iLife '04: The Missing Manual

Chapter 18. Still Pictures and QuickTime Movies

The DV camcorder is the source of iMovie material you’ll probably use the most often, but it’s not the only source. You can also bring in still images and existing QuickTime movies from your hard drive. You can also export still frames from your movie, a much more direct method of producing still images than using your camcorder’s built-in “digital camera” feature.

Importing Still Images

You might want to import a graphics file into iMovie for any number of reasons:

• You can use a graphic, digital photo, or other still image as a backdrop for iMovie’s titling feature. A still image behind your text is less distracting than video.

• You can use a graphics file instead of using the iMovie titling feature. Preparing your own title “slides” in, say, Photoshop Elements or AppleWorks gives you a lot more flexibility than the iMovie titling feature. You get complete control over type size, color, and placement, for starters. You can also add graphic touches to your text or to the slide on which it appears.

• One of the most compelling new uses of video is the video photo album: a smoothly integrated succession of photos (from your scanner or digital camera), joined by crossfades, enhanced by titles, and accompanied by music. Thanks to iMovie’s ability to import photos directly from your hard drive or iPhoto collection, creating this kind of video show is a piece of cake.

Note

Of course, iPhoto can create video photo albums, too. But building them in ...