iMovie Directions (3.0 and 4.0)

Open iMovie:

-Click the iMovie icon in the Dock at the bottom of the screen. OR double click the system hard drive. Click ÒApplications.Ó Then double click ÒiMovie.Ó

Importing a Video:

-Open the iMovie program. Use a FireWire and connect the DV camcorder to the computer. Set the camcorder to VCR mode (on some camcorders itÕs called VTR). Click and drag the blue dot at the bottom of the screen from the scissors icon to the movie icon.

-Choose ÒPreferencesÓ from the iMovie menu. Click the box to the left of ÒAutomatically Start New Clip at Scene Break.Ó

-Click ÒImport.Ó Each clip imported displays in the ClipÕs pane. To start and stop importing, click Import or press the spacebar. With iMovie in camcorder mode, the playback buttons at the bottom of the screen control the camcorder.

Renaming Clips:

-Click the ClipÕs name

-Type a new name

Cropping Clips (marks footage to keep):

-Select a clip to crop by clicking the clip. Clips already in the timeline can also be cropped.

-Click the dashed ruler area beneath the movie. Triangle markers will appear. Drag the triangle markers left or right to crop the clip. The area between the arrows is the portion that will be kept. The length of the clip is displayed as it is cropped. To fine-tune cropping, click a cropping arrow. Then use the keyboard arrows to move the arrow in the desired direction.

-To review a cropped clip, drag the playhead left and right

-Choose ÒCropÓ from the Edit menu or push the ÒAppleÓ key and ÒKÓ

Restoring Cropped Clips:

-To recover footage that was wrongly cropped, select the clip by clicking it

-Choose ÒRestore ClipÓ from the Advanced menu

-Reclaim disk space by emptying the Trash periodically. To do this, choose ÒEmpty TrashÓ from the File menu. However, be aware that once the Trash is emptied, the cropped out footage canÕt be restored.

Trimming Clips (marks footage to get rid of):

-Click the dashed ruler area beneath the movie. Drag the arrows to select the portion of clip to delete. Choose ÒClearÓ from the Edit menu or press delete on the keyboard.

-Use trimming only to remove footage from the very beginning or very end of a clip. If footage is deleted from the middle of a video clip, it will make an awkward jump in the action.

Playing Back Clips:

-Select a Clip by clicking it OR select several clips by holding down the ÒAppleÓ key while clicking the clips

-Click the ÒPlayÓ button in the bottom left of the screen or press the spacebar

Playing Back Entire Project:

-Move the playhead button to the beginning of the movie

-Click the ÒPlayÓ button at the bottom left of the screen

Adding Clips to a Movie:

-To choose a single clip, click it and hold down the mouse key. To choose several clips hold down the ÒAppleÓ key while clicking the clips. Then click any one of the selected clips and hold down the mouse button. Drag the clip to the timeline and release the mouse button.

-Clips can also be added to the Timeline by clicking the chosen clip.  Then choose ÒCutÓ from the Edit menu to delete the clip from its current location and move it to another location.  Or choose ÒCopyÓ from the Edit menu to copy the clip and move it to another location. Click the Timeline where the clip needs to be placed. Choose ÒPasteÓ from the Edit menu.

Switching Views in iMovie:

-Click the reel of film or the clock in the bottom left of the screen to change views in iMovie OR press the ÒAppleÓ key and ÒEÓ

Changing Clip Order in the Clip Viewer:

-Click a clip and hold down the mouse button. Drag the clip to the desired position and release the mouse button.

-The Clip Viewer is ideal when first assembling a movie and for experimenting with clip sequence.  Use the Timeline Viewer to fine-tune the movie by working with the sound, trimming clips, and changing the speed of the video.

Changing Clip Order in the Timeline Viewer:

- If there is a transition between the two original clips, delete the transition by clicking it and pressing the Delete key on the keyboard

-Click the clip to be added and hold the mouse button down. Drag the clip between the two existing Clips in the Timeline. The existing clips will separate to make room for the new clip. Release the mouse button.

-It is easier to change the order of clips in the Clip Viewer.  Use the Timeline Viewer to work with sound, trim clips directly, and speed up or slow down video.

