IMovie Help

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iMovie Help

Get Started

To create movies in iMovie, you must first import (transfer) your video footage from your camera to your computer.You can import from most types of camcorders, including:

Digital camcorders that record to DVD, hard disk drive, or flash memory. These cameras connect to yourcomputer using a USB cable.

Digital still cameras that record video. These cameras use flash memory, often stored on Secure Digital (SD) orCompactFlash (CF) cards. They connect to your computer using a USB cable.

Camcorders that record to tape. These cameras connect to your computer using a FireWire cable.

This task describes how to import from digital camcorders and camcorders that record to tape.

When you import video, iMovie stores it as an Event in the Event Library. This is the footage you use to create movieprojects in iMovie.

Import video from a camcorder that records to DVD, hard disk drive, or flash memory

1. Locate the cable that came with your camera, or any other similar USB cable.

The cable should have at least one connector that plugs into your Mac and looks like the connector on theleft (A, below). The other end of the USB cable, which plugs into your recording device, might lookdifferent (as shown in B, below). For more information about cable connectors, go to this topic: Aboutvideo cable connectors.

2. Connect the camera to your computer with the cable.

3. Turn on your camera and set it to PC Connect mode (this mode may have a different name on yourcamera).

4. The first time you import from a device that records high-definition (HD) video, an HD Import Setting dialogappears. Even if you arent importing high-definition video now, select Large or Full, and then click OK.

5. If the Import window doesnt open, choose File > Import from Camera.

Import video

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The Import window displays all the video clips on the device. You can use the playback controls below theviewer to play the clips.

6. Select which video clips to import:

To import all clips, set the Automatic/Manual switch to Automatic, and then click Import All.

To import specific clips, set the Automatic/Manual switch to Manual. Deselect the clips you dont wantto import, and then click Import Checked.

7. Choose the disk where you want to store the video from the Save To pop-up menu.

Typically, youll store the video on your computer hard disk, but if you have another hard disk connectedto your computer, you can store the video there.

8. Choose how you want to organize the imported video in your Event Library:

To add the imported video to an existing Event (video youve already imported), select Add to ExistingEvent, and then choose the Events name from the pop-up menu. The first time you import video,there wont be any existing Events in your Event Library.

To create a new Event, type a name for it (for example, Birthday Party) in the Create new Eventfield. If the video youre importing was recorded on several different days and you want iMovie tocreate a new Event for each of those days, select Split days into new Events.

9. To have iMovie smooth the shaky portions of your video (a process called stabilization), or to have iMovieanalyze your video for the presence of people, select After import analyze for, and then choose anoption from the pop-up menu.

Stabilization reduces the camera motion in your video so that shaky parts can be played back moresmoothly. Analyzing video for the presence of people marks the footage that contains people. You caneasily search for this video later when youre creating a project for which you need footage of people.

The processes of stabilization and analyzing video for the presence of people can take a long time.

10. If youre importing HD video, choose a size from the Optimize video pop-up menu.

If youre not sure whether the video youre importing is HD video, check the cameras user manual forinformation about how to set the camera to record HD or standard-definition (SD) video.

The option you choose overrides what you selected in step 4 in the HD Import Setting dialog (which yousee only the first time you import video).

11. Click OK.

It can take several minutes to more than an hour for iMovie to import the video, depending on how muchvideo you have.

Import video from a tape-based camcorder

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1. Locate the cable that came with your camera, or any other similar FireWire cable.

The cable should have a 6-pin connector that plugs into your Mac (A, below) on one end and a 4-pinconnector that plugs into your camcorder (B, below) on the other end. You might have a FireWire 800cable, with a different end that plugs into your camcorder. For more information about cable connectors,go to this topic: About video cable connectors.

2. Turn on the camcorder and set it to VTR or VCR mode (this mode may have a different name on yourcamera).

3. Connect the camera to your computer with the cable.

4. The first time you import from a camcorder that can record high-definition (HD) video, an HD ImportSetting dialog appears; even if you arent importing HD video now, select Large or Full, and then click OK.


6. Set the Automatic/Manual switch:

Automatic: Automatically rewinds the tape, imports all of the video on the tape, and rewinds the tapeagain. If you use this option, click OK.

Manual: Lets you rewind and fast-forward the tape so that you can import only the footage you want.Use the controls to set your tape to the point where you want to begin importing.

7. Click Import.

8. Choose the disk where you want to store the video from the Save To pop-up menu.

Typically, youll store the video on your computer hard disk, but if you have another hard disk connectedto your computer, you can store the video there.

9. Choose how you want to organize the imported video in your Event Library.

To add the imported video to an existing Event (video youve already imported), select Add to ExistingEvent, and then choose the Events name from the pop-up menu. The first time you import video,there wont be any existing Events in your Event Library.

To create a new Event, type a name for it (for example, Birthday Party) in the Create new Eventfield. If the video youre importing was recorded on several different days and you want iMovie to

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create a new Event for each of those days, select Split days into new Events.

10. To have iMovie smooth the shaky portions of your video (a process called stabilization), or to have iMovieanalyze your video for the presence of people, select After import analyze for, and then choose anoption from the pop-up menu.

Stabilization reduces the camera motion in your video so that shaky parts can be played back moresmoothly. Analyzing video for the presence of people marks the footage that contains people. You caneasily search for this video later when youre creating a project for which you need footage of people.

The processes of stabilization and analyzing video for the presence of people can take a long time.


If youre not sure whether the video youre importing is HD video, check the cameras user manual forinformation about how to set the camera to record HD or standard-definition (SD) video.

The option you choose overrides what you selected in step 4 in the HD Import Setting dialog (which yousee only the first time you import video).

12. Click Import.

If youre importing automatically, you can leave your computer and come back when the import iscomplete.

If youre importing manually, click Stop (in the lower-right corner of the Import window) when the section ofvideo you want has been imported. Then use the import controls to set your video to a point where youwant to begin importing again, and repeat steps 7 through 11. Continue in this manner until you haveimported all the video you want.

For more information about importing video into iMovie, click the Browse Help button above and see the topics inImport video into iMovie.

Get Started

To work on a new video project in iMovie, you first create the project by giving it a name and defining otherparameters for it, including whether or not your project will have a theme. Themes give your movies a specific lookand feel. Examples of themes include bulletin board, photo album, and comic book.

iMovie comes with a selection of themes you can use in your movie. Each theme comes with its own title styles (textthat appears onscreen) and transitions (visual effects that play between clips) that you can use to give your movie apolished and professional look.

When you select a theme, you can have iMovie automatically insert titles and transitions into your project as you addvideo clips to it. You can always change or delete these elements later.

After you create the project, you add video to it that youve already transferred (imported) from your camera to yourcomputer. Lesson 1 describes the importing process.

Start a new video project

Start a new project

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1. In iMovie, choose File > New Project.

The File menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

2. To apply a theme to your project, select one of the themes presented below Project Themes.

If you dont want to add any theme-based elements to your project, select No Theme.

