Is it possible to crop with iMovie?

I have a movie and want to crop the picture and only keep a small rectangle. Can this be done in iMovie? If not, how about in Quicktime or something else on the Mac?
Thanks!
G5 + Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.3.8)

Hi Michael - are we talking about an imported photo, or a video clip?
If it's a still photo you can crop it by using the Zoom function found in the Photo Pane. Obviously quality will be reduced.
You could make a still-frame from a video clip, and zoom that similarly, but to do that you need to also select an imported photo AS WELL AS the still-frame to get Ken Burns to recognise it. [The photo can be deleted afterwards if you do not need it]. Again, quality will be reduced.

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Image size and/or cropping with iMovie 9

I have a video in .mov format that was created by Roxio's Easy VHS to DVD software. The movie is a copy of a 4:3 aspect ratio videotape. When I review the clips from this movie in iMovie, the size and aspect ratio are identical to the original. However, when I move the clips into an iMovie project, the aspect ratio appears to be the same but all of the edges are severely cropped (it's like one used a zoom feature on the image). I get the same result whether I select 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio for the project. I have also had this experience with iPhoto -cropping occurs on any photo being printed or exported. I can convert the .mov into a video DVD or any format, without aspect ratio change cropping. But, that conversion doesn't allow me to edit the .mov.
How do I solve this problem?

I wish someone could answer this. I'm having the same problem. I imported video from my digital tape camera using iMovie (automatically saved as .dv files). In the clip viewer of iMovie (lower right part of iMovie), they appear whole. But when I drag into a project, the clips are severely cropped, just like the original post describes. It doesn't matter if I set the project to 16:9, 4:3, or 3:2 - the same cropping occurs.
What's up with this?

Ken burns cropping in iMovie 9.09 changed with mavericks update. Cant zoom in to a small area....it limits the size now. How do i get back to the old way?

Ken burns cropping in iMovie 9.09 changed with mavericks update. Cant zoom in to a small area....it limits the size now. How do i get back to the old way

These timezone definition changes are fairly common, when viewed world-wide.
For notifying Apple, contact the folks at the Apple Support Center or (if you have access) log a bug report. (The folks at Apple might or might not notice any postings made here.)
For the immediate case, updating the timezones yourself is straightforward; the sequence is basically the same on Linux, OS X, Unix and even OpenVMS. Ugly, but it works. (The US folks got to see this mess first-hand a few years ago, but there are other locations that see these sorts of timezone definition changes far more often.)
For those following along that aren't familiar with this sequence, this old posting should get you close when rebuilding your definitions, though the timezone database has moved to IANA.

Help Needed With iMovie - Thank You

I am working on a project with someone using iMovie. Here are my questions regarding iMovie:
My project involves all stills which i want to animate with pans and zooms.
1. Most important: what is the optimal size/proportion - - in pixels and in resolution -- for adding stills to iMovie?
2. I can't find a pan function under the Ken Burns effect, only zoom.
I want to pan along my vertical images, so that the image moves up or down the screen. Is there a way to do this in iMovie? Is it possible to important an image whose height is longer than the screen size and then move the screen view along it within allowable parameters.
3. Someone told me that i need to work in 640 x 480 format at 72 dpi in order to burn to DVD from iMovie. When i imported images this size, they loaded, then immediately disapppeared. The little screen went white, and so did the clip thumbnail. They did not show while
playing either. Then i figured out that they should be 720 x 480.
Some of these load correctly, and others get cropped in iMovie. The vertically oriented pix that i did not format to 720 have black banding added, which i expected, but are also cropped at top and bottom. How can i avoid this cropping?
Please send replies to me by email at [email protected]
Thank you for helping me.
Sincerely,
Pati McDermott
[email protected]
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) I don't know what version or OS my friend has and she is the one doing most of the work on this.

