I have been using iMovie for some time but now I need to work with a different aspect ratio -the old 4:3 ratio. I digitized some old family movies that were on VHS in this ratio. When I open iMovie I don't seem to get a choice. Anyone know how to do this. Seems fairly basic but I can't find a way. I'm working with Big Sur.
Thanks
iMac Line (2012 and Later)
Hi, Petedr,
The 16:9 aspect ratio of iMovie's screen cannot be changed. A 4:3 video will display with black bars to make it fit the 16:9 screen. You can crop a 4:3 video to fit the screen, but that would mean loss of some of the image.
Here's an online help link that explains the process:
https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mova56757e7e
Other than cropping or living with the black bars, another way to handle this is to export your 4:3 video from iMovie to your desktop. Then use the Control-Shift-5 feature to display a control bar at the bottom of your screen where you can select to record an outlined portion of your video as it is playing, to eliminate the black bars.
-- Rich
Hi, Petedr,
The 16:9 aspect ratio of iMovie's screen cannot be changed. A 4:3 video will display with black bars to make it fit the 16:9 screen. You can crop a 4:3 video to fit the screen, but that would mean loss of some of the image.
Here's an online help link that explains the process:
https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mova56757e7e
Other than cropping or living with the black bars, another way to handle this is to export your 4:3 video from iMovie to your desktop. Then use the Control-Shift-5 feature to display a control bar at the bottom of your screen where you can select to record an outlined portion of your video as it is playing, to eliminate the black bars.
-- Rich
Reset Aspect Ratio in iMovie 10