3. Type a name for the project in the Name field.

4. Choose a format option from the Aspect Ratio pop-up menu.

This format, which refers to the width and height dimensions of your movie, affects how the video appearson the screen.

Widescreen (16:9): Makes the movie appear much wider than it is high. Widescreen movies areoptimized for viewing on widescreen computer monitors and high-definition TVs (HDTVs). Whenviewed on a standard-definition TV, widescreen movies appear with black areas above and below(sometimes referred to as letterbox).

Standard (4:3): Makes the movie more square in shape. When viewed on a standard-definition TV,these movies can fill the screen. When viewed on an HDTV or widescreen computer monitor, theyappear with black areas on the left and right of the video (sometimes referred to as pillarbox).

5. Choose an option from the Frame Rate pop-up menu; choose the same frame rate that you used to shootthe video.

NTSC, PAL, and Cinema are video format standards that refer to the number of frames per second (fps)your recorded video contains. In general, video cameras purchased in North America use the NTSCformat (30 fps), and cameras purchased in Europe use the PAL format (25 fps). Cinema format video hasa frame rate of 24 fps. If your camera was set to Cinema format when you shot your video, choose thisoption.

6. If you didnt select a theme in step 2, and you want iMovie to automatically include transition effectsbetween video clips as you add them, select Automatically add, and then choose a transition style fromthe pop-up menu.

7. If you did select a theme for your project but dont want iMovie to add themed elements automatically,deselect Automatically add transitions and titles.

When this option is selected, iMovie automatically inserts cross-dissolve transitions and special themedtransitions between clips, as well as a theme-styled introductory title over the first clip in your project, anda theme-styled credits title over the last clip.

8. Click Create.

The empty project, which contains no video yet, opens in the Project browser. It appears as shown in theimage below, with the projects name (in this case, Spring Vacation 2010) at the top.

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Get Started

After you create a project, as described in Lesson 2, you add video clips to it that youve already imported(transferred) from your camera to your computer.

All of your imported video appears in the Event Library. From there, you select specific video and add it to your projectby dragging it to the project in the Project browser, which is your project workspace. As you add video and otherelements to your project, they appear immediately in the Project browser, where you can edit them, rearrange them,delete them, and so on.

Add video to a project

1. Open an existing project by double-clicking it (dont click the projects name directly) in the Project Library.

If you dont see the Project Library, click the Project Library button.

2. In the Event Library, select an Event whose footage you want to add to your project.

If you dont see the Event Library, click the Event Library button, which is typically located in the lower-leftcorner of the iMovie window.

Add video to your project

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You select an Event by clicking its name once. The Event footage appears in the Event browser to theright of the Event Library.

3. In the Event browser, select a range of video frames or an entire video clip.

To select an entire video clip, hold down the Shift key and click the clip once, so that its outlined in yellow.

To select a portion of a clip (called a frame range), drag across any clip while you hold down the button onyour mouse or trackpad. Selected frames are outlined in yellow.

4. Drag your video selection to the Project browser.

You drag by holding down the button on your mouse or trackpad as you move the selected clip to theProject browser. You can drag it anywhere: to the beginning or end of the project, or between clips youvealready added. A vertical green line, along with a green Add (+) symbol, appears anywhere you can placethe clip.

The image below shows how the Project browser appears when you add your first video clip to a project.

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Video thats been added to a project is marked along the bottom with an orange stripe in the Eventbrowser, so that you can see at a glance which video youve used. You can add the same video tomultiple projects, and you can use it more than once within a project.

Continue adding video in this way until you have all the video you want in your project. Next, you can enhance yourproject by adding music, photos, titles (text that appears onscreen, over your video), and more.

Get Started

After youve created a project and added video to it, you can embellish it in a number of ways with both visual andaudio enhancements. Themes give your project a polished look in an instant. You can also add background music,titles, and transitions that let you create professional-quality projects.

Add a theme to your project

iMovie comes with a selection of themes you can use in your movie. Each theme comes with its own title styles(text that appears onscreen) and transitions (visual effects that play between clips) that you can use to giveyour movie a big-budget look.

When you select a theme, you can have iMovie automatically insert titles and transitions into your project asyou add video clips to it. You can always change or delete these elements later.

If you didnt choose a theme for your project when you first created it, you can apply one at any time thereafter.

1. If your project isnt already open (showing in the Project browser), double-click it in the Project Library toopen it.

2. Choose File > Project Theme.


3. Select a theme by clicking its thumbnail once; the theme previews automatically in the viewer on the right

You can click other thumbnails to preview those themes.

4. If you want to turn off automatic transitions and titles so that iMovie doesnt replace transitions that youvealready added to your project, deselect Automatically add transitions and titles.

5. Click OK.

Add background music from your iTunes library

Background music you add to a project plays behind the audio recorded with your video, so that you can hearboth tracks of sound at the same time. You can adjust the volume of the background music so that it playsmore loudly or softly, which allows you to layer sound in interesting ways.

The music in your iTunes library is automatically available for use in iMovie projects.


Enhance your project

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2. Click the Music and Sound Effect button at the right end of the iMovie toolbar.

The Music and Sound Effect browser appears.

3. Choose one of the music options (not the sound effects options) from the options at the top of the Musicand Sound Effect browser; you should see either a list of options or a pop-up menu from which youchoose an option.

For example, if you choose iTunes, you see a list of everything thats in iTunes. If you choose Music, yousee just the music you have stored in iTunes. If you choose a specific playlist, you see just the music inthat playlist.

4. Scroll through the list to find the song you want to add, and then click the song so that its highlighted witha blue bar.

5. Drag the song to the Project browser, to the dark gray area to the right of the last clip in your project,making sure that you dont drag it over a clip.

You drag by holding down the button on your mouse or trackpad as you move the selected song to theProject browser. Release the mouse button when you see a green Add button.

The background music well of your project is then shaded with green, representing the background musicclip. The music begins at the start of your project and ends with your video, even if the song is longer thanyour video.

If the music doesnt cover your entire video, you can add more music by dragging it to the backgroundmusic well of your project.

6. To adjust the volume of the background music, click the Action pop-up menu (looks like a gear) in theupper-left corner of the green background music well, and then choose Audio Adjustments.

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7. In the window that opens (called an inspector), drag the volume slider, which appears at the top, to theright or left to increase or decrease volume, and then click Done.

Add a photo from your iPhoto library

You can add photos to your iMovie projectsto add visual interest, to highlight specific moments, or simply tobreak up the action of the video footage itself. All the photos in your iPhoto library are automatically availablefor use in iMovie.


2. Click the Photos button at the right end of the iMovie toolbar.

The photos appear in the Photo browser.

3. Choose iPhoto from the pop-up menu at the top of the browser to see all the photos stored in iPhoto, orchoose an iPhoto album from the pop-up menu to narrow your search.

4. Scroll through the thumbnails (miniatures) of the photos to find the one you want to add, and then click itso that its outlined in blue.

5. Drag your chosen photo to the project in the Project browser.

You drag by holding down the button on your mouse or trackpad as you move the selected photo to theProject browser. You can release the mouse button anyplace you see a vertical green line along with agreen Add button.

