How to Create an iMovie Project

Import videos, photos, and music to make your first movie

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Updated on March 14, 2022

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It's easy to make movies on Mac computers using iMovie. However, until you've successfully made your first movie, the process can be intimidating. Follow these instructions to get started with your first iMovie project.

Step 1: Gather Your Video, Images, and Sound

The first step when editing video with iMovie is gathering all the necessary elements on your Mac:

Video
Images
Sounds
iMovie application

If the iMovie application isn't already on your computer, download iMovie from the Mac App Store.
Identify the video you want to use for your iMovie and move it to your Mac's Photos app. Connect your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or camcorder to the Mac and import the video to the Photos app.

You can also upload your video to a service like Dropbox or Google One Drive and then download it to your Mac.
Identify any images or sounds you want to use in your iMovie. Place images in the Photos app and sounds in Apple Music (or iTunes if you're using an older OS).

Step 2: Create Your iMovie Project

Before you get started editing, you need to open, name, and save your project:

Launch iMovie and select the Projects tab.
Select Create New.
Select Movie to combine video, images, and music in a movie. The app switches to the project screen and assigns your movie a generic name, such as My Movie 1.
Use the back arrow to go back to the Projects page and enter a name for your movie to replace the generic name. Select OK to save the project.
To access and edit your in-process movie project at any time, select Projects and then select your movie from your saved projects list.

Step 3: Import Your Video to iMovie

Earlier, you transferred your video to the Mac. It should be residing in the Videos album of your Photos app.

Open your project and select Photos from the menu on the left.
Select Albums and navigate to your video's location.
Choose the video you want to include in your movie. Drag and drop the clip to the work area, which is called the timeline.

Step 4: Import Photos Into iMovie

When you already have your digital photos stored in Photos on your Mac, it's easy to import them to your iMovie project.

In your iMovie project, go to Photos.
Browse through your images and drag an image you want to use to the timeline. Place it where you want it to appear in the movie.
Drag any additional photos to your timeline.

Step 5: Add Audio to Your iMovie

Although you don't have to add music to your video, music sets a mood and adds a professional touch. iMovie makes it easy to access music and mix audio already stored in iTunes on your computer.

Select the Audio tab.
Scroll through the music list. To preview a tune, select it and click Play.
Select a song and drag it to your timeline. It appears under the video and photo clips.

If the music runs longer than your movie, trim it by clicking the audio track on the timeline and dragging the right edge to match the end of the clips above it.

Step 5: View Your Video

At this point, you've added all the elements you want. To preview your movie:

Move your cursor over the timeline clips; you'll see a vertical line that indicates your position.
Position the verticle line at the beginning of your first video clip on the timeline. The first frame will enlarge in the bigger editing section of the screen.
Click the Play icon under the large image to preview the movie you have so far, complete with music.

Step 6: Add Effects to Your Movie

Optionally, add some effects to your movie using the effects that run across the top of the Preview screen. (Your project saves as you work.)

Effects include:

Adjust color, skin tones, or white balance.
Change the saturation or temperature of the color.
Crop a photo or apply a Ken Burns effect.
Stabilize shaky video.
Adjust the sound volume.
Reduce background noise.
Change the speed of the video or run it in reverse.
Choose from a large selection of clip and audio effects.

To add a voiceover, select the microphone in the bottom-left corner of the movie preview screen and start talking.

Step 7: Share Your Movie

It's easy to share your movie via email, YouTube, or Facebook.

Select the Projects tab, then select your movie project icon.
Select More (three dots).
Select Share Project.
Select Email. Your Mail app will open and you can send the movie to the email addresses you want.
Or, select Share Project > YouTube & Facebook and follow the prompts to upload to YouTube or share to Facebook.

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