Convert IMovie Aspect ratio to 9:16

Hi, Marshal_,

The 16:9 screen dimensions of iMovie cannot be changed. You can display a 9:16 clip, but there will be black bars on each side to make it fit the 16:9 screen. If you want to export a 9:16 video clip without the black bars in the exported product, you can place it into a newly created project, select it in the time line and click on the crop icon (the one that looks like intersecting angles) in the tool bar at the upper right of your screen. Then use the rotation rectangles to the right of the crop icon selection box to rotate the clip sideways. Then export the the project in its sideways rotation to your desktop. Open it in QuickTimePlayer. Do an Edit/Rotate to make it right side up, and save. The clip will now be vertical without black bars. However, if you import it back into iMovie, it will have the black bars when displayed in the preview screen.

If you are working with a still image you don't need to create a new project. You can use the crop tool to rotate it sideways, then export it as an image to your desktop and rotate it vertical again with QuickTimePlayer.

-- Rich

Yes, lots of people do take iPhone videos in the vertical portrait configuration. I think that

most videographers prefer landscape mode to fit the traditional movie screen dimensions.

I always turn my phone sideways to record in landscape, so that the clips will display

full screen, and mix in more smoothly with other clips. As you have found, iMovie will

display in portrait mode, but with black bars to make it fit the 16:9 screen dimensions.

Have fun!

-- Rich

Thanks Rich.

This is how I've been doing it too.

So much video these days is filmed in 9:16 for sharing socially, broadcasting on stories (facebook & instagram), on messengers etc.

Does anyone know why iMovie only works in Landscape and not Portrait?