When you add a photo, by default it is set to remain onscreen in your project for 4 seconds. Also, the KenBurns effect is applied to the photo. This effect makes it appear as though the camera were panningacross and zooming in on the image.

6. To change how long the photo stays onscreen, double-click the photo in the Project browser.

7. In the window that opens (called an inspector), type a new value, in seconds, in the Duration field, andthen click Done.

Add titles (onscreen text)

You can add onscreen text to any video in your project using one of the many title styles available in iMovie.Onscreen text can be used to add a title and credits to your movie, to visually narrate the scenes in yourmovie, to create textual segues from one scene to the next (for example, Ten years later or Later that sameday), and so on.


2. Click the Title button at the right end of the iMovie toolbar.

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The title styles appear in the Title browser.

3. Browse the title styles, scrolling through the window if necessary, to find the one you want to use.

Many title styles are animated, which means that they move onto the screen in an interesting way. Moveyour pointer over the title thumbnails in the browser to see how they animate. If you have set a theme foryour project, a number of theme-styled titles appear above the standard titles in the browser.

4. Drag a title to the Project browser directly over the clip where you want the title to appear.

You drag by holding down the button on your mouse or trackpad as you move the selected title to theProject browser. You can release the mouse button anyplace you see a green Add (+) symbol.

When you add a title, a blue or gold title bar appears above the video clip to show where the title appearsin your video. Blue title bars represent nonthemed titles, and gold title bars represent themed titles.

Placeholder text (text that shows placement only and is meant to be replaced) appears in the viewer onthe right, and some or all of it is ready for editing (which means that its selected and ready to be replacedby your own text).

5. Replace the highlighted placeholder text by typing your own text.

If you need to select placeholder text, click it until it is highlighted, and then type.

6. To play back the title (see how the title looks in your video), click the Play button in the upper-right cornerof the viewer.

7. Click Done in the upper-right corner of the viewer.

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Add transitions between clips

iMovie comes with several styles of transitions that you can add between clips to give professional polish toyour projects. A transition smoothes or blends the change from one scene to another. For example, a transitioncan make one clip fade in or out, dissolve into another clip, zoom in to another clip, and so on.

iMovie makes all the transitions in your movie the same length. Standard transitions are one-half of a secondlong, and theme-styled transitions (which are available only if youve set a theme for your project) are twoseconds long. You can change these durations if you want.


2. Click the Transition button at the right end of the iMovie toolbar.

The transition styles appear in the Transition browser.

3. Browse through the transition styles, scrolling the window if necessary, to find the one you want to use.

Move your pointer over the transition thumbnails in the browser to see how they animate. If youve set atheme for your project, a number of theme-styled transitions appear above the standard transitions in thebrowser.

4. Drag a transition to the Project browser before, after, or between the clips where you want it to appear.

You drag by holding down the button on your mouse or trackpad as you move the selected transition tothe Project browser. You can release the mouse button anyplace you see a green Add (+) symbol.

The transition effect is represented by a transition icon in the Project browser. (Several icons are shownbelow; which you see depends on the transition style you added.)

5. To play back the transition effect to see how the transition looks in your video, move your pointer in theProject browser anyplace before the transition effect icon (you see a vertical red line where the pointer is),and then press the Space bar.

6. To change the duration of the transition, double-click the transition icon in the Project browser.

7. In the window that opens (called an inspector), type a new value, in seconds, in the Duration field, andthen click Done.

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Get Started

iMovie includes a number of templates you can use to create professional-quality movie trailers in genres that rangefrom adventure, to romance, to friendship and drama. Each template lets you customize screen text (movie name,cast, credits, and so on) and add clips of your own video to build a visually appealing story. Each template also comeswith a unique musical score that matches the style of the trailer.

Create a trailer

1. Choose File > New Project.


2. In the window that appears, select a template in the Movie Trailers section (on the left, below ProjectThemes) by clicking its thumbnail image.

View any template by clicking its thumbnail and watching its preview in the viewer on the right.

3. Type a name for the trailer project in the Name field.

4. Choose a format option from the Aspect Ratio pop-up menu.

This format, which refers to the width and height dimensions of your movie, affects how your videoappears on the screen youre using to view it.

Widescreen (16:9): Makes the movie appear much wider than it is high. Widescreen movies areoptimized for viewing on widescreen computer monitors and high-definition TVs (HDTVs). Whenviewed on a standard-definition TV, widescreen movies appear with black areas above and below(sometimes referred to as letterbox).

Standard (4:3): Makes the movie more square in shape. When viewed on a standard-definition TV,these movies can fill the screen. When viewed on an HDTV or widescreen computer monitor, theyappear with black areas on the left and right of the video (sometimes referred to as pillarbox).

5. Choose an option from the Frame Rate pop-up menu; choose the same frame rate that you used to shootthe video.

NTSC, PAL, and Cinema are video format standards that refer to the number of frames per second (fps)your recorded video contains. In general, video cameras purchased in North America use the NTSCformat (30 fps), and cameras purchased in Europe use the PAL format (25 fps). Cinema format video hasa frame rate of 24 fps. If your camera was set to Cinema format when you shot your video, choose thisoption.

6. Click Create.

In the Project browser, you see a tabbed interface with areas for entering information iMovie uses to buildyour trailer. The tabs are Outline, Storyboard, and Shot List.

Create a trailer

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7. In the Outline tab, which is already selected, select the placeholder text (text that serves as an exampleonly and is meant to be replaced), and then type your own text.

Simply click the existing name or words (such as Mom, Dad, Female, Male, the movie name, and soon) and type new ones. The information required varies among templates. These are the possiblecategories:

Name and Date:Required details vary from template to template. Type the movie name, its releasedate, and any other information requested, following the model of the placeholder text.

Cast:Type the names of the people who are featured as main characters in the footage you plan touse in the trailer. Some templates have no cast members, and some allow you to delete or add morecast members by clicking the Delete (-) button or Add (+) button to the right of a field.

Studio:Type a fictitious studio name and choose a logo style from the pop-up menu. Click the trianglesto the right of the logo style name to open the pop-up menu.

Credits:Type a name in each of the credits fields.

8. Click the Storyboard tab.

A graphic interface representing the trailers storyboard appears. The storyboard provides a visual map ofthe trailer from start to finish. It includes text bars that let you edit the titles that appear in the trailer. Thereare also wells with gray placeholder imagery that you replace with your own video.

9. To edit any onscreen text, click the word or words in a text bar, type new text, and then press Return.

You can mimic the wording style of the placeholder text to preserve the templates flow and flavor.

10. Select the Event whose video you want to use in the trailer by clicking its name once in the Event Library.

The video appears in the Event browser on the right.

11. Add video clips to the template simply by clicking video in the Event browser.

When you click, the correct length of video is added to fill the active placeholder well, which is outlined inyellow. (The time stamp on the left edge of each well indicates the length of video it requires.) When you

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fill a placeholder well with video, iMovie automatically makes the next well active in the storyboard. If youwant to fill wells out of order, simply click one to select it.

