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How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie
Edited 1 day ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
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iMovie is a versatile video editing software developed by Apple and available for macOS and iOS devices. It is widely used to create and edit videos due to its user-friendly interface and wide range of features. One of the most common tasks in video editing is adjusting the aspect ratio. Aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between the width and height of the video. Changing the aspect ratio can be important to ensure that your video looks good on different screens or meets specific platform requirements.
Understanding aspect ratio
Before we talk about changing the aspect ratio in iMovie, it's important to understand what aspect ratios are and why they matter. Aspect ratios are typically expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 16:9 or 4:3. Here are some common aspect ratios:
- 16:9: This is the standard aspect ratio for most modern videos, including YouTube, HDTV, and most computer screens.
- 4:3: This is the traditional television aspect ratio and was popular before the advent of widescreen TVs.
- 1:1: Square aspect ratio often used for Instagram and some social media platforms.
- 9:16: Portrait mode, typically used for mobile videos and social media stories.
Changing the aspect ratio can affect the way your video looks. For example, a video shot in 16:9 may need to be adjusted to 1:1 to fit perfectly on Instagram. Adjusting the aspect ratio helps maintain the correct viewing experience for your audience.
Steps to change aspect ratio in iMovie
Now let’s move on to the step-by-step guide on how to change the aspect ratio in iMovie. Currently, iMovie does not support changing the aspect ratio of a project directly. However, you can create a workaround by cropping and resizing the video. Here’s how you can do it:
Step 1: Open iMovie and create a new project
If you haven't installed iMovie yet, download and install it from the Mac App Store. Once you have iMovie installed, launch it. To start a new project, click the 'Create New' button, then select 'Movie.' This will create a blank canvas where you can upload and begin editing your video clips.
Step 2: Import your video clip
To import a video, click the 'Import Media' button, navigate to the folder where your video is stored, select the video, and click 'Import Selected.' This video will now appear in the Media Library within iMovie.
Step 3: Drag the video to the timeline
Once your video is imported, drag it from the Media Library to the Timeline at the bottom of the screen. The Timeline is where you can cut, add effects, and adjust other settings of your video.
Step 4: Adjust the aspect ratio by cropping
Although iMovie lacks a direct aspect ratio converter, you can still crop your video to match the aspect ratio you want. Here's how you can do it:
- Select your video clip on the timeline by clicking on it once. This will highlight the clip and display editing options.
- At the top of the Viewer pane, click the 'Crop to Fill' icon, which looks like a square with arrows pointing inward.
- In the viewer, a resizable white rectangle will appear above your video. This rectangle represents the portion of the video that will be retained after cropping.
- You can now adjust the size of this rectangle to match the aspect ratio you want. For example, if you're converting a video with a standard 16:9 ratio to a 1:1 ratio for Instagram, make the rectangle a perfect square.
- Use the corners of the rectangle to resize and move it around on the video frame until it fits perfectly in the area of interest.
- Once you are satisfied with the crop, press the 'Return' key or click the 'Apply' button to set the new aspect ratio.
Step 5: Export your video
After cropping, the apparent aspect ratio of your video changes, but iMovie will export it with a 16:9 aspect ratio by adding black bars (letterboxing or pillarboxing) to fit the project container. To finish properly and get your desired aspect ratio, follow these steps:
First, click 'File' in the menu bar, then select 'Share' - 'File' from the dropdown options. A window will open where you can choose the resolution, quality, and compression. Adjust these settings to your liking, but remember that changing the resolution will affect the quality of the video.
After setting your preferences, click ‘Next,’ choose a location to save your video, and finally, click ‘Save.’ The project will then be exported to your chosen destination.
Step 6: Final adjustments (Optional)
If you want to change the aspect ratio for a specific platform (e.g., Instagram or Facebook), make sure the output is accepted by the platform. If necessary, you may need to use a video converter tool or additional software to remove the black bars after exporting. There are free online converters available that are able to trim the black areas and leave only the desired aspect size.
External programs can be used if precise dimension modifications are needed. For example, video editing tools such as Final Cut Pro can give more flexibility in directly modifying the canvas size and output file to the desired aspect ratio without additional steps.
Conclusion
While iMovie doesn't offer any direct settings for changing the aspect ratio, the process of cropping a video provides a practical solution. Understanding how to effectively manage the aspect ratio is essential for creating videos that look good on any screen and are ready to publish on a variety of platforms. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your videos meet the required specifications, ensuring the best viewing experience for your audience.
Finally, always remember that the way the video is shot, and its framing during the editing stage, plays a key role in the final presentation. Being able to see the required aspect ratio during filming can alleviate some of the hassles in post-production and lead to a smoother workflow and better final output.
We hope this guide has been helpful and informative in providing you with the steps you need to change the aspect ratio in iMovie. With these skills, you will be able to create videos that are visually appealing and professionally produced for a variety of formats. Enjoy editing!
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