How to Use iMovie (with Pictures)

How to Use iMovie (with Pictures)
How to Use iMovie (with Pictures)

Table of contents:

Anonim

This wikiHow teaches you how to use iMovie on a Mac. iMovie is a video editing program included with most Mac computers.

Step

Part 1 of 5: Creating a New Project

Use iMovie Step 1
Use iMovie Step 1

Step 1. Open iMovie

Click the iMovie program icon, which looks like a video camera and a white star on a purple background. This icon is usually displayed in the computer's Dock.

  • If the iMovie icon doesn't appear in the Dock, you can click “ Spotlight ”

    type imovie, and double-click the “ iMovie ” when displayed.

Use iMovie Step 2
Use iMovie Step 2

Step 2. Click the Projects tab

It's a tab at the top of the iMovie window.

Use iMovie Step 3
Use iMovie Step 3

Step 3. Click Create New

This option is on the left side of the page “ Projects Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.

Use iMovie Step 4
Use iMovie Step 4

Step 4. Click Movies

This option is in the drop-down menu. With this option, you can create a new, empty iMovie project. The default project name is " My Movie 1 ", unless you have other projects already saved. In this situation, the number in the project name may be different.

Use iMovie Step 5
Use iMovie Step 5

Step 5. Continue your project at any time

Ongoing iMovie projects can be accessed via the “ Projects ” so you can close the iMovie window at any time without fear of losing projects or files.

Whenever you open an iMovie window, you can view projects from the “ Projects ”.

Part 2 of 5: Importing Files

Use iMovie Step 6
Use iMovie Step 6

Step 1. Add files to your Mac if necessary

If you want to use files from an SD card or flash drive, connect your device to your Mac beforehand.

You may need to use a USB-C SD card adapter for Mac if you want to connect an SD card. You can use a USB-C flash drive on modern Mac computers, but you'll need a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter if you're still using a standard/regular flash drive

Use iMovie Step 7
Use iMovie Step 7

Step 2. Click the Import Media button

It's a downward-pointing arrow in the upper-left corner of the iMovie project segment. After that, a new window will open.

Use iMovie Step 8
Use iMovie Step 8

Step 3. Select the location to save the file

On the left side of the window, click the folder containing the videos and/or photos that you want to import into the project.

  • To browse the folders on the computer, click “ Macintosh HD ” on the left side of the window.
  • If you're using a video from a portable storage space (eg a flash drive or camera), click the name of the storage space on the left side of the window.
Use iMovie Step 9
Use iMovie Step 9

Step 4. Select the photo or video you want to use in the movie project

Hold down Command while clicking each video clip and/or image you want to add to iMovie.

Use iMovie Step 10
Use iMovie Step 10

Step 5. Click Import Selected

It's in the lower-right corner of the window. After that, the selected video and photo files will be added to the panel in the upper left corner of the “ Media ”.

Part 3 of 5: Adding Content to Timeline

Use iMovie Step 11
Use iMovie Step 11

Step 1. Add videos and photos to the timeline (timeline)

Click and drag each photo and video you want to add to the timeline pane at the bottom of the iMovie window.

To add all media at once, click a file in the media pane, press the Command+A key combination to select all files, then click and drag the selected files onto the timeline

Use iMovie Step 12
Use iMovie Step 12

Step 2. Rearrange the files on the timeline

To move a video clip forward or backward on the timeline, click and drag the clip left or right on the timeline pane.

You can also apply the same process to photos

Use iMovie Step 13
Use iMovie Step 13

Step 3. Cut the video clip

If you want to shorten the video clip by removing the beginning or end, click and drag the left or right side of the video box towards the center.

For example, to shorten a video by deleting its initial section, click and drag the left side of the video box in the timeline pane to the right until the section you want to delete is gone

Use iMovie Step 14
Use iMovie Step 14

Step 4. Divide the video clip into several parts

To split two video clips, drag the vertical rotating head/bar to the segment you want to serve as the cut point, then press the Command+B key combination. The video will be divided into two segments. After that, you can rearrange the position of the segments separately.

This step is useful when you want to split long/large videos or place a transition in the middle of a clip

Use iMovie Step 15
Use iMovie Step 15

Step 5. Change the display duration of the photo

Drag the right edge of the photo grid to the left or right to shorten or lengthen the display time of the photo on the screen while the movie is playing.

Use iMovie Step 16
Use iMovie Step 16

Step 6. Remove content from timeline

Click the clip you want to delete, then press the Delete key to remove the clip from the timeline.

