iMovie 11 offers a variety of new special effects, most of which are shortcuts to existing features. You can quickly implement slow motion, instant replay, rewind, freeze frames and filters.
Want to know more about how to use iMovie on your Mac? Check out this MacMost course!
Comments: 42 Responses to “MacMost Now 473: iMovie 11 Video Effects”
Enterpriser1701
14 years ago
Gary,
Is there a way to layer video effects, for example, can I put a film grain effect with a vignette effect? I think one way is to just export the clip with one effect than add that new clip to the project and add an effect to that clip. Just wondering if you can select two or more video effects without having to go through all that trouble.
No. iMovie doesn't accept plug-ins. If you need something at that level, it is probably time to add Final Cut or Premiere.
Amos
14 years ago
Thanks a lot !!!
Gaurav
14 years ago
can u suggest to me topics on which videos can be made?
i've made one on football tricks already but i want to use this app more.....
Allison
14 years ago
Gary,
Is there a way to have more then two clips playing at the same time in one picture? Side by Side effects allows two, but I'm looking to have more then that. Also, is there a transition where one video pushes the other out of the picture (so you see one video leaving while one arrives)? Thank you so much. Very much appreciated!
No, two is the limit. The only transitions are the ones you see there. It sounds like you might be ready to graduate to something else like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut.
Ben
13 years ago
Gary,
I'm having trouble with getting a picture out of a video. I know you can add still frame to project but then how do you get the still frame into your documents?
No good way to do that anymore in iMovie. I would just view the video in QuickTime Player, pause it where you want. And then use screen capture keyboard shortcuts to grab it. Then paste it into your document.
frank
13 years ago
Ok Im pissed!!! lol
I can not locate the date and time title in imovie 10???
Is it gone???
Thx
Date and time? Can you be more specific? Of Events? Of Projects? A titling effect? And which iMovie (there is no iMovie 10)?
Beery
13 years ago
Gary -
iMovie '11 / 27" iMac
I have 3 WMP files that I want to convert to edit in iMovie. The files will all be compiled into one project. I simply want to have the option to speed up the entire project clip as a whole.
I first converted the WMPs to MP4s. When I select the entire clip of the project (even after stabilizing) I do not get any option in the Video/Clip adjustment tabs to slow or speed it up. I think this is due to it being MP4.
Is there a specific file type for iMovie '11 that can be sped up or slowed down when added to a project?
I want to know what file format to convert the WMP files to so I will have the option when importing into iMovie.
Perhaps you simply didn't enabled Advanced Tools in the iMovie prefs? Or, maybe when you imported the videos you didn't choose to import them as "optimized."
machiel
13 years ago
Gary,
Is there an effect for picture in picture and greenscreen?
I saw it in other videos but I can't add a part of my video over the other part...
Please help!
I don't think you can do both at the same time. Other videos are probably using something more powerful than iMovie. Or, they do the Green Screen first, export, and then do the picture-in-picture in a new project using the exported video.
Jake
13 years ago
How do you highlight just one person or do something to emphasize that person
Hard to tell what might be wrong from afar. Just check and recheck everything.
David Lennon
13 years ago
Hi Gary,
Why can't I change the speed on video clips taken w/ my iPhone 4s? Apple's help section says "must be converted before making a speed change", however I see no prompt as they suggest should exist to convert the video. Nor do they allude to what you are supposed to be converting to.
Help!! My little boy is anxious to see his movie trailer!
You should be able to change the speed on iPhone videos without a problem. Just go to change the speed and see what it says. If it asks for you to convert them, just press the button. It does it for you.
Dave
13 years ago
10-4. I figured out that apparently there are restrictions when you're using the trailer templates. I was trying to manipulate one of those and I presume they have set parameters. When I tried a new project of my own it gave me every option, including the elusive conversion button & speed adjustment.
Thanks for your reply and your GREAT site!
fladiny
13 years ago
cool
teriyaki
13 years ago
Hi there! This is kind of off topic but not exactly..
I'm making a video in imovie 08 and basically what I want to do is take footage from two different videos and sort of put them together and blend the image to give it a special effect (I suppose it's what they call video in video). Now obviously imovie 08 doesn't support that so I was wondering if you could suggest any easy and free (or not) mac program to do this with while I work the rest of the project in imovie 08!
Technically, you could get Snow Leopard. The requirements for iLife 11 are Snow Leopard.