The video you click should conform to the style of shot illustrated by the placeholder image. For example,if the active placeholder shows a headshot, you should add a tight close-up shot of the cast member inquestion. If the image shows a character running, you should add footage of that character in action.

12. To view your projects clips organized by type of shot (for example, landscape, medium range, action) andby cast member, click the Shot List tab.

This project view is helpful for assessing just the video in your projects. You can add, change, and deletevideo clips in this view.

13. To delete a clip in Storyboard or Shot List view, click to select it and then press Delete.

14. Play back your trailer at any time by clicking the Play full-screen button (A, below) or Play button (B,below) in the upper-right corner of the template.

15. When youve completed your trailer by filling all of the placeholder wells with video clips, a dialog appears;click Watch Trailer to play the trailer, or click Done.

For more information about creating trailers, click the Browse Help button above and see the topics in Create amovie trailer.

Get Started

There are a number of ways to share your video projects with others. The most popular ways include burning theproject to a DVD, publishing it to your MobileMe Gallery, and publishing it to a sharing website such as YouTube orFacebook.

Create a DVD

In iMovie, open a project or select it in the Project Library (by clicking its name once), and then chooseShare > iDVD.

The Share menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

iMovie generates a finished version of your project and sends it to iDVD (another application in the iLifesuite).

iDVD opens with your movie in a new iDVD project, which you can burn to a DVD immediately.

For instructions about how to burn a DVD, choose Help > iDVD Help when the iDVD application is open.The Help menu appears in a gray bar at the top of your computer screen.

Share your movie

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Publish to your MobileMe Gallery

MobileMe is an Apple service that allows you to keep email, contacts, and your calendar synchronized acrossall your devicesincluding your computer, iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. MobileMe Gallery is a part of thisservice. It lets you publish photos and movies online so that you can share them with friends.

To publish to MobileMe Gallery, you must have an active MobileMe subscription and be connected to theInternet. You can sign up for a MobileMe subscription at the MobileMe website.

MobileMe website

1. In iMovie, open a project or select it in the Project Library (by clicking its name), and then choose Share >MobileMe Gallery.


If you arent already logged into MobileMe, youre prompted to do so.

2. In the Publish to your MobileMe window that opens, type a title and description for your movie in the Titleand Description text fields.

3. Select one or more of the sizes that are compatible with MobileMe, as indicated in the Sizes to publishtable.

4. Choose an option from the Viewable by pop-up menu to set password protection for your movie,depending on whether you want it to be publicly viewable or accessible only by specific people.

5. Select Hide movie on my Gallery home page if you dont want the movie to appear on the homepage ofyour Gallery.

6. Select Allow movie to be downloaded if you want viewers to be able to download copies of your movie.

7. Click Publish.

iMovie prepares your movie for publishing and uploads it to your MobileMe Gallery.

8. To watch your movie online, click View, or to notify your friends and family of the new movie youvepublished, click Tell a Friend.

Click OK to do neither and simply close the window.

Publish to YouTube or Facebook

To publish a movie to YouTube or Facebook, you need to be connected to the Internet, and you need anaccount on those websites. Accounts are free and easy to set up. If you dont have an account, first go towww.youtube.com or www.facebook.com and create one.

1. In iMovie, open a project or select it in the Project Library (by clicking its name), and then choose Share >YouTube, or Share > Facebook.


2. Choose your account from the Account pop-up menu.

If you dont see your account in the pop-up menu, click Add to add it.

3. Fill in the fields and make selections from pop-up menus.

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For YouTube, Category refers to the category under which the video will be categorized on the YouTubewebsite. Tags are keywords that viewers can use to search for your movie on the YouTube website.

4. Select a size of movie to publish thats compatible with YouTube or Facebook, as indicated in the Sizesto publish table.

Larger sizes typically offer higher quality but may take longer to upload.

5. For YouTube, to allow your video to be viewable by anyone, deselect Make this movie personal.

6. Click Next.

7. Click Publish.

iMovie uploads your movie to YouTube or Facebook; depending on website traffic, the movie may not beavailable on YouTube or Facebook right away.

8. To see your movie online, click View in the window that appears.

9. To notify your friends via email of the new movie youve published, click Tell a Friend.

For more ways to share your iMovie projects, click the Browse Help button above and see the topics in Share yourvideo project.

Get Started

iMovie is a powerful tool that can be used in two ways: to create movie projects from your raw footage, and to storeand organize video in a video library.

In iMovie, your video is organized in two places:

The Event Library holds the video you import (transfer) from your camera; this video is referred to as Events.

The Project Library lists the movie and trailer projects you create from your imported video.

There are a number of ways you can organize and view your projects and Events in iMovie.

Organize the Project Library

You can organize your projects into folders in the Project Library. This is useful if you have a lot of projects andwant to be able to find them more easily.

1. If you dont see the Project Library, open it by clicking the Project Library button, which is typically locatedin the top-left corner of the iMovie window.

2. Choose File > New Folder.


Organize your video

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3. Type a name for the folder in the Folder Name field, and then click Create.

4. Select a project in the library and drag it to the folder.

Move your pointer over the name of the project you want to move, and then hold down the button on yourmouse or trackpad as you move the selected project to the new folder. Release the mouse button whenthe folder name becomes highlighted with a blue bar.

5. To open a folder, click the white disclosure triangle to the left of its name. To close the folder, click thedisclosure triangle again.

Organize the Event Library

When you import video from your camera into iMovie, you name the video (called an Event), and then bydefault iMovie lists it in the Event Library by the date it was recorded. You can choose to organize the library inother ways, however. The ability to reorganize your Events makes iMovie useful as a video librarya platformfor organizing, accessing, and watching all your footage.

1. If you dont see the Event Library, click the Event Library button below the Event browser.

2. Do any of the following:

To view Events based on the month in which they were recorded, choose View > Group Events ByMonth.

The View menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

To see Events listed in descending order by the date they were recorded, choose View > MostRecent Events at Top.

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To separate clips in the Event browser by the days they were recorded, choose View > ShowSeparate Days in Events.

You might want to do this if you have any Events that contain video that was recorded on more thanone day. For example, an Event could have video recorded on New Years Eve and on New YearsDay. To find specific clips more easily, you could separate the footage by date.

To view Events according to the hard disk where theyre stored, choose View > Group Events By Disk,or click the Hard Disk button in the upper-right corner of the Event Library (shown below).

When you first transfer video from your camera, you can choose to store it on your computer or on adifferent hard disk thats connected to your computer.

To reorganize the library again, simply choose a new option from the View menu.

For more ways to organize video, click the Browse Help button above and see the topics in Organize video.

Browse Help Import video into iMovie

Some camcorders record high-definition (HD) video. When you import HD-format video into iMovie, you can import itin its full size or a large size.

If you have a MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or Mac mini computer, you might find that the large-size videoplays back more smoothly in iMovie.

Although large-size video doesnt preserve the quality of the full-size video, the loss in quality is typically unnoticeablewhen used as listed below.

