If you want to go beyond the default titles built into iMovie 09, you can create your own titles in a graphic editor. You can bring them into iMovie as titles between clips, or as overlays on top of existing video.
Want to know more about how to use iMovie on your Mac? Check out this MacMost course!
Comments: 40 Responses to “MacMost Now 328: Custom Titles in iMovie 09”
soundog
14 years ago
Awesome! Just what I needed to add labels to a product demo video. Thanks!!!
Kevin
13 years ago
I tried doing what you did with the custom video bar at the bottom, and it works like great when I'm previewing it in the timeframe, but when I publish (as HD), the opacity is lost and I get a big black box covering my screen. any suggestions?
That's odd. Perhaps try a different graphic to confirm whether or not it is that particular image? I've never run into your problem before, so I can't imagine what could be causing it.
Kevin
13 years ago
It doesn't seem to be the graphic. I merely made a white bar in photoshop at the bottom of the screen, made the background layer transparent, and I have two small logos on the bottom bar. I'm messing around with different variables now seeing what happens. I wish there was a different quicker method to check each variable, but its 10-15 minutes to publish each time (to the worst setting). I'll keep you informed.
Kevin
13 years ago
I don't know what I'm doing wrong here. I got rid of the background entirely, saved as a PNG, even did a save for web to be sure the png would be transparent. Still getting the black box around the small bar (since the size is set to 1280X720). I'm not sure if it's the player i'm using, or what. Very frustrating...
Kevin
13 years ago
AHH. I literally mimicked EVERYTHING you did. Even installed seashore. No Luck. I'm pulling out my hair trying to figure this out
So you mean the first layer is the video, the second is a picture-in-picture overlay, and the third is a text title? Yes. That works.
Lauren Rogers
13 years ago
How does that work. I inserted a picture on top of a video and now I want to add an arrow on to the picture and it doesn't give me the option to do a picture in picture in picture.
You can only do one picture-in-picture at a time. So use an image editing tool (Photoshop, perhaps) to compose an image that has both the initial picture and the arrow.
Derrick
13 years ago
Is there a way to do custom transitions with the overlays other than the simple fade in/fade out similar to the other titles?
This is a great tutorial! So easy! It worked perfectly with Photoshop I was able to delete the middle of my image to apply a custom border with viedo in the middle. Thanks.
Luke
13 years ago
I am having the same problem w/ seashore. But I think it may be because of the newer version as used in episode 423 with the different operating setup? What would be different about using this new seashore in making the title that you demo'ed?
Is there a step that isn't matching what I have shown? Try to follow it exactly, and let me know where something looks difference so I can identify which part is causing the trouble.
Luke
13 years ago
I meant to say the same problem as kevin had.
Luke
13 years ago
I figured it out. You don't have to create so many layers. All that needs to be done is create the box, fill it with 50% opaque(of the exact color consistency you want), then add the text at 100% opaque. And of course export it in the same manner as shown in the video.
Keagan
13 years ago
hey, im trying to do exactly what you are showing. I have iMovie 09.
But when i try to drag the image over the video, there is no option to "Picture in picture". Just "Replace" and "Insert". Please help!
It sounds like you haven't turned on Advanced Tools in the iMovie preferences.
Lauren
13 years ago
I'm having the same problem as Kevin and Luke. The black box only appears when I select "Fit". If I select "Crop", it works, but then it DOESNT fit, and it's blurry.
Luke, I tried doing what you said and not creating as many layers, which didn't make a difference.
I also have the newest version of Seashore. Any suggestions?
Lauren
13 years ago
I wish I could delete my last comment, because I tried what Luke said a second time and it worked. I must have missed something the first time. Thank you!
BeeFrank
13 years ago
When I use the picture in picture for my transparent png file from photoshop, i can see it fine when my scrubber is over the section of the video that has the png inserted, but when i go to play it, the png doesn't appear. yet, if i start to play the video from the point where my scrubber is over the png section, it is perfectly visible. Am i missing something? and when i export to itunes to preview it, the png will appear, but a black box appears over the background image. What is going on?
Keep in mind that the preview inside of iMovie is just a preview -- meaning that it is a real-time rendering that gives you an idea of what the final product will look like. So don't worry about how it looks in the preview. Export to find out how it really looks.
As for the black box, play with the cropping (Crop vs. Fixed).