in addition to Brie's excellent hints... :
in computer lingo you have TWO terms defining the quality of a picture:
pixels and "dots per inch" (dpi)
pixels is, what you see on your screen.. (get closer.. CLOSER.. there: · << a dot, NO! a pixel...)
printed products also have "pixels".. BUT: in print, they define quality by how many pixels dots fit into one inch.. the more the better... way back in computer history (a few months ago...) a "large" 15 screen with 800x600 pixels had.. < math > ~72 dots per inch.. now, if you set a 20" screen to 800x800 pixel.. you'll get < math > .. ehm, less dots per inch/dpi..
a screen has a DEFINED number of dots pixels.. EVERY video screen displays only 720x480, if it is a giant 30" plasma, or a 25years old 7" b/w tube... (OK, now we have HiDef: they offer more pixel, but again a fixed, defined number of pixels....)
different in print:
an average flyer has 150 dpi... a blinky magazine (Vogue) has 300dpi... INDEPENDENTLY of the size of the pic... you can make 1200 pixeldots fit into < math > 4 inches... or 10inches..
so, some pic files contain BOTH data: the resolution (pixel) AND the dots needed for print (dpi) ..
video = fix resolution
print = variable resolution...
read Brie's comment, but why a higher resolution is useful in video/iMovie..

Is there any way to get a closer close-up than cropping in imovie?

Is there any way to get a closer close-up than cropping in imovie?
I've got a portion of the video as close as I can through cropping, but it's still not as close as I would like it. Is it possible?

engboy43 wrote:
… but it's still not as close as I would like it. Is it possible?
not really ....
keep in mind: zooming into video degrades quality dramatically - therefor, for your convenience, the cropping features is limited to some factor.
to override that limitation, two options:
• create a project with just this clip; crop it; export/share Quicktime; re-import to iMovie, crop again - again: everything beyond 150-200% is, on my behalf, way beyond 'accepatable'.
• reveal original clip in Finder (cmd-click on it in the Events browser), and open it with free MpegStreamclip - it allows a 'all you can eat' cropping ....

Is there a way to make an audio clip not cover the whole project? I want to add audio clip or song and let it start at a certain point in the project. I'm working with iMovie on IPad!

Is there a way to make an audio clip not cover the whole project in iMovie? I want to add audio clip or song and let it start at a certain point in the project. Whenever I add audio or song it covers the whole project. I'm working with iMovie on IPad!

Thank you for your reply Karsten but unfortunately this didn't help me so far. Or maybe I'm missing something?
First the link is a tutorial for iMovie on a Mac. I'm using iMovie on iPad so the steps are inapplicable.
Second it is only possible for me to manipulate the end part of the sound clip to whichever duration I want. But I can't do the same with the 'beginning' of the sound clip.
I simply want to place some photos in the beginning of my video with no sound in the background then after like 2 secs I want to start the music clip. For some reason that is not possible! Cause every time I drop the music clip unto my project timeline it automatically place it self along with the first frame in the project! And consequently the photos and music are forced to start together.
Hope I'm making sense...

I can capture with iMovie 6, but not with FCP 6.0 ('no data from device')

I didn't have any problem with FCP 5, but am getting nowhere with FCP 6 using the same settings (I think). FCP seems to see the camcorder, but can't control it and, even if I manually start the camera, reports 'no data from device' when I do a 'Capture Now'. Device control isn't critical, but I'd sure like to find out why it doesn't see the data stream from the camera (Sony HDR-HC7 / FW400). I must be missing a setting some place, but sure can't find it. On the other hand, I have full device control and zero dropout capture with iMovie (exact same hardware configuration). Any ideas?

Wolfgang Matzl wrote:
canopus works fine, as well as all other devices.
i have tons of tapes and tried a few, none worked.
i tried to capture on both my new imac and my mbpro, no way.
but now i'm sure there is something wrong with the sony handycam, i tried to import with my old final cut studio, and it's not possible, also. fc pro says: waiting for timecode.
so i'm confused now. does the sony dcr-trv not send a timecode? maybe, and this will explain the troubles. but on the other hand i imported successfully some footage with exact this device.
maybe i used the canopus then to correct the timebase, i can't remember how i did it. but this would mean i have to accept loss of quality, since i have to connect the sony with s-vhs with the canopus and convert it.
right now i'm importing a tape with imovie and will have a look how the result is, but as far as i remember, the audio has to be re-rendered when importing in fcpx…
My finger is pointing to a Timecode issue.
Is timecode enabled in the camera?
Is it continuous on the tape?
Al