Full-size video:Dimensions: 1920 by 1080 pixels

Space requirement: 40 GB per hour of video

Use for: exporting to Final Cut Pro, broadcasting on TV

Large-size video:Dimensions: 960 by 540 pixels

Space requirement: 13 GB per hour of video

Use for: viewing on your computer, publishing on the web, watching on HDTV

If you dont know if your camcorder records video in HD format, check the documentation that came with it. Somecamcorders are labeled as recording HD-format video but dont actually record at 1920 by 1080 pixels. In this case,theres little advantage to importing your movie in full size.

To change the size preference for importing HD-format video:

About importing high-definition (HD) video

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1. Choose iMovie > Preferences, and then click Video.

The iMovie menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

2. Choose an option from the Import HD video as pop-up menu.


To import video from your recording device to your computer, you need to connect your device to the computer usingeither a USB or FireWire cable. The kind of cable you need depends on the kind of device youre using:

USB device: For camcorders that record to DVD or hard disk drive (HDD), or for flash-based camcorders anddigital still cameras that record video, you use a USB cable. Your device most likely came with a USB cable, butyou can use any other USB cable as well. The USB cable should have at least one connector that plugs into yourMac and looks like the connector on the left (A, below). The other end of the USB cable, which plugs into yourrecording device, might look different (as shown in B, below).

FireWire device: For most camcorders that record to tape, you use a FireWire cable, with a 6-pin connector thatplugs into your Mac (A, below) on one end and a 4-pin connector that plugs into your camcorder (B, below) on theother end. Your device most likely came with a FireWire cable, but you can use any other FireWire cable as well.

Or you might have a FireWire 800 cable, with a different end that plugs into your camcorder:

About video cable connectors

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If your device didnt come with a cable and youre not sure what kind of device you have, you can check the logo nearthe cable ports on your device to see if it matches the FireWire or USB logo, both shown above. Otherwise, check thedocumentation that came with your device.

Note: Not all Mac computers include a FireWire port. Check your system configuration to confirm that your Macincludes FireWire support before attempting to connect a standard (DV) or HDV camcorder.

If youre unsure whether your camera is compatible with iMovie, go to the following support page:

iMovie 11 Supported Cameras

Browse Help Import video into iMovie Import from a camera or camcorder

To watch your recorded video or create a project with it in iMovie, you first need to transfer the videoimport itfromyour camcorder into iMovie. This topic explains how to import video from USB devices, which record to DVD, harddisk drive (HDD), or flash-based storage media.

If your camcorder records to tape, go to this topic instead: Import video from a tape-based (FireWire-equipped)camcorder.

Note: To import AVCHD video (a video format thats used in the majority of consumer camcorders), you must use aMac that has an Intel Core Duo processor or better. You can check which type of processor your Mac has bychoosing Apple menu > About This Mac. The Apple menu is on the left side of the light gray bar that appears acrossthe top of your computer screen.

To check whether your camera is compatible with iMovie, go to the following support page:


To import video from a USB recording device:

1. Turn on your camcorder or other device, and connect the camcorder to your computer with the cable thatcame with it or any other USB cable.

Note: If youre connecting a DVD camcorder, plugging it into your Mac can cause the application DVDPlayer to open. If that happens, simply close DVD Player.

2. Set the camcorder to PC Connect mode.

The name for this transfer mode may be different on your device. For some digital still cameras that shootvideo, for example, you need to set the camera to Browse mode. Your camera may automatically go intoconnect mode if you turn it on in playback mode while its connected to your computer.

3. If this is the first time youre importing from a device that records high-definition (HD) video, an HD ImportSetting dialog appears. Even if you arent importing HD video now, select Large or Full, and then click OK.

Import video from a USB camcorder or camera

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You can change this preference later if you do import HD video.


The Import window displays all the video clips on the device. You can use the playback controls below thewindow to review the contents of the clips.

5. To select which video clips you want to import, do one of the following:

To import all clips, make sure the Automatic/Manual switch is set to Automatic, and then click ImportAll.

To import most of the clips, set the Automatic/Manual switch to Manual. Deselect the clips you dontwant to import, and then click Import Checked.

To import only a few of the clips, set the Automatic/Manual switch to Manual, and then click UncheckAll. Select the clips you want, and then click Import Checked.

6. Choose the disk where you want to store the video from the Save to pop-up menu.

You can choose any hard disk thats connected to your computer. It takes 13 gigabytes (GB) of space tostore about one hour of video in standard (DV) format and 40 GB for video in high-definition (HD) format,so make sure your disk has enough available storage space for the video youre importing. The amount offree space on each available disk is shown in parentheses next to the disks name in the pop-up menu.


To add the imported video to an existing Event, select Add to Existing Event, and then choose itsname from the pop-up menu.

To create a new Event, type a name for it (for example, Birthday Party) in the Create new Eventfield. If you want to create a new Event for each day on which the video was recorded, select Splitdays into new Events.

8. To have iMovie analyze your video for stabilization, or to analyze it for the presence of people, selectAfter import analyze for, and then choose an option from the pop-up menu:

Stabilization: Analyzes the camera motion in your video so that any shaky parts can be played backmore smoothly. It can be time consuming, so if you have over an hours worth of video to analyze, youmight want to let iMovie do it overnight or while youre going to be away from your computer.

Stabilization and People: Analyzes the camera motion in your video so that any shaky parts can beplayed back more smoothly; also analyzes video for people so that you can later sort your video to seejust the footage that contains people.

People: Analyzes video for the presence of people so that you can later sort your video to see just thefootage that contains people.

If you dont set iMovie to analyze video for stabilization at this point, you can always do it later. You canalso analyze it for people later as well. Refer to the See also topics below for more information.


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The option you choose overrides what you chose in the HD Import Setting dialog the first time youimported from a device that records HD video (see step 3).

10. Click OK.

iMovie can take several minutes to more than an hour to import the video and generate thumbnail imagesof each clip, depending on how much video you have. The progress indicator in the Import window showsyou how long it might take.

SEE ALSO

Stabilize video motionAnalyze video for the presence of peopleFilter for video clips that feature images of people


To watch your recorded video or create a project with it in iMovie, you first need to transfer the videoimport itfromyour camcorder into iMovie.

This topic explains how to import from a tape-based camera. For best results, import the video using the samecamcorder that you used to record it, and close all other open applications on your computer while your video is beingimported.

If your camcorder records to DVD or hard disk drive (HDD), or if its a flash-based camcorder or digital still camerathat records video, go to this topic instead: Import video from a USB camcorder or camera.

To check whether your camera is compatible with iMovie, go to the following support page:


To import video from a tape-based camcorder to your computer:

1. Turn on the camcorder and set it to VTR or VCR mode (this mode may have a different name on yourcamera).

2. Connect the camcorder to your computer using a FireWire cable (the one that came with your camcorderor any other FireWire cable).

3. If this is the first time youre importing from a device that records high-definition (HD) video, an HD ImportSetting dialog appears. Even if you arent importing HD video now, select Large or Full, and then click OK.

You can change this preference later if you do import HD video.


