Did you know there are over 100 million Mac computers in use as of 2022? This shouldn’t come as a surprise due to how popular they are among consumers. Factors like ease of use and sleek design are highly attractive for those looking for a new computer.
iMovie is one of the most notable native applications on Mac devices, but not everyone understands the best way to use it when making movies. This video editing software isn’t as complicated as you might think, though.
Let’s explore what you need to know about editing videos with iMovie.
You Can Crop to Zoom Into Your Footage
To crop, select your clip in the timeline, then click the Crop button at the top of the viewer. iMovie gives you control over where you want to start and end your crop, so you can be very precise with how much of the original footage you want to keep.
If you’re happy with your crop, click the Apply button. If you want to reset your changes and start over, click the Cancel button.
Learn to Use Keyframes
Keyframes are special points in your footage that you can use to control how iMovie transitions between two different clips.
For example, you could add a keyframe at the beginning of your video, then another one at the end. iMovie would then automatically transition between the two keyframes, creating a smooth, professional-looking movie.
To add a keyframe, select your clip in the timeline, then click the Keyframe button at the bottom of the viewer. iMovie will display a keyframe icon at each point where you’ve added one.
You can move keyframes by clicking and dragging them to new positions. To delete a keyframe, hover your mouse over it, then click the X that appears.
Never Neglect the Importance of a Title Sequence
Every movie needs a title sequence, and iMovie makes it easy to create one. To get started, select your clips in the timeline, then click the Title button at the top of the viewer.
iMovie will open a new window with a variety of title options. You can choose from pre-made templates or create your own title from scratch.
Once you’ve found a title you like, double-click it to add it to your timeline. iMovie will automatically create a title sequence that’s the same length as your selected clip.
If you want to make changes to your title sequence, simply select it in the timeline, then click the Title button again. iMovie will open the title editor, where you can make changes to your sequence. When you’re finished, click Done to return to your movie.
It’s Possible to Detach Audio From Video
In some cases, you might want to detach the audio from your video clip. This can be useful if you want to add a different piece of audio, or if you want to edit the audio independently from the video. To detach audio from a video file, select your clip in the timeline, then click the Detach Audio button at the bottom of the viewer.
iMovie will create a new audio-only clip that’s been detached from the video. You can now add this clip to your timeline and edit it independently from the video.
To reattach the audio, simply select the audio clip in the timeline and click the Attach Audio button.
Brush up on Useful Keyboard Shortcuts
iMovie has keyboard shortcuts that can help you save time and make your life easier. For example, you can press Command-Z to undo your last change, or press Shift-Command-V to paste your clipboard contents into the timeline.
You can view a full list of iMovie’s keyboard shortcuts by opening the Keyboard Shortcuts window. To do this, go to iMovie > Preferences, then click the Keyboard Shortcuts tab. In the Keyboard Shortcuts window, you’ll see a list of all the available shortcuts, as well as the keyboard shortcut for each one.
https://setapp.com/how-to/imovie-as-mp4 has a page you can check out that details how to export an iMovie file as an MP4 file.
Experiment With Different Effects
To access these effects, select your clip in the timeline, then click the Effects button at the bottom of the viewer.
iMovie will open the Effects browser, where you can browse through all of the available effects. To apply an effect to your clip, simply drag it from the browser and drop it onto your clip in the timeline. You can also add effects to your clips by right-clicking them in the timeline, then choosing an effect from the context menu.
Add Some Pizzazz With Transitions
Transitions are a great way to add visual interest to your movies. iMovie comes with a variety of built-in transitions that you can use to spice up your project.
To add a transition, select the clip in your timeline that you want to apply the transition. Then, click the Transition button at the bottom of the viewer. iMovie will open the Transitions browser, where you can browse through all of the available transitions.
To apply a transition, simply drag it from the browser and drop it in between two clips in your timeline. You can also add transitions by right-clicking between two clips in the timeline, then choosing a transition from the context menu.
Mastering iMovie Is Easier Than It Seems
Although iMovie might seem complicated at first, it’s not nearly as difficult as many people assume. Be sure you keep this in mind when moving forward so you can create the best projects possible.
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