photo taken directly with a camera.
Which frame from the video does it use?
Morphjet takes a frame from early in the clip by default. If you need one specific moment, you'll want a video editor that lets you scrub to that timestamp and export from there.
Does the JPG include the video's sound?
No. JPG is a still image format, so any audio in the MPEG is dropped. Converting to JPG gives you one frame, not a shorter clip.
Can I convert MPEG to JPG without uploading the video?
Yes. Morphjet runs the conversion on your own computer, so the video file, and whatever it shows, never gets sent anywhere.
Why would I turn a video into a single image?
Common reasons are making a thumbnail, grabbing a still for a document or slide, or saving one memorable moment as a photo you can print or share on its own.
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.