Suggestion request for creating a DVD with iMovie 4, but no iDVD

...or even a DVD burner. Sounds stupid, right? Allow me to explain.
I recently filmed a wedding for a friend using a borrowed Panasonic MiniDV camcorder.
My girlfriend has an iBook G4 with iMovie 4.0.1. However, she doesn't have iDVD...because she didn't purchase a superdrive with this machine. Only the standard combo drive.
Without knowing or thinking about any of this (this is where I was completely stupid) I successfully imported and edited the wedding footage. The final time clocked out at an hour and a half. I had a grand old time doing it, until I started thinking about how I would get this to DVD. I have since returned the borrowed camcorder.
Do you think it is possible or even advisable for me to:
a) not purchase iDVD or a DVD burner as this is most likely the only video project I'll ever work on
b) Export the movie in the highest quality format as possible
c) Transfer said file to an external hard drive (which I would be willing to purchase as I would have other applications for it later)
d) Bring it to a public facility in my town (like Screenz) that has iMovie, iDVD, and a superdrive and burn it there. Of course I realize that depending on the quality I export at, this could take several hours to do, but if it could be successful I'd have no problem doing so. I also realize I should scope them out and determine what versions they have.
Your thoughts? Should I attempt this? Need more info?
Thanks so much for your suggestions! Call me an idiot if you need to. I have no pride in this matter.

Should I attempt this? Need more info?
... hm, don't know the folks of Screenz, wether they allow to "use" their machines without a fee... but, why not giving it a try?
.. buy the ext. harddrive there... makes you a "friend" & good customer..
after purchasing the drive...
* make sure, it has a firewire connection (=100% compatibility)
* connect drive, power on...
* launch Disk Utility from your Utilities Folder...
* select drive
* choose in drop-down menu "MacOsExtended/hfs", give a nice name..
THEN, export your project, share/Quicktime/Full Quality...
AND drag'n drop your iM project (that with the star icon) onto drive
File 1 is in case, for some reasons, File 2 isn't accepted.. the qt.mov could be imported into any iDVD version...
File 2 is in case, they have versions which accept your iMproject folder (any iDVD4 - 6 should do so); this file keeps chapter markers, in case you use one; and stills have probably a slightly better quality... then, you launch iDVD, choose a nice theme, drag'n drop the iM from your hd to iDVD window...
try to get access to some "überMac", Intel quadcore 4GB RAM ... then, iDVD creation is done with your 90min project in less then 15minutes....
buy Verbatim dvd-r, no second try needed..

I have a problem with Imovie. Just brought an macbook 15 retina , iLife install and Imovie was working. I than did a data migration from my old macbook pro and now it crashes on start up. I tried to re-install from app store but no option to re-install

I have a problem with Imovie. Just brought an macbook 15 retina , iLife install and Imovie was working. I than did a data migration from my old macbook pro and now it crashes on start up. I tried to re-install from app store but no option to re-install, just installed and it greyed out.

Well, my two-month-old MBP has no qualms about booting from a no-name external USB HD I put together...
Given that is is a common point of failure, I would imagine a large Apple Store should keep a stock of HD's on hand.
Now since you're a bit desperate and the genie pops up til Saturday and you seem to be the enterprising kind, let's try an experiment: if you have room enough in the external HD and assuming it isn't a Time Machine volume, why don't you plug it in, stick the Install CD and see if the installer lets you select the external drive as the install target. If you can install Leopard on it, on top of the backup without reformatting, and the Mac can boot from the drive afterwards, at least you would have some functionality restored and would be able to pull your stuff from the internal HD. Apple says booting from USB drives is not supported but that does not equate to not possible; some brands do work. Risks? Always. You can always lose your backup. Like I said, a challenge for an enterprising gal....
Next time around, consider having a bootable external clone at hand for rainy days. I keep three myself...
P.S. Since I'll be in the Dallas-FW area in late June, I can volunteer with the confetti....