You can combine this feature with clip sharing to remove specific segments of the video

Use iMovie Step 17
Use iMovie Step 17

Step 7. Make a transition between the two clips

Click the tab Transitions ” at the top of the iMovie window, then click and drag the transition you want to use onto the timeline, between the two video clips.

Hover over a transition to preview it

Use iMovie Step 18
Use iMovie Step 18

Step 8. Create a movie title

Click the tab Title ” at the top of the iMovie window, then select a title template and replace the text in the template's default section with the desired text. A few seconds long title page will then be added to the beginning of the iMovie project.

Part 4 of 5: Adding Audio

Use iMovie Step 19
Use iMovie Step 19

Step 1. Click the Audio tab

This tab is at the top of the iMovie window, to the right of the “ Media After that, a list of available audio options will be displayed.

Use iMovie Step 20
Use iMovie Step 20

Step 2. Select iTunes

This tab is on the left side of the window. The iTunes playlist will be displayed on the panel.

Use iMovie Step 21
Use iMovie Step 21

Step 3. Select a folder

Click the folder iTunes ” above the track list, then click the folder you want to use to browse the music files.

If you're satisfied with using the songs stored in your iTunes library, skip this step

Use iMovie Step 22
Use iMovie Step 22

Step 4. Find the song you want to use

Browse the list of available songs in iTunes until you find the music you want to use.

Use iMovie Step 23
Use iMovie Step 23

Step 5. Add songs to timeline

Click and drag the song from the panel to the bottom of the timeline, then drop it. The song will be inserted into the timeline.

  • You can adjust the position of the song on the timeline by clicking and dragging the song bar.
  • To shorten or extend the length of a song, click and drag one end of the song bar.
Use iMovie Step 24
Use iMovie Step 24

Step 6. Browse the sound effect options

To see a selection of iMovie sound effects, click the “ Sound Effects ” in the upper-left corner of the window, then browse through the iMovie sound effects options.

As with other files in iMovie, sound effects can be added by clicking and dragging them to the timeline

Use iMovie Step 25
Use iMovie Step 25

Step 7. Adjust the audio volume

If you need to increase or decrease the volume of a track, click and drag the horizontal line through the green track bar up or down.

You can mute an audio track by selecting the track and clicking the volume icon on the timeline

Part 5 of 5: Publishing Projects

Use iMovie Step 26
Use iMovie Step 26

Step 1. View the movie preview

In the preview pane on the right side of the iMovie window, click the “ Play ”

. The movie will play so you can make sure what's shown is ready for publication.

If there is a problem with the preview playing, you can edit the movie file in the timeline before continuing

Use iMovie Step 27
Use iMovie Step 27

Step 2. Click the "Share" icon

It's in the upper-right corner of the window. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.

Use iMovie Step 28
Use iMovie Step 28

Step 3. Click File

This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, a pop-up window will be displayed.

If you want to publish your iMovie project directly to a video site like YouTube or Vimeo, click the site option (eg. YouTube ”) in the drop-down menu and follow the on-screen instructions.

Use iMovie Step 29
Use iMovie Step 29

Step 4. Edit file save options

You can change the following information, depending on your personal preferences:

  • ” Description” (description) - Click the currently displayed description to add your own movie description.
  • ” Tags” - Click on an existing (iMovie) bookmark to add more bookmarks.
  • ” Format” - You can change the type of movie file. iMovie files are saved in " Video and Audio " format by default.
  • ” Resolution” - You can change the video resolution. This change will affect the video quality.
  • “Quality” - You can adjust the video quality. The higher the quality selected, the larger the video size.
Use iMovie Step 30
Use iMovie Step 30

Step 5. Click Next…

It's in the lower-right corner of the window.

Use iMovie Step 31
Use iMovie Step 31

Step 6. Enter a file name when prompted

In the pop-up window that appears, type whatever you want to use as the name of the iMovie file in the " Name " field.

Use iMovie Step 32
Use iMovie Step 32

Step 7. Select a save location

Click the " Where " drop - down box in the middle of the pop - up window, then click the folder where you want to set the iMovie file to be.

Use iMovie Step 33
Use iMovie Step 33

Step 8. Click Save

It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. After that, iMovie will export or save the movie project as a video file in the specified storage location.

The export/save process can take a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the length of the movie. Make sure your computer is plugged into a power source and do not block the device's air vents

Tips

iMovie also comes pre-installed on iPhones and iPads running iOS 10 (or later)

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