
iMovie is a free video editor that comes with a new Mac. It provides a simple and professional way to make a slideshow with photos, videos, music, and text. iMovie automatically applies the Ken Burns Effect to incoming photos, which involves panning and zooming. However, you can customize the Ken Burns Effect for each photo by setting the start and end positions. To do this, make sure the “Ken Burns” tab is selected, zoom and pan to your desired start position, click the “end” button, and then zoom and pan to your desired end position. You can preview the slideshow and, if you are satisfied, export and share it via social media or iTunes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Software | iMovie |
| Compatibility | Mac |
| Purpose | Create a slideshow with photos, videos, and music |
| Features | Import photos, add transitions, insert titles, include music, and export the slideshow |
| Customization | Change zoom and panning behavior, set start and end positions, adjust duration, crop, rotate, add effects, and trim |
| Limitations | Limited templates, inability to add plain text without effects, no multiple audio tracks, and limited video effects |
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What You'll Learn

Customising the Ken Burns effect
The Ken Burns effect is a combination of panning and zooming effects that is mostly applied to still images in video projects. The effect was named after documentarian Ken Burns, who widely popularised it. The effect works by only showing a part of the frame on the screen, before zooming in and gradually panning to the remaining section, creating a motion effect for pictures.
To customise the Ken Burns effect in iMovie, follow these steps:
- Launch the iMovie application on your Mac and load the clips or photos you want to edit. You can drag and drop your media files or go to File > Import to browse your media files.
- Once your media files are loaded, drag and drop them into the working timeline at the bottom.
- Select the Ken Burns tab.
- Zoom and pan the slide to how you want it to start.
- Click the "End" button and pan and zoom to where you want the slide to end.
- Click the preview button to see what your slide looks like.
- Repeat this process for each slide.
It is important to plan out your slideshow before you begin. Consider how many pictures you have and how long you want your slideshow to be. A general rule of thumb is to keep it under 15 minutes to maintain your audience's attention.
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Setting the length of clips
When creating a slideshow in iMovie, you can adjust the duration of each image or clip individually or all at once. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Changing the duration of individual clips:
- Open your iMovie project.
- Tap on the image or clip in your timeline to select it. A yellow highlight or yellow handles will appear on both sides of the selected item.
- To zoom in on the clip for more precise editing, pinch open in the center of the timeline or choose "View" > "Zoom In", press "Command–Plus sign (+)", or pinch the trackpad.
- Change the duration of the selected image or clip by pressing and dragging one of the yellow handles or edges of the clip until you reach the desired length. Drag the edge of the clip away from the center to make it longer, and towards the center to make it shorter.
- Keep an eye on the duration indicator (sliding bar) to ensure all clips are adjusted to the same length.
Changing the duration of multiple clips at once:
- Open your iMovie project.
- Select the images or clips on your timeline by clicking anywhere in the timeline and then pressing and holding your Command key and "A" on your keyboard to select everything, or use the multi-selection tool to select specific clips.
- Go to "Window" > "Show Adjustments Bar" or press 3, and then select the info button on the adjustments bar.
- Enter the desired duration in the box on the right and press Enter. This will change the duration of all the selected clips.
Please note that on iPad and iPhone, you can only change the duration of each image or clip manually, as you cannot select multiple items in the iMovie app on these devices.
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Applying settings in a certain order
When creating a slideshow in iMovie, you can apply settings in a certain order to achieve your desired results. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
- Plan your slideshow: Determine the number of pictures you want to include and the desired duration for your slideshow. As a rule of thumb, aim for a duration that doesn't exceed 15 minutes to maintain your audience's interest. Calculate the time allocated for each photo by considering the total number of photos and the desired duration.
- Import your photos: Open iMovie and start a new project by clicking "File" and then "New Project." You can add a project name and adjust the aspect ratio to your preference. Import your photos by dragging and dropping them into the project browser. Arrange the photos in the order you want them to appear in the slideshow.
- Set the duration: Before applying any effects, it's recommended to set the duration for each photo. This can be done by selecting the photo and adjusting the settings in the Project Properties dialog. If you want all photos to have the same duration, click the ""Applies to all stills" checkbox.
- Apply the Ken Burns Effect: iMovie automatically applies the Ken Burns Effect to incoming photos. This effect, named after the documentary filmmaker, involves panning and zooming to create a sense of motion. To customize the effect, select the Ken Burns" tab, and adjust the zoom and pan settings for the start and end positions of each slide.
- Preview and adjust: Once you've set the start and end positions, click the Preview button to see how the slide looks with the applied effects. If needed, go back and make adjustments to fine-tune the panning and zooming behaviour.
- Repeat for each slide: To apply different settings to each slide, repeat the process for each photo, adjusting the zoom and pan behaviour individually. This ensures that each slide has unique settings and avoids the issue of previous settings being overwritten.
- Add additional elements: After setting the Ken Burns Effect for each slide, you can enhance your slideshow by adding transitions, titles, and music. iMovie allows you to import background music from iTunes or add voiceovers and sound effects. You can also add titles by clicking the Titles panel and selecting a template.
By following these steps in order, you can effectively create a slideshow in iMovie with customized settings for each slide, ensuring a dynamic and engaging presentation.
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Adding music to your slideshow
Once you have your music file, open iMovie and start a new project. You can then import your chosen photos, videos, and music files by dragging and dropping them into the timeline. You can also use the 'Import' button to add files from your device.
To add music to your slideshow, click the audio icon in the bottom right corner, and drag and drop the desired audio file to the timeline. You can trim the music to decide the starting and ending parts and change the volume and speed of the song. You can also add multiple songs to your project.
If you want to add royalty-free music, you can download it from websites such as Filmstock or iTunes. You can also add your own audio files as background music. To sync the music with your slideshow, you may need to trim and edit the audio.
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Exporting and sharing your slideshow
Once you're happy with your slideshow, it's time to export and share it with the world. You can preview your entire slideshow by going to the beginning of the timeline and hitting the spacebar. If you're pleased with how it looks, you can then export the project by selecting the Share button at the top-right corner of iMovie. This will bring up a variety of exporting options, such as:
- Sharing the project to YouTube
- Exporting it as a file
- Sharing on your social networks
- Saving it as an MP4 file
- Sharing it on Vimeo
- Adding the slideshow to Theatre to load it on your other Apple devices
You can also export the iMovie slideshow to iTunes, which will allow you to sync it with your mobile devices like iPhones, iPods, and iPads. If you want to upload your videos online, iMovie also allows direct uploads to MobileMe Gallery, Facebook, CNN iReport, and more.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ken Burns Effect is a popular technique to pan a slideshow in iMovie. It simulates the movement of a camera over a still photo. To do this, select the "Ken Burns" tab, adjust the zoom and pan to your desired start position, then click "end" to set your desired end position.
Select the photo you want to edit, then adjust the zoom and pan behaviour to your liking. Repeat this process for each photo.
A general rule of thumb is to keep your slideshow under 15 minutes to maintain your audience's interest.
To ensure that all photos in your slideshow have the same duration, click the "Applies to all stills" checkbox. If you want to set different durations, go to iMovie's Project Properties dialog and specify the default behaviour of imported photos.
Click on the Crop icon or select the clip and press C to view the photo controls. You can then rotate your photos using the photo controls.




