Will Sony HVR-Z1E HDV Cam (PAL) work with iMovie 6.0.3

Hi
I'm about to make a short film and have the possibility of hiring the Sony HVR-Z1E HDV Cam (http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowProduct.action?product=HVR-Z1E&site=bizenGB&pageType=Overview&category=HDVCamcorders) for the shoot.
Has anyone here used a camera like this with iMovie HD 6.0.3? Can iMovie import the footage and edit it?
Or should I immediately be thinking of Final Cut Studio or Final Cut Express?
Cheers
Ewan
Power PC G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1.67ghz 2gb RAM

"..I'd only be able to use the DV shoot mode on the cam ... But you say it works well?!.."
Perfectly: if you shoot in HDV, iMovie HD converts the incoming HDV footage into Apple's Intermediate Codec "on-the-fly" (..it converts the MPEG-2 HDV into a form which iMovie can handle, retaining all the extra detail of hi-def..) and that's what iMovie edits.
You can then send your edited movie back out to a clean tape in the camera, and it's converted back to the "native" HDV format as it's exported from iMovie.
At present, hi-def DVDs can be made only by using Apple's DVD Studio Pro (expensive) software, which burns hi-def onto normal DVDs ..but they're playable only on a Mac, not on an ordinary DVD player.
So if you want to keep everything as hi-def when you've finished, send it back to tape, and not to iDVD (..which will knock it down to standard-def when creating a DVD from your hi-def iMovie project..)
Because a huge amount of processing is needed for converting incoming HDV into AIC in 'real time' (..and the faster the Mac processor, and more RAM, the better..) your G4 will NOT be able to import in real time.
You may also get occasional - temporary - glitches, in that the sound of some clips may seeem to be running slow, and be low-pitched, after importing. This is an artifact of slower-than-real-time importing, and if you quit from iMovie after importing, then restart the program (thereby clearing memory caches in your Mac), clips should play normally.
Any rendering - dissolves, titles and other F/X - will take longer than with standard DV, as there's more data per frame to be manipulated. Straight cuts should be OK.
"..an issue with the Firewire 600 port.." ..There's FireWire 400 and 800, but maybe "600" was a slip of your keyboard..
"..a lead with a four pin firewire camera plug on one end and a Firewire 800 plug on the other. Works perfectly well for the Handycam. I wonder if it'll do the trick for this bigger beast?.." ..It's never worked for me! (..Maybe I've used a badly-wired cable or two..) ..I couldn't get a 4-pin-to-9-pin (FW800) cable to work, ever, with any normal 'consumer' Handycam ..nor with the FX1.
..But you seem to have got it to work, so it may work with the Z1 after all.
"..I'm hiring so there are limits.." ..Don't forget to download the instruction manual (..when you're ready, click to download it as a .pdf here..)
[NOTE: That's for the US/International version: I can't find the European (E suffix) manual at the moment, but I'm sure you can if you Google a bit. There's very little difference between them. You'll want to choose and use 1080i/50 (UK-PAL), not 1080i/60 (US-NTSC).]
Note that - I don't know what you're shooting - you can set up focus and zoom transitions before you actually shoot them; so if you need a smooth zoom from close to distant, while changing focus, too.. instead of just pressing the zoom button and relying on the autofocus to get it right, you can pre-select start zoom and focus settings, and end zoom and focus settings, then press the 'Do-It!' button, and the camera will handle the changes as pre-programmed ..while you're busy slow-panning, for instance.
For more of a "film look" you can also use one of the built-in Neutral Density filters ..but as that opens up the aperture wider, focus becomes more critical: hence the usefulness of the pre-set focus and zoom.
I normally shoot always at a shutter speed of one fiftieth, and never let the camera choose automatically. I find this gives -s-m-o-o-t-h- action, but also provides a good range of apertures, too.
Be sure that you get a big spare battery with it, unless you're shooting near to mains power. The standard battery lasts - as with most cameras - about only 40-45 mins, so be sure to get several, or one really big capacity batt.
Shoot and replay your tests before the actual shoot, so that you're sure the hired camera has clean heads, with no 'mosaic' drop-out on the tapes.
Er, can't think of anything else ..going to watch 'Murder She Wrote' now..