5. If you have multiple devices connected to your computer, choose the device you want to import from theCamera pop-up menu.

6. Set the switch on the lower-left side of the window to one of the following:

Import video from a tape-based (FireWire-equipped) camcorder

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Automatic: Automatically rewinds the tape, imports all of the tape contents, and rewinds the tapeagain.

Manual: Lets you rewind and fast-forward the tape so that you can import only the footage you want.Use the controls to set your tape to the point where you want to begin importing.

7. Click Import.


You can choose any hard disk thats connected to your computer. It takes 13 gigabytes (GB) of space tostore about one hour of video in standard (DV) format and 40 GB for video in high-definition (HD) format,so make sure your disk has enough available storage space for the video youre importing. The amount offree space on each available disk is shown in parentheses next to the disks name in the pop-up menu.




10. To have iMovie analyze your video for stabilization, or to analyze it for the presence of people, selectAnalyze for stabilization after import, and then choose an option from the pop-up menu:




If you dont set iMovie to analyze video for stabilization at this point, you can always do it later. You canalso analyze it for people later as well.


The option you choose overrides what you chose in the HD Import Setting dialog the first time youimported from a device that records HD video (see step 3).

12. Click Import, and then do one of the following:

If youre importing automatically, you can leave your computer and come back when the import iscomplete.

If youre importing manually, click Stop (in the lower-right corner of the Import window) when the section of

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video you want has been imported. Then use the import controls to set your video to a point where youwant to begin importing again, and repeat steps 7 through 11. Continue in this manner until you haveimported all the video you want.

The video plays as its importing. It takes as long to import the video as it takes to watch it at normal speed; it mighttake longer to import HD video.

SEE ALSO



If you have an AVCHD-based camcorder with a hard disk or a memory card, you can make a backup copy, or anarchive, of the cameras contents on your computer or an external hard disk.

Because you can import video into iMovie from an archive, archiving the video on your camcorder can be useful if youwant to do the following:

Quickly empty the contents of your camcorder so that you can record more video right away (rather than waitingfor it to import into iMovie, which can take time).

Import the archived video on multiple computers without having to keep it on the camcorder.

To archive your camcorders video:

1. If you want to save the archive to an external hard disk, connect the external hard disk to your computer.

2. Turn on your camcorder, connect it to your computer, and then set it to PC Connect mode.

(The name for this transfer mode may be different on your device. For some digital still cameras that shootvideo, for example, you need to set the camera to Browse mode.) Your camera may automatically go intoconnect mode if you turn it on in playback mode while its connected to your computer.

3. Click Archive All at the bottom of the Import window that opens.

If the Import window doesnt open, choose File > Import from Camera.

4. In the Save As field, type a name for the archive.

5. Choose where you want to save the archive, and then click Create.

Dont save the archive inside the iMovie Events or iMovie Projects folder. This could make iMovie operatemore slowly.

Archived video is stored on your hard disk and doesnt appear in iMovie until you import it: Import video from acamera archive into iMovie.

Make a backup copy (archive) of the contents of your camcorder

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If youve connected your camcorder to your computer but the Import window doesnt open, or iMovie cant controlyour device, there are several things you can try to establish the connection.

Here are some things to check:

1. Make sure that youre using the correct equipment configuration:

Your camcorder must be compatible with iMovie. For a list of compatible camcorders, go to thefollowing support page:


Your camcorder must be connected properly to your computer.

Your camcorder must be set to the correct output mode. On some camcorders, this is called VTR orVCR mode, but not all camcorders use the same terminology, so check the documentation that camewith your device. On some camcorders you must set the output to DV mode or HDV mode, dependingon whether the content is standard (DV) or high definition (HDV).

If youre connecting a tape-based camcorder to your computer, you should be using a FireWire cable(also called IEEE 1394, or i.LINK), not a USB cable.

If youre connecting to a device that records to flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or DVD media,you should be using a USB cable, not a FireWire cable.

If youre importing video from a camera or other flash memory device, make sure the file format of yourvideo is MPEG-2 or MPEG-4, which are compatible with iMovie.

If youre importing from an AVCHD camcorder, make sure youre using a Mac with an Intel Core Duoprocessor or better.

If youre importing from an AVCHD DVD camcorder, make sure your computer has the latest versionof Mac OS X installed.

If youve enabled Fast User Switching, make sure no one else is trying to use the camcorder from adifferent account at the same time.

2. If you still cant import video after checking the items above, try the following:

Turn the camcorder off and on again.

Disconnect the cable from both the camcorder and the computer, and then reconnect it.

Quit and then reopen iMovie.

Restart your computer.

Try using a different cable.

Try using a different computer with iMovie installed.

If iMovie doesnt recognize your camcorder

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Browse Help Import video into iMovie Import from other sources

If your digital still camera or digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) is compatible with iMovie 11, you can importvideo into iMovie and then use the footage just as you would any other video footage you import.

If your digital still camera isnt compatible with iMovie '11, you may be able to import video into iPhoto. After itsimported into iPhoto, footage on your computer thats in a video format compatible with iMovie automatically appearsin your iMovie Event Library after iMovie generates thumbnails of the video. To learn about importing video intoiPhoto, open iPhoto and choose Help > iPhoto Help.

To check whether your camera is compatible with iMovie, click the link below:


To import video from a compatible digital still camera:

1. Turn on your camera and set it to import mode.

2. Connect the camera to your computer.

3. If iPhoto opens, close it.

4. In iMovie, if the Import window doesnt open, click the Import button in the iMovie toolbar.

The Import window displays all the video clips on the device. You can use the playback controls below thewindow to review selected clips.


To import all clips, make sure the Automatic/Manual switch is set to Automatic, and then click ImportAll. iMovie remembers which clips youve already imported and wont reimport these clips.






To create a new Event, type a name for it (for example, Birthday Party) in the Create new Eventfield. If you want to create a new Event for each day on which the video was recorded, select Split

Import video from your digital still camera or DSLR

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days into new Events.

8. To have iMovie analyze your video for stabilization, or to analyze it for the presence of people, selectAnalyze for stabilization after import and then choose an option from the pop-up menu:





9. Click Import.

iMovie can take a while to import the video and generate thumbnail images of each clip, depending onhow much video you have. The progress indicator in the Import From window shows you how long it mighttake.

To import video from a compatible DSLR:

1. Turn on your camera and set it to import mode.

2. Connect the camera to your computer.


4. In iMovie, choose File > Import > Movies.


5. In the window that opens, click the name of your device on the left side of the window below the Devicesheading, and then click the appropriate folders to navigate to the movies located on your camera.

6. Select the movies you want to import

Note: Movie file names have a .MOV extension. Each type of camera has a different file structure andnaming convention. Check your cameras documentation if youre unsure of where your movie files arestored.





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9. Click Import.

iMovie can take a while to import the video and generate thumbnail images of each clip, depending onhow much video you have. The progress indicator in the Import From window shows you how long it mighttake.

To access iPhoto video in iMovie:

1. In iMovie, click the Event Library button in the lower-left corner of the iMovie window, or chooseWindow > Show Event Library.