Adding Bookmarks:

-A bookmark serves as a post it note of sorts. Position the playhead where you want a bookmark. Press the ÒApple KeyÓ and ÒB.Ó

-You can add a bookmark while the movie is playing by pressing ÒApple KeyÓ and ÒBÓ at the desired time for the bookmark

Trimming Tips using the Timeline:

-To trim a clip, Click one end of the clip and drag the edge of the clip towards the center of the clip. To recover trimmed footage, provided the Trash hasnÕt been emptied, drag the edge of the clip back to the desired position.

-In the Timeline, before the Trash is emptied, a clip that has been trimmed has square corners and a clip that hasnÕt been trimmed has slightly rounded corners

-If a clip is lengthened, all the clips to the right will retain their length. The clips will also shift to the right, extending the total length of the movie. This is called the ripple edit.

-To lengthen a clip and make the clip directly to its right shorten; press the ÒAppleÓ key while lengthening the clip. All other clips stay in place and the overall length of the project stays the same. This is called the rolling edit.

-To turn on Timeline snapping, select ÒPreferencesÓ from the iMovie menu. Click the box to the left of ÒTimeline snapping.Ó This will make the playhead snap to various elements as a clip is dragged. Bookmarks create areas for a clip to snap to. To turn on snapping temporarily, press the Shift key while dragging a clip.

Creating a Cutaway Effect:

-While taping the footage, take some shots for the cutaway effect. For example, tape a clip of the students as they are being taught. The main footage will be of the teacher teaching, but there can be cutaways to the studentsÕ reaction to the teaching methodologies and strategies.

-Import the entire video (see directions for importing a video).

-Choose ÒPreferencesÓ from the iMovie menu and make sure the box to the left of ÒExtract Audio in Paste OverÓ has a checkmark in it. If not, click the box. This will display the cutaway shot along with the sound from the primary clip.

-Crop the beginning of the footage so that it begins at the desired spot (see ÒCropping a Clip). Press the ÒAppleÓ key and ÒC.Ó DonÕt worry about cropping the end of the cutaway at this point.

-Make sure that the desired main footage is in the timeline. Select the spot in the timeline where the cutaway clip will begin. (Bookmarks are a good way to remember where the cutaway is supposed to go). Drag the crop markers to indicate the area to be replaced by the cutaway, this area will highlight yellow on the timeline. Press the ÒApple KeyÓ and ÒV.Ó In the future if the cutaway gets moved, the audio will adjust accordingly so there will be no gap in the audio.

-Crop the end of the Cutaway to the desired spot.  (see ÒCropping a ClipÓ)

Adding a Photo from iPhoto:

-Click the Photos tab below the movie clips. Uncheck the ÒKen Burns Effect boxÓ at the top of the screen by clicking the box to remove the checkmark.

-Click the blue arrow above the pictures and then click the album name to choose the album to be viewed

-Click the desired picture

-Turn on the ÒKen Burns EffectÓ by clicking in the box if it is decided that the duration of the photos will not need to be changed at all. If the photos duration may need to be changed as the project continues, wait to turn on the ÒKen Burns effectÓ until after all the clips are in the timeline.  This effect can be tricky because the settings for a single picture will be applied to all future pictures that are selected for iMovie with the ÒKen Burns EffectÓ turned on.

-Click the circle to the left of ÒStartÓ to adjust the appearance of the photo. Click and drag the blue circle on the top scroll bar to adjust the amount of zoom for the picture when it appears. Click and drag the blue circle on the bottom scroll bar to adjust the speed of the pictureÕs appearance.

-Click the circle to the left of ÒFinishÓ to adjust the disappearance of the photo. Click and drag the blue circle in the top scroll bar to adjust the amount of zoom when the picture disappears. Click and drag the blue circle in the bottom scroll bar to adjust the speed of the pictureÕs appearance.

-To move the photo around after it is zoomed in on, click the photo and hold down the mouse button. Drag the picture to the desired position and release the mouse button. 

-If desired, click ÒPreviewÓ to display the photo with the current settings. Click ÒReverseÓ to reverse the current zoom and speed settings.