John
13 years ago
I can't seem to get it transparent at all, with the old or newer Seashore.. I was so looking forward to using this for lower thirds. I think I've tried everything, I've watched the video 4x, I tried what Luke said as well. Not sure what else to try, I'm using iMovie '09.
Maybe try using something other than Seashore then. Or, find a friend who knows how to use Photoshop or something similar to help.
katrina
13 years ago
Thanks for this tutorial. Is there a way to add custom images (via the transparent PNG method) on TOP of the custom imovie titles? I'm using iMovie 08 and it seems it only allows one or the other?
You can combine picture-in-picture and titles, yes. The titles always appear on top of the images, though. But you can simply avoid that by putting the titles in a different area of the screen so they don't' conflict.
(I'm talking about iMovie 11, not sure what was possible in the old old version, but try it).
Stephanie
13 years ago
Thanks for the tutorial.
The issue I am having is that the text in my .png file comes out blurry in the video. The .png image is the same size as the HD export for the video. I exported the video to check what it will actually look like and it is definitely blurry. Any ideas?
Also, I have read on another tutorial that there's a bug in iMovie 09 where if you switch from Ken Burns to fit or cropped, then it puts in a black opaque box. So, you can keep it on Ken Burns and just make the start and end size the same.
Jojogoose
12 years ago
Thank you SO much! I've been looking for this solution for what seems like an age! Very much appreciated ;D
Ron
12 years ago
Gary... LOVE your videos... Question, can you have more than one picture in picture in one project. iMovie will not give me the option? Also my transitions go gray if I have the pnp spread over the transition...
I am trying to get an image to remain on the entire video (like a watermark)... I thought this was my solution but maybe not??
In your case, export the finished product. Then bring that back into a new iMovie project and add a picture-in-picture watermark or use titles to add a watermark. Then export again.
Ron
12 years ago
Works great Gary!! Really appreciate all of the personal attention.
Berry
12 years ago
when I add a picture over picture, it works fine till I added it and change it to fit, then it loses it's transparency. any suggestions?
Don't change it to "fit" just resize it using the corners and it should be OK.
Angie
11 years ago
Is it possible to add a custom title over a default title from iMovie? I made a title/label in SS and tried adding it over the "Scrolling Credits" title from iMovie, but there is no option for picture-on-picture. Am I doing something wrong or is it just not possible?
Want to know more about how to use iMovie on your Mac?
Awesome! Just what I needed to add labels to a product demo video. Thanks!!!
I tried doing what you did with the custom video bar at the bottom, and it works like great when I'm previewing it in the timeframe, but when I publish (as HD), the opacity is lost and I get a big black box covering my screen. any suggestions?
That's odd. Perhaps try a different graphic to confirm whether or not it is that particular image? I've never run into your problem before, so I can't imagine what could be causing it.
It doesn't seem to be the graphic. I merely made a white bar in photoshop at the bottom of the screen, made the background layer transparent, and I have two small logos on the bottom bar. I'm messing around with different variables now seeing what happens. I wish there was a different quicker method to check each variable, but its 10-15 minutes to publish each time (to the worst setting). I'll keep you informed.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong here. I got rid of the background entirely, saved as a PNG, even did a save for web to be sure the png would be transparent. Still getting the black box around the small bar (since the size is set to 1280X720). I'm not sure if it's the player i'm using, or what. Very frustrating...
AHH. I literally mimicked EVERYTHING you did. Even installed seashore. No Luck. I'm pulling out my hair trying to figure this out
I wish I could help -- but it is hard to do from messages. I'm sure if you played around with it enough you would find the difference.
Is there a way to insert a blank transparent overlay png, and then write over it in iMovie, essentially making three layers?
So you mean the first layer is the video, the second is a picture-in-picture overlay, and the third is a text title? Yes. That works.
How does that work. I inserted a picture on top of a video and now I want to add an arrow on to the picture and it doesn't give me the option to do a picture in picture in picture.
You can only do one picture-in-picture at a time. So use an image editing tool (Photoshop, perhaps) to compose an image that has both the initial picture and the arrow.
Is there a way to do custom transitions with the overlays other than the simple fade in/fade out similar to the other titles?
In iMovie 11 you have the choice been dissolve, zoom or swap. See episode 471: http://macmost.com/imovie-picture-in-picture-side-by-side-and-cutaways.html
This is a great tutorial! So easy! It worked perfectly with Photoshop I was able to delete the middle of my image to apply a custom border with viedo in the middle. Thanks.