The Window menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

2. Click the iPhoto Videos subhead in the Event Library.

All of your iPhoto video appears in the Event browser on the right.

SEE ALSO



Importing video from iPhone is the same as importing from a USB device or camera.

To import video from iPhone:

1. Turn on iPhone and connect it to your computer.


3. In iMovie, if the Import window doesnt open, click the Import button in the iMovie toolbar.

The Import window displays all the video clips on the device. You can use the playback controls below thewindow to review selected clips.


Import video from iPhone

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To import all clips, make sure the Automatic/Manual switch is set to Automatic, and then click ImportAll. iMovie remembers which clips youve already imported and wont reimport these clips.







7. To have iMovie analyze your video for stabilization, or to analyze it for the presence of people, selectAnalyze for stabilization after import and then choose an option from the pop-up menu:





8. Click Import.

iMovie can take several minutes to more than an hour to import the video and generate thumbnail imagesof each clip, depending on how much video you have. The progress indicator in the Import From windowshows you how long it might take.

SEE ALSO



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After you make an archive (backup copy) of your cameras contents on your computer or on an external hard disk,you can import the footage into iMovie from the archive.

To import video from an archive:

1. In iMovie, choose File > Import > Camera Archive.


2. In the Finder window, navigate to the folder of the archive you want to import, and then click Import.

3. Follow the instructions for importing video from a camcorder: Import video from a USB camcorder orcamera.


When you import video into iMovie the first time, iMovie creates a folder on your hard disk called iMovie Drop Box.

You can copy or save video files to this drop box without opening iMovie. To find the drop box folder on your harddisk, go to your home folder/Movies/iMovie Events. In the Finder window, the home folder has the house icon to theleft of its name.

Every time you launch iMovie, it checks if there are new files in the drop box and if so, it asks you if you want to importthem into iMovie. The drop box is a convenient way to save files to your computer quickly without having to importthem into iMovie right away.

To import files from iMovie Drop Box:

1. Open iMovie.

iMovie detects if you have new items in the drop box that havent yet been imported.

2. In the dialog that opens, do any of the following:

To add the files to an exisiting Event, select Add to existing Event and then choose an options fromthe pop-up menu.

To create a new Event with the files, select Create new Event and then type a name in the text field.

If youre importing HD video, select Optimize video, and then choose Full or Large from the pop-upmenu.

3. Click Import.

The files now appear in iMovie, within the Event you specified at the time the files were imported.

Import video from a camera archive into iMovie

Import video from iMovie Drop Box

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You can import video from existing iMovie HD projects to create new Events and projects. Only the original sourcevideo is imported; any changes youve made to the video and anything youve added to itsuch as music, titles, andspecial effectsarent imported.

When you import video from iMovie HD projects:

All clips from the clip viewer in iMovie HD are added to a new Event in iMovie.

All clips from the timeline in iMovie HD are added to a new project in iMovie.

Any clip that was dragged into the project from the Finder isnt imported; only video clips that were imported froma camcorder into the original iMovie HD project are imported into the new project.

All transitions are replaced by cross-dissolve transitions.

No titles or effects that were applied to the video are transferred to the new project.

No music is transferred to the new project.

To import video from a project made in iMovie HD:

1. In iMovie, choose File > Import > Import iMovie HD Project, and then locate your existing iMovie HDproject, typically found in the Movies folder on your hard disk.


2. If the HD Import Setting dialog appears, select Large or Full, even if you arent importing high-definition(HD) video now, and then click OK.

3. Choose a disk where you want to save the project from the Save to pop-up menu.

You can choose any supported hard disk thats connected to your computer. It takes about 13 GB to storean hour of standard (DV) video and 40 GB to store an hour of HD video, so make sure you have enoughspace on the disk you choose. The amount of free space on each available disk is shown in parenthesesnext to the disks name in the pop-up menu.


The option you choose overrides what you chose in the HD Import Setting dialog in step 2.

5. Click Import.



You can import movie files into iMovie that are stored on your computer or a connected hard disk. These movie files

Import video from iMovie HD projects

Import video from movie files

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can be in a number of formats, including MPEG-4 and standard (DV) file formats and some .mov file formats.

iMovie imports AVCHD video files directly from the camcorder only. See the topics in this section about importingvideo from the type of camcorder you use.

To import video from a movie file:

1. In iMovie, choose File > Import > Movies, and then find the file you want in the Finder window.


2. If the HD Import Setting dialog appears, select Large or Full, even if you arent importing high-definition(HD) video now, and then click OK.


You can choose any supported hard disk thats connected to your computer. It takes 13 gigabytes (GB) ofspace to store about one hour of video in standard (DV) format and 40 GB for video in HD format, somake sure your disk has enough available storage space for the video youre importing. The amount offree space on each available disk is shown in parentheses next to the disks name in the pop-up menu.


To add the imported video to an existing Event, select Add to existing Event, and then choose itsname from the pop-up menu.

To create a new Event, type a name for it (for example, Birthday Party) in the Create new Eventfield.

5. If youre importing high-definition video, choose a size from the Optimize video pop-up menu.

The option you choose overrides what you chose in the HD Import Setting dialog in step 2.

6. Choose what to do with the original files:

To retain the original files intact after copying them into iMovie, select Copy files.

To delete the original files after copying them into iMovie, select Move files.

7. Click Import.


SEE ALSO



You can import a project created with iMovie on your iOS deviceiPad, iPhone, or iPod touchinto iMovie on yourImport an iMovie project from an iOS device

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Mac. Using iMovie on your computer, you can then edit the project just as you would any other project.

To import a project created using iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch:

1. Connect your device to your computer.

2. On your device, in the iMovie Projects screen, scroll to center the thumbnail for the project you want toimport into iMovie on your computer.

3. Tap the Share button , and then tap Send Project to iTunes.

4. Open iTunes on your Mac, and select the device on the left side of the iTunes window, below Devices.

5. Tap Apps at the top of the iTunes window, and then tap iMovie in the Apps pane on the left, below FileSharing.

The shared project appears on the right in the iMovie Documents pane.

6. To copy the project from your device, drag it from the pane to your computeronto your desktop, intoyour Movies folder, or another convenient location.

7. Open iMovie on your Mac, and choose File > Import > iMovie for iOS Project.

8. In the window that appears, locate the iOS project on your computer, and then select it.

9. In the window that appears, select to create a new Event with the project or add the video to an existingEvent.

If you create a new Event, the project is added to your Project Library and a new Event is added to yourEvent Library. Both have the same name as your iOS project.

If you add the video to an existing Event, the project is added to your Project Library and the video isadded to the Event you specify. The Event retains its original name.

To facilitate further editing, the imported Event video includes the entirety of the video clips used in youriOS project, not just the specific portions you used. For example, if a video clip included 25 frames but youused just 12 of those frames in your iOS project, all 25 frames of the original clip are imported.

10. Click Import.

The iOS project retains all audio and video edits and can now be further edited like any other iMovieproject. If the iOS project had a theme, the theme titles and transitions are retained, and you can add newones based on this original theme.

