How to use iMovie

iMovie is the latest software that allows people to create their own movies. It’s simple to learn and a lot of fun once you learn how to use the software. You'll be making movies in no time after this short tutorial. If you still need help after this tutorial, the iMovie software has its own tutorial to help you. I hope you'll enjoy the benefits of iMovie, and good luck with making your movie.

What you need

  1. iMac (a G3 processor, 64 Megs of RAM, 6 gig HD) with a fire-wire connection.
  2. A fire-wire cable.
  3. Digital camcorder.

What we are using

  1. IMac (G3 processor, 128 Megs of RAM, 13 gig HD) with two fire-wire connections.
  2. Fire-wire cable.
  3. Digital camcorder (Sony)

Figure 1. Specs

Figure 1

Getting Started

Turn on the iMac computer and make sure the camera is connected to the computer by using the fire-wire (See Figure 2).

On the desktop you should see an icon on with the letters "DV" (See Figure 3). Below the icon the name should be iMovie. Click on the icon.

Figure 2. Fire-wire connection

Figure 2

Once you click on the iMovie icon, the program should open. A window with a little introduction movie about the iMac will appear (Figure 4). To the right of the movie you should see the following options: "New Project", "Open Project", and "Quit". Choose "New Project".

Figure 4. Introduction movie

Figure 4

A new window will appear asking you to name the project and which folder you want to save the project in (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Naming project

Figure 5

Once you name your project, you’ll see a new window appear. The window shows all the tools you will need to edit your own movie (See Figure 6).

Figure 6. Tool screen

Figure 6

What the tools do

Clip Player- This will play clips on the video camera, the clips on the shelf, or any effects that you will add to the movie (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Clip Player

Figure 7

Preview Clips- This works like any standard media player. There's a forward, reverse, play, pause, and stop. You can move your clips to specific points (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Preview Clip

Figure 8

Import- Pressing this button will import movie clips on the Clip Player to the Shelf (Figure 9)

Figure 9. Import Button

Figure 9

View Clip- You can choose to view clips from the video camera or from the shelf. The button with the video camera will allow you to watch clips from the camera. The button with the movie reel will allow you to watch clips from the shelf. (See Figure 10)

Figure 10. View Clip

Figure 10

Free Space- The bar in Figure 11 shows the available space.

Figure 11. Free Space

Figure 11

Shelf- Store the clips you want to use for your final movie (See Figure 12)

Figure 12. Shelf of Clips

Figure 12

Movie Track- Place your movie clips in here. You can shuffle the order of the clips. (Figure 13)

Figure 13. Movie Track

Figure 13

Effects- You can create effects for each clip you want to use in your movie. The transition button will create a transition effect between two clips. The title button allows you to add text to clips. The sounds button gives you sound effects that can be used in your clips. The music button allows you to place music in your final movie. (See Figure 14)

Figure 14. Effects

Figure 14

Creating your own movie

Please refer to the figures above.

  • Press the import button on the clip player to start capturing movie clips from your camera.
  • Each clip you import moves the clip to the shelf (See Figure 15).

Figure 15. Clips in shelf

Figure 15

Now you can move each clip to the movie track. You can rearrange the order of the clips in the movie track. For example, You can place clip four before clip one. (See Figure 16)

Figure 16. Placing clips in movie track

Figure 16

You can now add any effects you want in the movie. We can start by adding a title to the movie. Make sure the first clip is highlighted in a yellow box. Press the title button in the effects option. You should see a list of options for titles. Choose a title effect and preview the effect. You should see text appear in your movie clip. If you just see the text in a black screen, uncheck the over black. When you like a title effect, drag the preview window before the first clip in the movie track or any clip you desire text to appear. (See Figure 17)

Figure 17. Title capture

Figure 17

You can create transitions by pressing the transition button. Once again you can choose from a number of transitions (See Figure 18). After choosing the transition you want, you have to bring the transition to the movie track either before or after the clip. It just depends on the transition you choose. The movie track will mark the transition between the clips (Figure 19).

Figure 18. Transition capture

Figure 18

Figure 19. Transition view

Figure 19

You can add sound effects and music to your movie. To get the sound effects go to the sounds button. You can select from a number of sound effects (See Figure 20).

Figure 20. Sound capture

Figure 20

To get the music into a movie, place a CD in the DVD-ROM. Press the music button and choose the music track. After you choose sound and music, go to the movie track and you'll see a musical note on the left edge of the movie track. Click on the musical note, and you'll get the sound tracks. This is where you will be placing your sound effects and music. You'll see three icons to the right of the musical note. The top icon is a movie reel. That's just the movie. The next icon is a microphone. That's where you want to place the sound effects. The last icon is a CD; you'll be placing your music track here. (See Figures 20, 21, and 22)

Figure 21. Music capture

Figure 21

Figure 22. Audio track

Figure 22

When you are done editing your movie, all you have to do is save and export the movie. To save the movie, Just go to file and save as. To export the movie, go to file and export. A new window will appear. You have the option to export the movie back to the camera or as a QuickTime movie. If you are producing a movie for the web go use QuickTime. Choose an appropriate format (You have the option to save the video as a small file for the web or as a large file for a CD-ROM). (See Figure 23 and 24)

Figure 23. Export Movie

Figure 23

Figure 24. Export movie window

Figure 24