MacMost Now 130: Blurring An Area In iMovie 08

[mcobinad]

The problem i have is that when i click on select inverse, the background image does not go blank. It stays on. The tutorial guy clicked on select-inverse and every thing went blank except the blur area. Can someone figure this out? I use PS on Mac!

[macmostvideo]

@mcobinad Did you hit delete after selecting the Inverse?

[mcobinad]

@macmostvideo As in delete key?

[macmostvideo]

@mcobinad Yes.

[Blastoizard]

How can i blur moving objects?

[macmostvideo]

@Blastoizard Can't really do that in iMovie.

[SuperchargedMustang5]

Helpful thank you

[Anishdaminester3]

hwo come this vid stops at 0:29 and when i skip tht bit it goes bk



[macmostvideo]

@Anishdaminester3 Perhaps just connection issues? The video itself is fine.

[freshicedcoke]

what camera do you use good quality

[macmostvideo]

@freshicedcoke For this old episode I was using a Sony HD camcorder. HDR-HC1. But the more recent episodes use a Canon HDV40

[freshicedcoke]

@macmostvideo it was 360p

[macmostvideo]

@freshicedcoke The final edited and compressed video at YouTube was 360p. But the camera was 1080i. That's what you asked. I'm guessing, back when this video was shot, I was using my 1080i camera to record in 720p. Then I would edit down to 640x360 for upload to YouTube. HD wasn't as common on YouTube back then.

[WalkAloneMedia]

Why don't you just not write you email up there in the first place?

[ishajq]

@WalkAloneMedia -_- IT WAS AN EXAMPLE

[tekroundup]

god I understand but seriously why can't Apple make this a tad-bit easier. I mean they have the fricking stuff in iPhoto!

[BCNation1]

THANKS MAN!:D<3

[UnexpectedlyAwesome]

hey, could you help me out... ? i have the most recent imovie on my macbook white. i need help blurring out my face in a video.. BUT i am constantly moving.. could you make a tutorial

[macmostvideo]

@UnexpectedlyAwesome You can't really do that with a moving target in iMovie. In episode 481 I show you how to do it in Premiere Elements, though.

[UnexpectedlyAwesome]

@macmostvideo aww dangit.. well thanks for replying anyway :)

[randomrazr]

what if something isnt in the same spot? like if r wlaking around a car and u want to hide the licence plate

[macmostvideo]

@randomrazr That can't easily be done in iMovie. You can go to pro-level software. Or, I've done a tutorial on how to do it in Premiere Elements (episode 481)

[randomrazr]

@macmostvideo where/what is pro level software in imovie? lol

[macmostvideo]

@randomrazr By pro-level software I mean an application a professional would use like Final Cut Studio, Adobe Premiere, etc.

[randomrazr]

@macmostvideo dont have those/cant afford it LOL

[ADKIc3mAnX36O]

DO you know how to do it on the New one ?

[macmostvideo]

@ADKIc3mAnX36O Same thing. You create a graphic, drop it in as a picture-in-picture.

[PaperCutOfficial]

i have iMovie '10, i dont have photoshop. i needed about 4 seconds of blur. can you help?

[macmostvideo]

@PaperCutOfficial See if episode 423 helps.

[izzodameziah]

this tutorial is garbage it doesnt even work

[macmostvideo]

@izzodameziah I'm sorry that it isn't working for you. Though calling it "garbage" is a little extreme. It has helped a lot of people over the years.

What part of the process are you having trouble with?

[suspekt29]

Figured it out, Thanks for your help

[suspekt29]

By the way, if someone knows how to do this on iMove '11 please let me know because these instructions will not work. ALSO if you do put an image in PS, dont forget to double click on the layer to remove the lock otherwise after inverting and clicking delete it will not work.

[macmostvideo]

@suspekt29 The basic idea still works in iMovie 11. The interface is a little different. Which part are you stuck on?

