How Do I?> edit a video in iMovie?

How do I edit a video in iMovie?

Answer

Follow the tips below to get started with the software available in the Health Sciences Library’s Media Studio. Schedule a consultation with our Library multimedia experts for specialized one-on-one help with your video editing project, or Ask Rover if you have questions while working on your project in the Library.

Contents

Introduction

iMovie is Apple’s entry-level editing program, and works well for quick, straight-forward editing tasks. The essential process is importing clips and then arranging them in a sequence.

Step-By-Step

  1. Open iMovie 09 by clicking on the iMovie icon on the dock at the bottom of the screen.

    iMovie 09 icon
     
  2. When iMovie loads, create a new project. From the File menu, select New Project.

     Click the File Menu then New Project
     
  3. Type in a name for your project, then select Widescreen or Standard.
  4. If you are importing footage from a camera, click Import from Camera. For movie files you already imported or downloaded, click Import, then Movies.

    click the file menu then import
     
  5. Set the toggle switch to Automatic to import the whole tape (recommended), or Manual to import only a segment, then click the Import button.
  6. Select Create a new Event, enter a name for the event, then click Import.


     
  7. Your imported clips show up in the clip window as a series of preview frames.

    imported clips
     
  8. You can select either a whole clip or a portion of a clip to add to your project.
    • To select a whole clip, click on the clip.
    • To select a portion of a clip, click and drag the cursor over the section you want. A yellow box will highlight the selected portion. Grab the edges of the box to fine tune the selection.

    select the edges of the yellow box to fine tune selection
     
  9. Once you have selected the clip or portion of a clip you wish to use in the final movie, drag it into the project window in the upper left.

    drag clip to project window
     
  10. Once your clips are in the project window, you can select the individual clips, multiple clips, or portions of the clips.
    • To select portions, click and drag as you did in step 8.
    • To select multiple clips, hold down the SHIFT key and click on each clip you want to select.
    • Once you have your clip(s) selected, you can delete them by hitting the Delete key on your keyboard.

      select clips in project window
       
  11. To create transitions (such as dissolves or fades) between clips, click the Transitions button. Drag the style you like from the transitions window into the project window, placing it between the clips that need transitioning.

    select transitions
     
  12. If you want to add music or sound effects to your movie, click the Audio button.
    • Select from iMovie's sound effects, from your iTunes music library, or from a file on your thumbdrive.
    • Once you have found the song or sound you like, drag it into the project window at the spot where you want it to start playing.
    • Move it around in the project window once you have it there to fine tune the timing.

    select audio and drag into project window
     
  13. To add titles to your movie, click the Title button.
    • Find the title style you want, then drag it over into the project window.
    • If you drag it between clips you'll be given the option of selecting a background.
    • If you drag it over top of a clip, the title will float above the clip as the clip plays.

    select title and drag into project window

    select title background
     
  14. Once you have positioned the title, click on the preview window to change the title text.

    change title text
     

 

Resources

Help

For additional information about editing video or other multimedia questions, contact the HSL TEC Team at (434) 924-5521 or hsltec@virginia.edu, or if you are in the Library, Ask Rover.

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