Eric Hempsall
13 years ago
Hi, I'm trying to do a white flash between clips. I used to be able to do this on older versions of imovie, but I can't figure out how to do with imovie '11. The only option I find is to do a white flash which then holds on the final frame of the video for a few seconds. Not what I want to do. I want a white flash as a transition between two clips. Thanks for your help.
Charles Barker
13 years ago
Hi Gary,
I'm trying to get an effect in iMovie 11 where I can have text (in bulletin style) on one half of the screen while the other half has video. I'm working on a voiceover piece similar to the following video (http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5-design-and-features-rumors-2012-4) and I would like to recreate the same effect. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi,
I was wondering what happened to the control of the effects?
EX: starting with a photo adding ken burns and slowly fading in/ adding a sepia filter/effect to it? all in one shot?
Am I missing something?
Thanks Brutha
JO
All in one shot? Not sure what you mean by that. You can do all of those things at once if you like, yes. Just implement each of the parts: sepia, ken burns, transition fade.
Joe
13 years ago
Hi Again,
Sorry I guess I meant the "effect" In and Out point.
Ex: starting a full color picture with a ken burns effect, while moving becoming a sepia tone picture at the end of the transition or ken burns effect.
Does that Make sense?
Hello Gary- I am making a highlight video of a soccer play on iMovie 11. Wanted to see if there is a way to highlight only him in a clip when he is on the field so we know who we are supposed to be watching in the clip. Or even if you can put a circle around him or an arrow?
You have got great videos! Thanks so much! I will probably be watching a lot more. I just got a new 15 inch quad core i7. I finally upgraded from a 2005 13 inch core duo running Tiger! So there is a lot of new things I don't know how to do. I make videos so your iMovie vids will help. thanks!
Jake
12 years ago
Gary,
How can I convert files from a Canon GL2 Camcorder with a green screen to iMovie, and then put the image on the green screen? And what file type, like mp3 or mp4, would be best?
Gary,
Is there a way to layer video effects, for example, can I put a film grain effect with a vignette effect? I think one way is to just export the clip with one effect than add that new clip to the project and add an effect to that clip. Just wondering if you can select two or more video effects without having to go through all that trouble.
Thanks!
I believe you can. Just give it a try and report back... :)
is there a program similar to magic bullet for i movie 011 ? Thanks
No. iMovie doesn't accept plug-ins. If you need something at that level, it is probably time to add Final Cut or Premiere.
Thanks a lot !!!
can u suggest to me topics on which videos can be made?
i've made one on football tricks already but i want to use this app more.....
Gary,
Is there a way to have more then two clips playing at the same time in one picture? Side by Side effects allows two, but I'm looking to have more then that. Also, is there a transition where one video pushes the other out of the picture (so you see one video leaving while one arrives)? Thank you so much. Very much appreciated!
No, two is the limit. The only transitions are the ones you see there. It sounds like you might be ready to graduate to something else like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut.
Gary,
I'm having trouble with getting a picture out of a video. I know you can add still frame to project but then how do you get the still frame into your documents?
No good way to do that anymore in iMovie. I would just view the video in QuickTime Player, pause it where you want. And then use screen capture keyboard shortcuts to grab it. Then paste it into your document.
Ok Im pissed!!! lol
I can not locate the date and time title in imovie 10???
Is it gone???
Thx
I need that for my investigations lol
Date and time? Can you be more specific? Of Events? Of Projects? A titling effect? And which iMovie (there is no iMovie 10)?
Gary -
iMovie '11 / 27" iMac
I have 3 WMP files that I want to convert to edit in iMovie. The files will all be compiled into one project. I simply want to have the option to speed up the entire project clip as a whole.
I first converted the WMPs to MP4s. When I select the entire clip of the project (even after stabilizing) I do not get any option in the Video/Clip adjustment tabs to slow or speed it up. I think this is due to it being MP4.
Is there a specific file type for iMovie '11 that can be sped up or slowed down when added to a project?
I want to know what file format to convert the WMP files to so I will have the option when importing into iMovie.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Perhaps you simply didn't enabled Advanced Tools in the iMovie prefs? Or, maybe when you imported the videos you didn't choose to import them as "optimized."
Gary,
Is there an effect for picture in picture and greenscreen?
I saw it in other videos but I can't add a part of my video over the other part...
Please help!