I am having the same problem w/ seashore. But I think it may be because of the newer version as used in episode 423 with the different operating setup? What would be different about using this new seashore in making the title that you demo'ed?
Is there a step that isn't matching what I have shown? Try to follow it exactly, and let me know where something looks difference so I can identify which part is causing the trouble.
I meant to say the same problem as kevin had.
I figured it out. You don't have to create so many layers. All that needs to be done is create the box, fill it with 50% opaque(of the exact color consistency you want), then add the text at 100% opaque. And of course export it in the same manner as shown in the video.
hey, im trying to do exactly what you are showing. I have iMovie 09.
But when i try to drag the image over the video, there is no option to "Picture in picture". Just "Replace" and "Insert". Please help!
It sounds like you haven't turned on Advanced Tools in the iMovie preferences.
I'm having the same problem as Kevin and Luke. The black box only appears when I select "Fit". If I select "Crop", it works, but then it DOESNT fit, and it's blurry.
Luke, I tried doing what you said and not creating as many layers, which didn't make a difference.
I also have the newest version of Seashore. Any suggestions?
I wish I could delete my last comment, because I tried what Luke said a second time and it worked. I must have missed something the first time. Thank you!
When I use the picture in picture for my transparent png file from photoshop, i can see it fine when my scrubber is over the section of the video that has the png inserted, but when i go to play it, the png doesn't appear. yet, if i start to play the video from the point where my scrubber is over the png section, it is perfectly visible. Am i missing something? and when i export to itunes to preview it, the png will appear, but a black box appears over the background image. What is going on?
Keep in mind that the preview inside of iMovie is just a preview -- meaning that it is a real-time rendering that gives you an idea of what the final product will look like. So don't worry about how it looks in the preview. Export to find out how it really looks.
As for the black box, play with the cropping (Crop vs. Fixed).
I can't seem to get it transparent at all, with the old or newer Seashore.. I was so looking forward to using this for lower thirds. I think I've tried everything, I've watched the video 4x, I tried what Luke said as well. Not sure what else to try, I'm using iMovie '09.
Maybe try using something other than Seashore then. Or, find a friend who knows how to use Photoshop or something similar to help.
Thanks for this tutorial. Is there a way to add custom images (via the transparent PNG method) on TOP of the custom imovie titles? I'm using iMovie 08 and it seems it only allows one or the other?
oos i meant on top of the STOCK iMovie titles
You can combine picture-in-picture and titles, yes. The titles always appear on top of the images, though. But you can simply avoid that by putting the titles in a different area of the screen so they don't' conflict.
(I'm talking about iMovie 11, not sure what was possible in the old old version, but try it).
Thanks for the tutorial.
The issue I am having is that the text in my .png file comes out blurry in the video. The .png image is the same size as the HD export for the video. I exported the video to check what it will actually look like and it is definitely blurry. Any ideas?
Also, I have read on another tutorial that there's a bug in iMovie 09 where if you switch from Ken Burns to fit or cropped, then it puts in a black opaque box. So, you can keep it on Ken Burns and just make the start and end size the same.
Thank you SO much! I've been looking for this solution for what seems like an age! Very much appreciated ;D
Gary... LOVE your videos... Question, can you have more than one picture in picture in one project. iMovie will not give me the option? Also my transitions go gray if I have the pnp spread over the transition...
I am trying to get an image to remain on the entire video (like a watermark)... I thought this was my solution but maybe not??
Only one picture-in-picture in iMovie at a time. Can't stretch effects over transitions either.
Any suggestions for putting a watermark on an entire video?
In your case, export the finished product. Then bring that back into a new iMovie project and add a picture-in-picture watermark or use titles to add a watermark. Then export again.
Works great Gary!! Really appreciate all of the personal attention.
when I add a picture over picture, it works fine till I added it and change it to fit, then it loses it's transparency. any suggestions?
Don't change it to "fit" just resize it using the corners and it should be OK.
Is it possible to add a custom title over a default title from iMovie? I made a title/label in SS and tried adding it over the "Scrolling Credits" title from iMovie, but there is no option for picture-on-picture. Am I doing something wrong or is it just not possible?
You cannot have two effects at the same time in iMovie.