If you want to change the projects theme, only the themes in iMovie for Mac are available. If you changeto one of these themes, you cant change back to the original iOS theme, or any other iOS theme.

If your project contained photos, these images are retained in your project but arent available from theiMovie Photo browser.


Record video directly into iMovie

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You can record video directly into iMovie using your computers built-in iSight camera or a tape-based camera orcamcorder.

To record video into iMovie:

1. Do one of the following:

If your computer has a built-in iSight camera, click the Import button to open the Import window.

If your computer doesnt come with a built-in iSight camera, connect a tape-based camera orcamcorder, set it to VTR mode (this mode may have a different name on your device), and thenchoose the camera you want to use from the Import From pop-up menu.

2. Click Capture.

3. Choose the disk where you want to store the video youre about to record from the Save to pop-upmenu.

You can choose any hard disk thats connected to your computer. Make sure the disk has enoughavailable storage space for the video youre recording. It takes about 13 GB to store an hour of standard(DV) video and 40 GB to store an hour of high-definition (HD) video. The amount of free space on eachavailable disk is shown in parentheses next to the disks name in the pop-up menu.


To add the imported video to an existing Event, select Add to existing Event, and then choose itsname from the pop-up menu.


5. To have iMovie analyze your video for stabilization, or to analyze it for the presence of people, selectAnalyze for stabilization after import, and then choose an option from the pop-up menu:




If you dont set iMovie to analyze video for stabilization at this point, you can always do it later. You canalso analyze it for people later as well.

6. When youre ready to begin recording, click Capture.

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The camera begins recording immediately.

7. When you want to stop recording, click Stop.

A new video clip is created. You can click Capture to begin recording again. Choose whether to add thevideo to an existing Event or to create a new one, and then click Capture. You can repeat this process asmany times as you want.

8. When youre finished recording, click Done.

SEE ALSO


Browse Help Import video into iMovie Stabilize shaky video

Sometimes your camera moves a bit while youre recording, making your video footage appear shaky. iMovie cansmooth out playback in shaky video clips by analyzing them and then stabilizing the video when its added to aproject. This analysis can happen either while youre importing or anytime after you import. Once a clip is analyzed forstabilization, it never needs to be analyzed again.

Analyzed video plays smoothly in any project that includes it (though you can turn off stabilization for any clip, so thatit plays as originally recorded).

Analyzing video for stabilization can take a while, so if you have over an hours worth of video to analyze, you mightwant to let iMovie analyze it overnight or while youre going to be away from your computer.

To analyze the camera motion in your video:

Do one of the following:

When youre completing the steps to import video, select Analyze for stabilization after import in theImport dialog.

In the Project browser or Event browser, select one or more video clips youve already imported, and thenchoose File > Analyze Video > Stabilization.


Double-click a clip in the Project browser to open the Clip inspector, and then select the Smooth clipmotion checkbox.

After iMovie has stabilized the camera motion in a video clip, to watch the video play smoothly, you can add itto a project and play it from the Project browser. If you want to preview the stabilized footage in the Eventbrowser, select a range of footage, and then Control-click the selection and choose "Play with StabilizationPreview.

A red squiggly line underlines any video in the Project browser or Event browser that has high levels of shake,as shown below.

Stabilize video motion

5/5/13 5:57 PM


When you move the pointer over a video clip in a project that has been analyzed for stabilization, an icon in theupper-left corner of the clip shows the level of stabilization:

Hand with black background: The clip is fully stabilized and required little to no zooming.

Hand with orange background: The clip is partially stabilized and required extra zooming, so some areasof your video may be cropped out.

Hand with red background: The clip is partially stabilized and required extensive zooming, so more of yourvideo might be cropped out.

Hand with red background, with a slash through it: The clip couldnt be stabilized.

To turn off stabilization of a video clip in a project:

By default, video with camera motion that has been analyzed for stabilization plays smoothly when playedwithin a project, but you can turn off stabilization so that the video plays back as it was originally recorded.

1. In the Project browser, double-click a video clip with camera motion that has been analyzed forstabilization.

2. In the inspector that opens, deselect the Smooth clip motion checkbox.

If you turn off stabilization for a clip, you can turn it back on in the inspector; iMovie doesnt have to reanalyzethe camera motion in that clip.You can also set iMovie so that by default, analyzed video is not played backstabilized. Choose iMovie > Preferences, click Browser, and then deselect Automatically stabilize clips thathave been analyzed. The iMovie menu appears in a light gray bar across the top of your computer screen.

SEE ALSO

Correct rolling shutter distortion in a video clip


iMovie stabilizes video by analyzing the camera motion in the video and then moving the picture the opposite way tosteady it onscreen. In this process, iMovie zooms in on the picture slightly. The amount of unstable motion in the clip

Adjust the zoom level in stabilized video

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determines how much zooming is necessary.

Zooming in crops out some of the picture, but you can fine-tune the level of stabilization to strike the right balancebetween keeping the video steady and retaining as much of the picture as possible.

When you move the pointer over a video clip in a project that has been analyzed for stabilization, an icon in the upper-left corner of the clip shows the level of stabilization:

Hand with black background: The clip is fully stabilized and required little to no zooming.

Hand with orange background: The clip is partially stabilized and required extra zooming, so some areas of yourvideo may be cropped out.

Hand with red background: The clip is partially stabilized and required extensive zooming, so more of your videomight be cropped out.

Hand with red background, with a slash through it: The clip couldnt be stabilized.

To adjust the zoom level in stabilized video:

1. In the Project browser, double-click a video clip in a project that has been analyzed for stabilization.

Note: You cant adjust the stabilization level of video clips in the Event browser.

2. At the top of the inspector that opens, click Clip, and then drag the Maximum Zoom slider.

Zoom in (move the slider to the right) for greater stabilization. Zoom out (move the slider to the left) toshow more of the picture.

3. Click Done.

SEE ALSO



Depending on how your footage was shot, video can still look blurry or erratic even after it has been stabilized.

For example, if the camera made fast movements while recording at a low shutter speed, stabilized video might stillappear blurred.

Large objects moving across the screen can also cause stabilized video to look erratic.

For best results with stabilizing video, record footage using a high shutter speed. Also, use a wider angle with the

If stabilized video looks blurry or erratic

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camera farther away from the subject, so that when your video is stabilized, iMovie can zoom in to the center of yourvideo without cropping out the subject matter.

Note: Some video, such as footage shot with camcorders that use CMOS image sensors, may appear distorted afterstabilization. These camcorders often use a technology called a rolling shutter, which exposes different parts of theframe at different times until the entire frame is fully exposed. If the camcorder is moved before the entire frame isfully exposed, the resulting image may appear distorted. Applying video stabilization to this video may make thisdistortion more apparent.

SEE ALSO


Browse Help Watch footage and projects

iMovie is a multipurpose application. You can use it to create original video projects, but you can also use it to storeand organize your video footage and to watch videothe projects you create and your raw footage (which, in iMovie,is organized into Events). When you w

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