Why can't I use the Fade to option in iMovie?

Question

Hi! I'm editing a movie on iMovie, but I'm unable to use the "Fade to" special effect. First, I select the clip, then I go Clip>Fade to>-Black and White
                                                                                                                                                                                                               -Sepia
                                                                                                                                                                                                               -Dream
and the 3 options are grayed out!
Please help!!

Answer 1

The options you refer to work differently than the normal transitions and effects.
Select any portion of a clip (not the whole clip) - either in the middle, end or beginning, or other portion - by clicking and dragging across the clip so that it is highlighted with a yellow border (this must be done in your Project, not the Event). Set the border so that it covers the duration of the effect you wish to apply.
Now from the Clip menu item select the appropriate fade. If your highlighted selection is not at the start or end of the clip, Movie will automatically split the clip at both ends of your selection and will apply the effect as well as a cross dissolve transition at each end. If you are applying the effect to just the start or end of the clip, iMovie will split it at the appropriate position and apply the effect and transition.
The effect is meant to provide a colour change (b&w, sepia or dream) within the clip, or at the beginning or end of the clip. It's not designed to provide a normal transition between 2 adjoining but different clips.
John
Message was edited by: John Cogdell