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+--- Thread: iMovie: Video Effects? (/showthread.php?tid=33624)
iMovie: Video Effects? - SteveO - 05-22-2007
From a videotape, I imported a clip of my late wife doing a speaking gig. The problem is the tape had timecode on it. It is distracting as this clip is about 4 minutes long. I know I can't delete it, but I'd like to cover the timecode somehow with a black bar or something. Anyone know if this is possible in iMovie? Plug-ins?
Also, is it possible to "brighten" up the video? It is just a little bit dark. Thanks.
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - motopsyco - 05-22-2007
I just checked my iMovie 5, If the time code (a la window dub) is in the usual place, somewhere in the lower quarter of the picture, and the shot is static, then it might be possible to letterbox it over. The shot might even take on a more pleasing aesthetic letterboxed.
As to 'brighting' the picture, that adjustment is in with the color settings in the Effects tab along with the letterbox settings.
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - anonymouse1 - 05-22-2007
Which version of iMovie? I'm using the latest iMovie HD (ver. 6?)
The best way to adjust exposure is to look under the Quartz Effects--there's an exposure control there. It works better than the other one, IMHO.
You might be able, in addition to letter boxing, to put a caption over it, and fill up the caption with large solid box symbols instead of text. Might be worth a shot. Look under "Titles"
Good luck!
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - Kramerica - 05-22-2007
I have a free plug-in that I downloaded somewhere that I believe is called "Crop". It lets you adjust a cropping of the image- get the black bars just where you need them. That would work fine. Don't know if it works with iMovie 6, but probably. I still use 5.
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - SteveO - 05-22-2007
Thanks, all. I'm in 5. I did try the letterbox thing, but it cut off too much. I'll try the others, good ideas, all. Thanks, again!
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - SteveO - 05-22-2007
In case anyone needs the link for what Kramerica mentioned, it's from Stupendous Software and link is here: http://store6.esellerate.net/store/s.aspx?s=STR288250495&Cmd=TRY&SKURefnum=SKU4870738529
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - TheTominator - 05-22-2007
If you use QuickTime Pro, you can apply a masking image to the movie.
Export the video clip from iMovie as a DV file (full quality).
Draw a black and white image in an image editor (e.g. Photoshop or GraphicConverter). In your case, create an image 720 pixels wide and 480 pixels high. Make it entirely black. Then draw a white region in the place where you want a black bar (or other shape) to appear on your film. (Feel free to give the white region soft edges and an irregular shape.)
To figure out where to place the white region on your image, you can File-->"Save Frame..." in iMovie and open this up in your image editor to use as a reference.
When your mask image is ready, save it as a TIFF. (PNG or other format would probably work too.)
Open your movie clip in QuickTime Pro Player. Choose "Show Movie Properties" from the Window menu. Select the Video Track. Select the Visual Settings tab. In the Mask section, push the Choose... button and select your mask image file. Close the Properties window. Save your movie clip as a QuickTime reference movie.
If you want to work with your clip further in iMovie, import the QuickTime reference movie.
Re: iMovie: Video Effects? - SteveO - 05-24-2007
Thanks, Tominator. That Stupendous thing above ended up working out for me.