[suspekt29]

@macmostvideo It wasn't dropping the blur PNG like it did on your video. I am assuming although the methodology was the same the end results might vary. I finally got irate enough to do this on Bootcamp with free software which is TOTALLY unacceptable. Mac prides itself at being a cut above the rest but seems to remove a feature that should be so basic. I couldn't even pull this off with ScreenFlow.

[macmostvideo]

@suspekt29 I've done it on iMovie 11, just as a test. What are you seeing different when you say "it wasn't dropping the blur PNG"

[suspekt29]

@macmostvideo I followed your instructions. I created a blur. I saved it as a PNG. I went to dump the PNG into iMovie and it gave me 3 options. One to cancel, one to override and I forget the other one off hand. On your tutorial, the PNG fit perfectly in the area you wanted blurred. In mine it tossed the video and showed the blur. It didnt integrate like it did yours.

[macmostvideo]

@suspekt29 Sounds like you don't have Advanced Tools turned on in the iMovie prefs. Do that and one of the options would be to place the image as "picture-in-picture" like in the tutorial.

[suspekt29]

@macmostvideo Yep. I did that just for the hell of it, Gary, just because I hate switching over to WIndows. Selecting the advanced tool did give me that option like you said but all it did was extend the blurred PNG above the original project clip and create a shrinked version of the blurred video on the original video clip. Ive had it with Mac and this task. Thanks for trying. Its not worth it.

[suspekt29]

By the way people, its command shift 4 in case someone is new. Command Shift 3 does complete screen shot. Command shift 4 is able to pinpoint an area

[bluewolfer]

Very helpful, iMovie is such a pain,they made everything more of a hassle.

[ArisatoMinatoXXII]

Awesome. Thanks so much, I needed this to keep someone in my video anonymous.

[macmostvideo]

@MrMaskedguitarman I don't do much photo editing. I would use iPhoto for basic stuff. I have Photoshop, but I use it for graphics work, not photos.

[oribali1]

Cool!

[SWIPETV]

thank you

[RHarperMc]

I tried this in iMovie09 and got the picture over the moving picture okay, but it took out all the sound. Any comments? Thanks.



[macmostvideo]

@RHarperMc Not sure.

[RHarperMc]

@macmostvideo Actually I meant to take this post down - doing the picture in picture maneuver worked. Thanks for this technique! I really appreciate your video and reply. ~R

[RHarperMc]

I tried this in iMovie09 and got the picture over the moving picture okay, but it took out all the sound. Any comments? Thanks.

[liudvee]

That was perfect, thank you! Long intro was annoying, the essence was laid out in 3 minutes actually. Anyway, great work, it helped me- THANK YOU!

[callmeLilSparky]

Mac most you never disappoint thumbs up this vid rocks.

[lydie44]

VERY HELPFUL! Thanks so much! I'm very excited to use that technique for other purposes!

[SCHIZOPHRENlC]

You can blur in iMovie? Wow, I've been enjoying FCS for so long, I had no idea iMovie has gotten so advanced. I need to blur license plates a lot and this is helpful.

[ymerej101]

ok I have read some comments and I understand about the whole picture in picture for ppl with imovie 09 but what hapens is for me it completely freezes and I can not do anything but force quit, Help?

[macmostvideo]

@ymerej101 Thats not normal behavior. You should have someone take a look at it. Or, try it with a few new project with freshly imported video. Perhaps your project is corrupt?

[TheBoredBros95]

thank you so much!

[north313]

My clip keeps on freezing after ive added the picture-in-picture, so I can hear the sound but the clip becomes a freeze frame, how do I resolve this?!

[macmostvideo]

@north313 I'll bet that is just while previewing right? Try exporting the movie and you'll see the final video is fine.

[TheRichmondGraffiti]

hey, enjoyed the video, but do you know how to blur a moving object in imovie 09?

[macmostvideo]

No good way to do it in iMovie. If you need that, you'll probably need to move to a more high-end video editing application.

[RockSteadyVybes]

Gary - great video, man! This really helped me out a lot! iMovie 8 is such a headache...but you were able to solve at least one of those headaches for me!

[pandellio]

I have 09 and it wont let me superimpose the picture onto the video

[macmostvideo]

@pandellio In 09, turn on advanced tools in the prefs, and then use picture-in-pictue to do this.

