IMovie is aimed toward total beginners, although first-time editors will need to spend some time getting to grips with how exactly a movie should be pieced together. Luckily iMovie regularly autosaves projects, meaning we didn't lose any work, but it was annoying. We also found that the playback with spacebar function would sometimes stop working while at times the whole program would freeze up, forcing us to have to quit and start again. It will, however, work perfectly with footage shot on Apple devices, so format issues for Apple users looking to create movies from their iPhone-shot videos shouldn't be a problem. It works best with DV format films and trying to import other formats may not work - we had some issues with MP4 files compatibility. You can save your edits and changes in digital format, including 4K resolution for super high-quality movies.

Images can also be easily imported from iPhoto and the Photos app, while there is a Voiceover button to allow you to easily add narration. There are also lots of trailers and templates to choose from that will help make your movie look more professional.Īdding soundtracks or audio to your creations is fairly simple thanks to integration with iTunes, although we would love to see easier access to a library of copyright-free audio content. There is even a green screen and blue screen support if you want to start playing with special effects. You can then add transitions, titles, backgrounds, soundtracks, and audio. IMovie gives you the basic editing tools needed to put together a movie from your set of imported video clips, allowing you to cut and paste bits of them together. Total beginners might struggle initially when using iMovie over other software with more explicit tutorials. Useful how-to guides are also available via the Help menu. Rather, tooltips appear as users mouse over specific buttons and features. IMovie doesn’t offer any tutorials for beginners, as some other video editing programs do. Users can import media either on their computer or from an external drive or camera. You will then be taken to the Project Interface, where you can begin importing footage and editing your movie. Simply click on the Create New box and choose between making a movie of videos, photos, and music or following a template to create a Hollywood-style movie trailer. The app should open on the Projects List screen, from where you can begin to create your first movie. iMovie only shows you the basic tools you need at this moment, keeping the interface clutter-free. Upon opening on a Mac computer, users are greeted with a simple black interface with menu items running along the top.

Imovie