Ken Burns Effect tips:

-When ÒKen Burns effectÓ is turned on, the photoÕs duration can be trimmed in the timeline but not extended.  Turn off the effect to extend the photoÕs duration

-To change settings on a photo, click the photo. Click the ÒPhotoÓ tab below the clips. Make the desired adjustments and click ÒUpdate.Ó If thereÕs a transition on either side of the photo, a pop-up box will display ÒTransition must be re-rendered.Ó Click okay to have the transition adjust to the new settings

-Use zooming to help tell a story. Zoom in on a photo to draw the audiences attention to a particular area. Zoom out to show the information in context.

-Avoid very fast zooming unless a specific effect is desired which requires it (.05-.1 works well for a zooming speed).

-Alternate between zooming in and zooming out for good variety

Importing music for the movie from a CD:

-Click the ÒAudioÓ tab below the movie clips. Insert the CD.

-Click the desired song title and click ÒPlace at Playhead.Ó

Importing music for the movie from iTunes:

-Position the playhead in the clip where the music begins.

-Click the ÒAudioÓ tab located below the movie clips. Click the blue arrows and then clicking the name of the desired playlist. Click the name of the song. A song can also be found by typing the name of the song title or artist name in the search area and press enter. Then click the name of the desired song

-Click ÒPlace at PlayheadÓ

Recording an Audio Narration:

-Connect a microphone to the computer. Click the ÒAudioÓ tab below the movie clips.

-Click the red button to the right of the volume to start recording. Speak and position the microphone so that the volume bar is in the yellow, avoid the red because the sound will be distorted.  Also, position the mic to avoid the Òpopping pÓ sound. Do a test by saying Òpretty poppies.Ó If it sounds like the mic is being blown into, move the mic back.

-Click the red button again to stop recording. The narration will be added to the first audio track, positioning it at the playheadÕs location and naming it ÒVoice 01.Ó

Adjusting the Volume of the Clip:

-Select the audio clip by clicking it

-Drag the blue dot on the line below the timeline to adjust the volume OR type a value in the text box to the left of the line

Create an Audio Fade In or Out:

-Select the audio clip by clicking it. Click the ÒEdit VolumeÓ box below the timeline.

-To lower or increase the volume, drag the yellow bar down or up. To move the marker, drag it left to move it earlier or right to move it later. To adjust the duration of the fade, drag the beginning point of the marker left or right.

Adjusting Volume over time:

-To make music quieter during a narration, click the ÒEdit VolumeÓ box below the timeline. Click the center horizontal line at the point where the adjustment is to be and a volume marker will appear.    

-Drag the marker down to decrease the volume or up to increase the volume. Drag the marker left or right to move the point at which the volume changes. To delete a marker click it, then press the ÒDeleteÓ key.

-Uncheck the ÒEdit VolumeÓ box by clicking it

Audio advice:

-Trim, or remove, portions of an audio clip by clicking and dragging on the end of the clip

-Always set the camcorder to 16-bit setting for audio recording

-Split an audio clip so that portions can be adjusted independently of each other by clicking the desired audio clip. Position the playhead at the desired splitting position. Choose ÒSplit Selected Audio Clip at PlayheadÓ from the Edit menu.

Transitions:

-Click the ÒTransitionsÓ tab below the movie clips. Click one of the transitions listed and a preview will be displayed in the box to the upper right. To change the speed of the transition, click the blue dot above the transitions list and drag it. Dragging the dot to the right will increase the speed and to the left will decrease the speed of the transition. To preview the transition with selected settings, click ÒPreview.Ó

-Decide on a transition, click the box to the left of the transitionÕs name and hold down the mouse button. Drag the transition between the two clips in the timeline and release the mouse button.

-To view the transition after it is position in the timeline, click the transition, and press the spacebar. If the transition is not correct, click it and press the ÒDeleteÓ Key.

Creating Titles:

-Click the ÒTitlesÓ tab below the movie clips. Some title styles are grouped together, click the gray arrow to the left of the title style name to expand the list. Choose the desired title style by clicking its name.