[HaydensRoom1945]

Do you know how to do this in imovie HD?

[macmostvideo]

Honestly, I can't remember. Haven't used that old version in a very long time.

[MehganFox]

total pain lol. is there an easier way to do this?

[macmostvideo]

This video is for iMovie 09. In iMovie 09 it is easier. Use picture-in-picture to place an image over an area. If you know how to use graphics programs, then place a blurry semi-transparent circle as the picture.

[djblond12]

Hi there, this is an excellent video and exactly what I need! However I have imovie09 and when i drag the blur.png on top of the video, it asks me to replace, insert or cancel. Is there now no way to super impose the blur.png with Imovie 09? Thanks for your help!

[macmostvideo]

Sounds like you didn't turn on advanced tools in the iMovie prefs.

[djblond12]

OK great I did that, and I have a few more options, like Green Screen and picture in picture when I paste on top. Should I do the green screen? It also seems like I can't paste the image on top of the entire clip like you did in 08.

[macmostvideo]

You want picture-in-picture. Then stretch the image and position it to cover the area you want. Play around with it.

[dmanian33]

is there a way to blur out someone's face that is moving?

[macmostvideo]

Not with iMovie. You'll have to get a professional piece of video editing software for something like that. Or do it in very tiny bits.

[podreviewz]

Thank you! Subbed!

[aidylynaffit]

how do you blur the moving subject? i'm interviewing someone and he doesn't want his identity to be revealed...

[macmostvideo]

You can't. You'll need professional software to do that. Final Cut must be able to do it. There are probably others.

[Snuskigaste]

Oh, hey! Did you know Windows CAN run MAC apps? Oh and did i forgot about that windows are the most compatible Operative System? Other wise why can't MAC run on a everyday computer? Why is it only the "mac" ones? Don't you want to run a OS on any computer and don't have to grind into 100 of problem and push out 40% more? Well if you answered yes on the last two. Then a MAC is for you. The want to control you by separating them self and force everyone to buy expensive hardware to use MAC.

[SkipTheNames]

@Snuskigaste .. macs apps are for macs, same thing for windows. most window apps are only for windows

[ledziana]

You cannot run osx on a pc because it is too advanced

[fel1979]

I have managed to get this done without the import of the clip, you can add transitions to the video at the beginning and the end and enlarge the size of the photo mask...

I hope this helps.... Regards

[jerryx2000]

amazing

[reggiep08v2]

Do you know if there's a way to do it in iMovie HD? I have iMovie '08, but like the older HD better..

[macmostvideo]

Not sure, sorry. Been years since I had iMovie 06. You could get iMovie 09. It is the best yet.

[reggiep08v2]

Ok cool, thanks!

[islandcowfish]

Whats that little jingle in the beginning?

[charlesfisher757]

How would yo do this on iMovie '09?

[macmostvideo]

Basically the same way. But you can use the picture-in-picture function with a small blur graphic and manually position the blur if you like.

[andyfrankvideos]

how do you select a certain part of your screen to take a picture of?

[macmostvideo]

Episode 163

[macmostvideo]

Sounds like you aren't giving it the right type of file -- one with a semi-transparent black over everything. I'm not a PS expert, but I'm sure if you play with the alpha channel and export settings, you can get something that works.

[DrPoopish]

Hey Gary--using Photoshop I created an all black matte in the same way as your blurred eliptical shape to create a mask for a watermark on my original iMovie. When I place that into iMovie it seems to make already dark video, darker. I also tried it with just a blurred image (not the black one) and that also darkened my movie. Any idea why it would be doing this?

[Thiesson3114]

Are there no way to get the blur to move ? like a moving car and we want the number plate to blur all the way

[macmostvideo]

You probably want to go to a specialized or high-end piece of video editing software if you need that.

[Thiesson3114]

PLEASE HELP!!!! I cant put my photo in top of the movie like you do whith text there just come a menu on danish "indæst" "erstat"

[macmostvideo]

I don't know what that translates to. Try experimenting.