I don't think you can do both at the same time. Other videos are probably using something more powerful than iMovie. Or, they do the Green Screen first, export, and then do the picture-in-picture in a new project using the exported video.
How do you highlight just one person or do something to emphasize that person
Not easily. You could create a picture-in-picture graphic of a circle and place that over the person. See http://macmost.com/imovie-picture-in-picture.html to get started.
Gary I have inserted the circle around the player however when I press play to view the video the circle does not appear. Any suggestions?
Thank you
Hard to tell what might be wrong from afar. Just check and recheck everything.
Hi Gary,
Why can't I change the speed on video clips taken w/ my iPhone 4s? Apple's help section says "must be converted before making a speed change", however I see no prompt as they suggest should exist to convert the video. Nor do they allude to what you are supposed to be converting to.
Help!! My little boy is anxious to see his movie trailer!
Thanks so much,
Dave
You should be able to change the speed on iPhone videos without a problem. Just go to change the speed and see what it says. If it asks for you to convert them, just press the button. It does it for you.
10-4. I figured out that apparently there are restrictions when you're using the trailer templates. I was trying to manipulate one of those and I presume they have set parameters. When I tried a new project of my own it gave me every option, including the elusive conversion button & speed adjustment.
Thanks for your reply and your GREAT site!
cool
Hi there! This is kind of off topic but not exactly..
I'm making a video in imovie 08 and basically what I want to do is take footage from two different videos and sort of put them together and blend the image to give it a special effect (I suppose it's what they call video in video). Now obviously imovie 08 doesn't support that so I was wondering if you could suggest any easy and free (or not) mac program to do this with while I work the rest of the project in imovie 08!
Thanx in advance! x
If what you want is in iMovie 11, then why not get iMovie 11? It is very cheap.
Cause I'd have to get Lion as well.. I'm on 10.5.8
Technically, you could get Snow Leopard. The requirements for iLife 11 are Snow Leopard.
Hi, I'm trying to do a white flash between clips. I used to be able to do this on older versions of imovie, but I can't figure out how to do with imovie '11. The only option I find is to do a white flash which then holds on the final frame of the video for a few seconds. Not what I want to do. I want a white flash as a transition between two clips. Thanks for your help.
Hi Gary,
I'm trying to get an effect in iMovie 11 where I can have text (in bulletin style) on one half of the screen while the other half has video. I'm working on a voiceover piece similar to the following video (http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5-design-and-features-rumors-2012-4) and I would like to recreate the same effect. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Maybe something in this video will help: http://macmost.com/imovie-title-tricks.html
Hi,
I was wondering what happened to the control of the effects?
EX: starting with a photo adding ken burns and slowly fading in/ adding a sepia filter/effect to it? all in one shot?
Am I missing something?
Thanks Brutha
JO
All in one shot? Not sure what you mean by that. You can do all of those things at once if you like, yes. Just implement each of the parts: sepia, ken burns, transition fade.
Hi Again,
Sorry I guess I meant the "effect" In and Out point.
Ex: starting a full color picture with a ken burns effect, while moving becoming a sepia tone picture at the end of the transition or ken burns effect.
Does that Make sense?
So gradually go from normal to sepia? I'm pretty sure there is no way to do that in iMovie. You'll need to graduate to something more pro for that.
Hi Gary i have a question..
I was wondering if in Imovie 11 we can flash a scene of a clip so it goes with the beat of the song?
See: http://macmost.com/using-beat-markers-in-imovie-11.html
Hello Gary- I am making a highlight video of a soccer play on iMovie 11. Wanted to see if there is a way to highlight only him in a clip when he is on the field so we know who we are supposed to be watching in the clip. Or even if you can put a circle around him or an arrow?
It isn't easy, but you can fake it with picture-in-picture. See http://macmost.com/imovie-picture-in-picture.html
You have got great videos! Thanks so much! I will probably be watching a lot more. I just got a new 15 inch quad core i7. I finally upgraded from a 2005 13 inch core duo running Tiger! So there is a lot of new things I don't know how to do. I make videos so your iMovie vids will help. thanks!
Gary,
How can I convert files from a Canon GL2 Camcorder with a green screen to iMovie, and then put the image on the green screen? And what file type, like mp3 or mp4, would be best?
If the video doesn't work as-is, see: http://macmost.com/importing-incompatible-video-into-imovie.html
mp3 is for audio. mp4 is video.