Technology How To

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Windows Moviemaker is a simple editing tool to create quick, basic videos. It lacks the features of more advanced editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, but works well for lower quality movies for use in PowerPoint presentations, etc.

Getting Started

Windows Moviemaker can be found in the start menu, under Digital Media Tools, Video Tools. Once open you should notice that the screen is divided into four separate areas, each with a specific function in the movie making process. On the left side of the screen is a Movie Task Bar, which contains a number of pull down links for the most important aspects of movie editing. In the upper middle of the screen is your collections workspace, where the clips, transitions, and other media will be shown while creating your movie. You can toggle this task bar on and off by clicking the Task icon in the menu bar. To the far right is a preview window, allowing you to preview clips, transitions, or your entire movie project, as well as create cuts in the clips. Finally, along the bottom of the screen is the timeline/storyboard, where your final movie is created.

Importing Media (Video, Audio, and Images)

To import media into your collections screen, you can either go to File>Import to collections, or under Movie Task click the down arrow next 1. Capture Video and click the Import Video tab. (To import other media, select the appropriate option under capture video). Windows Moviemaker recognizes media types such as .wmv and .avi, but will not recognize other proprietary formats, such as .mov, or the raw footage from the Mini TV Studio camera. To load this media, first converted it to a supported format, such as .wmv, in the Adobe Media Encoder, described elsewhere. Your media should appear in the collection area in the middle of the window after a short load. The computer will automatically separate videos into separate clips, if you do not want these clips to be created, press cancel on the pop up box.

You may now preview the clip in the preview window once you select it. You may cut the clip into two separate clips in the collection window by clicking the cut icon in the preview window. The cut icon looks like two pieces of film separated by a dashed line, it is located in the bottom right hand corner next to a screenshot tool that looks like a camera.

Creating and Editing your Movie

Once your media has been imported, you can begin creating your movie. Simply click and drag the desired clip from the collection window into the timeline/storyline at the bottom of the screen. (You can switch between the timeline view and storyline view anytime by clicking the Show Storyboard/Show Timeline button above the storyboard/timeline. Timeline view shows you how long each clip lasts, as well as the audio and overlays on the movie. Storyboard shows each clip and transition as its own icon, making it easier to navigate to specific clips.)

While you have a clip selected in the timeline, you will see its preview in the preview window. You may cut any clip in two at the point the blue cursor line is by clicking the cut icon, explained above. You can also click and drag any clip in the timeline to another location, as well as clip either end of the clip by clicking the black arrow in the middle of the clip and dragging it in to the appropriate length. (Use the magnifying glass icons to zoom in and out in timeline mode if these black arrows are not visible.) You can delete a clip at anytime by selecting it and hitting the delete key. Other media can be manipulated in the same way as video.

Adding Titles, Credits, Effects, and Transitions

The Movie Tasks Bar contains numerous options for the creation of titles and credits, and the addition of effects and transitions to your movie under the Edit Movie pull down. To create titles or credits, select the Make titles and credits from the list. Select where you want your title or credits to appear and add your text to the window that appears. You can adjust the title animation as well as the text font, size and color using the options presented below the text field. Once finished, select Done, add title to movie.

To add a transition or effect, select the appropriate option from the edit movie pull down. The collections window will show the available transitions or effects, which you can preview in the preview window. Once you find your desired transition or effect, click and drag it to the timeline or storyboard.

Titles, credits, effects, and transitions can be edited just like other media once in the timeline or storyboard.

Finishing your Movie

Once you have finished moving and editing your clips in the timeline, you may finish your movie by compiling it into a single video. To do so, use the options under Movie Tasks, 3. Finish Movie. The best option is to select Save to my computer. Give your movie a name and select the location in which to save. Click next, and a screen will appear detailing the file to be compiled. The recommended option should be fine for most Moviemaker videos, but additions formats and qualities can be found by clicking Show more choices… Click next, and your movie will be complied. Once finished, you can view the movie in its entirety, as well as save it to an external memory source, such as a CD-R or a Flash Drive. ITC is not responsible for files left on the Mini Studio Cart Thinkpad, and all files are subject to deletion at anytime.