[Thiesson3114]

I tryed and my dad helped me also and he is an IT expert and he cant fix it. And the picture format is png. But is it some thing to do that i have 09 that is almost the same? :)

[macmostvideo]

Hard to troubleshoot from here. In iMovie 09, make sure you have "Show Advanced Tools" checked in the iMovie prefs.

[Thiesson3114]

oh THANKS NOW IT WORKS :)!!!!! But i got one more question when i put a picture in a project it zoomes out or in or something like that can i turn that off on any way :)?

[macmostvideo]

You probably mean the Ken Burns Effect. Read up on it in the iMovie help.

[pallih96]

cmd3 doues not work

[heesung09]

you're awesome!thanks!

[bigmanathome24]

cheers

[AppleAssassin]

Hey gary, I know this is quite off topic but Im planning on getting a mac for the first time. is it difficult too get used to a mac coming from a PC?

[macmostvideo]

Yes, this is not the right place for this question. And to answer it is difficult -- it depends on what you know, how you learn, how much you like computing, etc.

[AppleAssassin]

Well I know quite alot about computers and computing, Im a very fast learner, But the main questuion is, is it very much different to a Pc?

[macmostvideo]

If you know a lot about computing and are a fast learner, then you will have no problem at all switching to Mac. You should check one out at a store and see for yourself.

[elpyrodraco]

at apple stores they will transfer your files and on the website there is a tutorial on the main differences

[UncommonSense123]

i just did the same thing you are about to do about five months ago and i got used to my mac in a few hours and i actually love it so much more than my PC

[ReMiiXEdiTinG]

can you do that in imovie09

[macmostvideo]

The same technique should work, yes.

[Sreyani12]

awesome. thankyou very much for your help.

[Iconz113]

time for a new monitor in backround. lol jk

[PnTnetworks]

Gary Is there a way you can make a video on how to blur a video in Imovie 08 or 09 when the area that you want to blur Moves?

[macmostvideo]

Doing that is just not practical in iMovie. You'll have to go to a more pro tool like Final Cut.

[PnTnetworks]

Thanks Gary.

[IanMorris500]

Excellent tutorial. Very clear. Thanks!

[ayigbeboy]

is it possible to overlay on titles?

it didn't work - i've got a title in the start of the movie.

[macmostvideo]

Sure is. That's how most of them are supposed to be used, like the lower thirds. Drag and drop it on top of a clip.

[ayigbeboy]

thank you!

[randomtickle]

Gary

As I said, I had p/shop 8.0 and I could not create a new doc with 32-bit RGB. So I used cs4. But I couldn't save the image as a PNG. The only format that would attach to imovie was a TIFF. It still didn't work.

When I try in 8 and 16-bit, I CAN save it as a PNG. But it still won't work.

What I'm trying to erase is what I think is the remnants of an old timecode, top center of the letterbox.

When I took a still image of the affected frame, the marks did not appear.

Many thanks,

Rohan

[macmostvideo]

I don't think I can yelp you via YouTube comments. You may need someone who knows Photoshop to show you a few things.

[randomtickle]

Gary can you please answer this?

How do I make sure the image is the same size as video? Working in 4:3, importing video as 960x 540. Also, at what stage can I change to 32-bit RGB? I have photoshop 8.0 and it only seems to go to 16-bit. I noticed on your tutorial that you seem to be using 8-bit.

Ta, Rohan

[macmostvideo]

When you create the image in your image editing program, just make the image that size. Or, you could take a still frame of the video and use that as a layer in the image, just deleting that layer before exporting. Photoshop will allow you to export any RGB image with an alpha channel (R+G+B+Alpha each at 8 bit = 32 bit image).

[mispolyc]

Thank you Very Much, Gary.

[Maximili012m]

can you do this on imovie 09?

[macmostvideo]

This same technique should work in iMovie 09 too.

[randomtickle]

Gary I've done everything you said and it won't work. When I drag the image next to the frame I want it is there, but it has no effect when i place it on the frame. Does the size of the saved image/blurred image have anything to do with this?

