I would like to take several shots from a movie DVD, convert them into a video file format acceptable to After Effects CS3, to add a few extra effects.

What is the best file format that would preserve the original video imagery through the download/conversion of a DVD clip -- and then import it into AE? (I'm trying to avoid compression and information loss. Unfortunately, After Effects doesn't accept .avi files).

Thank you for your suggestions & help.

Yes, after effects accepts avi files, it's the very base level file that it works with and what you should be using from start to finish to avoid quality loss. If it wont import the avi file then it is probably encoded with some kind of odd codec like divx or xvid. Rip the dvd files straight off, no compression at all. Import the files, edit, render out your avi file and then use sorenson or similar to compress to the final file type/size you need.

Like "theguid" mentioned above, your .avi files are actually compressed in a codec After Effects cannot read. AVI is just a container for codecs. Quicktime, Windows Media, and AVI offer uncompressed "compression schemes" which is what I would recommend.

BUT, since you are ripping off a DVD, technically, the content authored on a movie DVD is compressed using MPEG2. Try pulling/ripping your content from this dvd, natively. Do not re-compress. After Effects will read MPEG2 and you can edit that. Re-compressing or transcoding [which you did] creates a more lossy compression.

I would suggest using "MPEG Streamclip" which you can download off the web for free. Remember, rip your content off without re-compressing to .AVI or whatever.

Lengthy, I know, but I'm here to help further.

I think the best free solution is to visit http://www.convertfiles.com/
This is a great site for file conversions

How do you rip the files off the dvd? I can not seem to even see them??