05-28-2009, 10:28 PM

I'm new to Apple- I have the new Aluminum MacBook with 2 GHz and 2 GB.

I just started using iMovie, and no matter how many tutorials I watch, I just cannot find the video effects for the life of me. I've tried double clicking the video clips, right clicking, trying to find it everywhere. It's the iLife '09.

Can anyone help me? I'd really like to start making movies. Thanks!

05-29-2009, 01:16 AM

In a project, double click on a clip and an inspector window appears. In about the middle you'll see a 'Video Effect:' popup. You'll also be able to set the clip up for speed adjustment and stabilization. There are tabs at the top of that window for other things too.

For transitions between clips look to the right in the middle of the whole editing window for the button next the the globe.

05-29-2009, 05:51 PM

See, though, I've tried double clicking already.. all that happens is that clip plays. I'm so stuck :/

05-30-2009, 02:29 AM

I have the same problem. Double clicking doesn't do anything,but plays the movie. I tried to find the effects everywhere, but couldn't find anything

05-30-2009, 05:37 AM

To fix the double clicking opiton;

Open the iMovie Preferences.
Click on the Browser tab.
Choose Edit where it says "Double-click to:".

In the following cases you need to have a clip selected.

Another option is to use the Window menu and choose "Clip Adjustments", or just press the letter 'I'.

Lastly choose the little gear symbol with a drop down arrow next to it. See the attached image.

Clearly you both need to learn how to experiment. Don't be scared. Dive in with some test video. That way you won't kill something you want to keep.

05-30-2009, 10:00 AM

Thank you for the help, and I have tried doing some test videos but none of the solutions you posted were applicable to my iMovie? I don't know if it's the version, or what. There is no Browser tab in preferences, and no clip adjustment option in window. The only thing I can change on a clip is the duration, color, whether or not to crop it and audio adjustments.

05-30-2009, 11:05 AM

Effects will only work on the clips in the Project library, not the Events library. Try assembling a random collection of clips in Project, then try effects again.

05-30-2009, 12:23 PM

Okay, I did that, but still, it only just plays the clip/video. This is weird! And again, I don't see any way that I can change the double click option. Should I try re-installing iMovie?

05-30-2009, 05:50 PM

I have exactly the same problems as alabaster. I am not afraid to experiment and I have screwed tons of clips, but I just cant find video effects anywhere! Another thing that is not working is the duration of the transitions in between the clips! Supposedly by double clicking on the little transition square I can control how many second I want it to be, but it doesn't happen whatsoever. It is just standard 0.5 seconds and there is nothing I can do (and I tried).

Do we have a wierd version of iMovie? Is it possible to reinstall it if it was already build in my mac?

05-30-2009, 07:06 PM

ok alabaster, i think you have the same issue I have. I have iMovie 08 version and I think you do too that is why both of us do not have all those effects and stuff. It was possible to upgrade iMovie to 09 version for $10 only (if you bought your Mac during a certain period of time), but unfortunately the $10 upgrade of iLife was available till March 28th only (I called Mac support) and is not available now for that cheap. I think me and you will have to upgrade iLife for $99

05-30-2009, 07:07 PM

WOW, verb, I definitely don't think I'll be upgrading, then. I just got my Mac a few months ago! So, shouldn't I have iMovie 09? Weird stuff.

05-30-2009, 08:00 PM

To find which version of iMovie you have, Open iMovie and under the iMovie menu select About iMovie and it will tell you what you have.. iLife is $79 not $99 so it is worth it if you have iLife 08 and don't have iMovie HD to go along with it.

05-30-2009, 08:49 PM

Yeah, there it is, I have 08. It's pretty dumb that they'd make a version with no effects at all.

05-30-2009, 08:58 PM

Yeah the only effect you can make is by playing with the light, but that is it Well may be some of your friends bought iLife 09 and you could get it from them...it is illegal, but not everyone has 79$ or 99$

05-30-2009, 09:28 PM

yeah.. grr. this sucks. Thanks to everyone who helped- and to Verb, good luck, haha