Help!

[macmostvideo]

Try experimenting with different images and sizes. I would make sure that he image is exactly the same dimensions as your video. Make sure it is a true 32-bit png image.

[randomtickle]

How do I make sure the image is the same size as video? Working in 4:3, importing video as 960x 540. Also, at what stage can I change to 32-bit RGB? I have photoshop 8.0 and it only seems to go to 16-bit. I noticed on your tutorial that you seem to be using 8-bit.

[VpdKilleRSsSs]

does this maybe work on imovie06 ? becuase i dont have 08 and the dmg i downloaded was corrupt

[macmostvideo]

It might, but in a different way. Not sure. But there are plug-ins you can get for iMovie 06 that will do this (iMovie 08 doesn't support plug-ins).

[halo239]

imovie 08 seemed extremley useless when i first installed the dmg and i immediatley downloaded 06 right after, the fact that 08 doesnt support plug-ins confirms my theroy

[ferari27]

how do you remember that

[ddust]

I got Problem, i did those screen shot & edit with photoshop and saved it as PNG file. But when i drag it to imovie, it wont let me merge teh picture with the movie. Is there anything that have to be specific type of vdo file? i'm using AVI

[macmostvideo]

I don't know if using an AVI will make a difference. Are you using iMovie 08? Are you dragging it over a clip? You may just have to experiment with it to find out what's different in your situation.

[VpdKilleRSsSs]

some PNG codecs will not be supported in imovie, i had problems with that in the past. try saving the image as a .jpg or .gif

make sure you compress it though

[JorgeDX3]

what do i do if i have a video with movement?

[macmostvideo]

Then you are going to have to go to a move professional solution. It wouldn't be practical to try that in iMovie.

[ddust]

thanks for that answer..that way i dont have to waste time in imovie for that. what is teh better movie editor? final cut pro or adobe primier? Thank in advance

[macmostvideo]

That's a tough one. I don't use Premier, so I can't give a good answer. There are fans of both.

[aureli101]

I'm wondering, instead of exporting the importing the movie and trimming the edges, why didn't you just put in a second of two of black (or white) at the beginning and end. This would give time for the png to fade in (and it would save you the hassle of importing and exporting.)

[macmostvideo]

I thought of the same thing, but that alters your movie too much. What if you don't want to have a few seconds of black here and there in your movie?

[JustinProductions767]

ugh ur so lucky i want a mac so bad but they're so freaking expensive, you can't get one for under a thousand dollars.

[macmostvideo]

The Mac Mini is only $600. Sometimes they have them for closer to $500 refurbished. Minis are great little machines if you are on a budget.

[JustinProductions767]

yeah but i haven't heard many good reviews for those, but i'll look into it more. thanks for the info.

[macmostvideo]

Well, you do get what you pay for: low memory, slower processor, mediocre video chipset, small hard drive. But if you are on a tight budget, then you can't compare it to more expensive machines.

[GavinRoskamp]

Cool tip!

I have an off-topic question: How do you feel about that Apple Studio CRT Display in the background at the beginning and end? I am considering getting one on eBay. Thanks!

[macmostvideo]

Well, its neat, but it is a CRT -- large and heavy. I would only by LCDs nowadays.

[ThatGuyyyyy]

hi, I was just wondering how long does it take for YouTube to publish a video from iMovie. I made my first movie in iMovie yesterday and uploaded it by clicking publish to YouTube in iMovie (twice the same video with some time gap) but it still doesn't show up. It's not porn or inappropriate, just a home video. So I was just wondering...

[macmostvideo]

I've never published directly from iMovie to YouTube, but I assume it takes the same amount of time as Web publishing. So it should have been up in minutes. Perhaps you had a setting wrong? I'd recheck everything.

[TerryCPiano]

Very useful, can u make a video on how to blur a spot when it's moving? I know u can do it with shake but I suck at it :P

[macmostvideo]

Now that will take some higher-end software. I imagine you can do it with Final Cut and some extensions, but not sure which.

[biochemist8]

first

nice vid