Using MTS files with iMovie

I'm having a real nightmare working with .mts video files. I'm not sure if this is the best forum to discuss, but I'm willing to try anything at this point.
I have a Canon Vixia HFR20 camera that saves in .mts format, and I'm trying to find a good way to edit/convert those videos with iMove '11 to be posted on a website and burned to DVD. Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to go about this? I have found a few free converter programs like WinX, but the results always look kind of crappy - lots of jagged edges and what not. My other main problem is that the .mts files appear to split after they reach a size of 2.05 GB so even though I'm only shooting one continuous video, I end up with 2 or more files. If there's a way to import the seperate files as one continuous video that would be fantastic.
I've recently tried using the "import from camera" feature in iMovie instead of copying the files from the SD card to my computer, but I could not get iMovie to see a camera other than the built in iSight. Is there a possibility this "import from camera" might be the best solution and I just haven't got it yet?
I feel like I'm forgetting some important information because I'm kind of flustered so don't hesitate to ask. I'd appreciate any guidance.

The format iMovie uses when you edit video after it's imported is Apple Intermediate Codec, it will have the file ending .mov but internally it's set so the Mac can edit individual frames easier and play them back easier at full speed. If you have the option of saving to QuickTime .mov see if there is a pulldown list of all the different "codecs", that's the style or flavor of compression applied to the video frames. If Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) appears on that pull-down list choose that as your codec when you save to .mov.

I want to back up2 hard drives with imovie events and projects as well as 2 desktops. Is TC the best way to do that

I want to back up 2 hard drives with imovie events and projects as well as 2 desktops. Is TC the best way to do that? Also, I already have a wireless network. Does this create a 2nd one or is it possible to just use it for the backup function?

Time Machine can do that, if your Time Capsule is large enough (see #1 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions).
For backing-up multple HDs on a single Mac, see #32 in that same link.
If by "2 desktops" you mean 2 separate user accounts on the same Mac, see #26 there. If you mean 2 Macs, see #33.
You might also want to review the Time Machine Tutorial.

Best video camera to use with iMove '11 for iMac

I'm looking for the best video camera with no difficulties for iMovie. Just to be able to plug in the camera with out having to load additional software or any other difficulties.
Or if any one else knows what type of file format is specifically needed for macs? MPG4 or AVI?
Thank you!

John Vonk wrote:
You wrote :
I'm interested to buy a Nikon photocamera Coolpix S8100.
This camera is NOT on Apple's list of supported cameras to use with iMovie 11. Nor is the camera Canon SD3500 as mentioned by you, I thought ...
Do you think I could use the Coolpix S8100 camera as well with iMovie 11 ?
Or could I meet a problem ?
In my opinion, the camera will work with iMovie '11, HOWEVER....
I have a Canon SX30IS bridge camera [that is, not a camcorder], and the HD videos work absolutely fine on iMovie with one - for me - important problem.
As my camera is also not supported, when any number of short video files are loaded in together, iMovie will not understand the sequence they were taken in, and MAY load them in a fairly random order into a project.
This is not a problem where one or two files are concerned, but where there are more, it can be a major problem if you want them used in sequence.
You either have to load them into the project one by one, manually, or be able to identify clearly from the thumbnails which is which, or the order will be all wrong. It IS possible to relate what you see as a thumbnail back to the original file, but only one file at a time, so you can't use the thumbnails to work out the order, if the images shown don't do that for you.
I have used videos from 5 unsupported digital cameras, and even an 8mm cine conversion file quite successfully, so I have no doubt that the Nikon will also work.

Is it possible to crop photos of art that are unusual shape..ie pentagon, quadrilateral

is iti possible to crop photos of art that maybe unusal shapes...quadrilateral, pentagon etc

Not with iPhoto, no.
You could try with an external editor or an app that can apply masking overlays - even Pages, for instance.
In order of price here are some suggestions:
Seashore (free)
The Gimp (free)
Graphic Coverter ($45 approx)
Acorn ($50 approx)
Pixelmator ($50 approx)
Photoshop Elements ($75 approx)
There are many, many other options. Search on MacUpdate. You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.

Certain Movies not compatible with iMovie.

I've tried everything with iMovie, and there's nothing wrong with that-in fact, it seems to be a problem with certain movies. And there doesn't seem to be any pattern.
I can use a movie that I've taken from the beginning of a roll, and not use one near the end, however, all of my movies in my iPhoto library can be seen in quicktime.
I can import some movies into iMovie, just not all of them.
I'm rebuilding my thumbnail cache right now. Doesn't seem to be working.

MilaUno:
Maybe you should post your question in the iMovie forum where you're more likely to get a potential solution.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Is it possible to crop with iMovie?

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