-iPhoto is preset to have a clip be the titleÕs background. To make a titleÕs background a solid color, click the box to the left of ÒOver black.Ó Then click the box to the left of ÒColor.Ó Click the desired background color for the title.

-If publishing the movie on the internet, click the box to the left of ÒQT marginsÓ to have the title positioned closer to the edge of the screen. To adjust the titles duration, click and drag the blue dot on the line next to ÒSpeed.Ó Type the titles text in the box near the bottom of the screen. To view what the title will look like, click ÒPreviewÓ

-Add the title by clicking it and holding down the mouse button. Drag the title to the desired location in the timeline and release the mouse button.

Updating a Title:

-Click the existing title in the timeline. Then click the ÒTitlesÓ tab below the movie clips.

-Make the desired adjustments

-Click ÒUpdateÓ

Adding Effects to a Clip/s:

-Select a clip by clicking it. Or select several clips by holding down the ÒAppleÓ key while clicking the clips. To add an effect to only a portion of a clip, click the clip in the timeline. Drag the crop markers to highlight the range of footage to which the effect will be added.

-Click the ÒEffectsÓ button at the bottom of the screen. Click the desired effect to select it.  A preview of that effect will be displayed in the Effects pane at the upper right.

-Specify the desired setting for the effect by clicking the blue dots at the bottom of the screen and dragging them on their respective lines.

-An effect can be applied or removed over time.  To adjust this, click the blue dot below ÒEffect InÓ or ÒEffect OutÓ and hold down the mouse button. Drag the dot to the desired location and release the mouse button. The ÒEffect InÓ option will adjust how long the effect takes to gradually turn on.  The ÒEffect OutÓ option will adjust how long the effect takes to gradually fade away. To have the effect immediately arrive and disappear, place the blue dots at 00:00. To preview an effect with the adjusted settings, click ÒPreview.Ó

-Click ÒApplyÓ to accept the adjusted settings or to reject them.

Effect Tips:

-To update an effect, hold down the ÒControlÓ key while clicking the clip in the timeline. Then choose ÒEdit Effect SettingsÓ from the shortcut menu. Make the desired updates and click ÒUpdate.Ó

-To remove effects from a clip if you havenÕt emptied the trash, click the clip.  Then choose ÒRestore ClipÓ from the Avanced menu.

Adjusting the speed of a Clip/s:

-Select a clip by clicking it. Or to work with several clips at once, hold down the ÒAppleÓ key while clicking the desired clips.

-Click the blue dot on the clip speed slider at the bottom of the screen and hold down the mouse button. Drag the blue dot in the desired direction and release the mouse button. To speed up the clip drag the blue dot towards the rabbit. To slow down the clipÕs speed, drag the blue dot towards the turtle.

-Adjusting the speed of the clip will also adjust the audio of the clip. Mute the clips sound by clicking the blue dot on the sound line and holding down the mouse button.  Drag the blue dot to the left most position and release the mouse button.

-When a movie containing slowed clips is exported, a dialogue box will appear advising that the movie should be rendered. However, it will give the option of proceeding with or without rendering. Choose ÒRender and Proceed.Ó

Creating a Chapter Marker:

-A chapter marker marks a certain important point in the movie.  This will save time.  Instead of Fast forwarding or rewinding through a movie to find a specific part, a chapter marker can be clicked on to immediately go to that part of the movie.

-Position the playhead at the desired location for a chapter marker. There cannot be a chapter marker withing the first one second of the movie and there must be at least one second between each chapter marker. A marker will automatically be created for the beginning of the movie.

-Click the ÒiDVDÓ button at the bottom right of the screen. Click ÒAdd Chapter.Ó A yellow diamond will be displayed at each chapter markerÕs location.

-Continue this process to create as many chapters as desired up to 99 chapter markers.

Naming a Chapter:

-Click the ÒScene SelectionÓ button at the bottom of the screen. Each chapter marker that was created was made into a link of sorts. These links were automatically given a name and these names are displayed.

-Double click the existing name that needs to be changed. Type a new name for the chapter.

Jenni at the HOB © 2005