I've created PowerPoint slides and inserted them into a iMovie. The text and pictures were not crisp - they were blurry. I converted the PPT to PDF and inserted them into iMovie. No improvement. I converted PPT to JPEG - same result - no improvement.
I would appreciate some help.
Thanks
Vezzie
I learned through trial and error that iMovie doesn't accept PowerPoint slides. I converted the slides into JPEG files.
Before inserting the slides into iMovie I increased their ratio to 1080 pixels. That improved the sharpness.
The problem was resolved by increasing the number of pixels so they matched the HD quality of iMovie.
I learned through trial and error that iMovie doesn't accept PowerPoint slides. I converted the slides into JPEG files.
Before inserting the slides into iMovie I increased their ratio to 1080 pixels. That improved the sharpness.
The problem was resolved by increasing the number of pixels so they matched the HD quality of iMovie.
Around 15 years ago when DV was pretty much the only consumer video option, I included a screenshot of the current (then) iMovie interface in a video.
I was appalled at how blurred it looked and eventually realised it was caused because the original Mac screen image was around 1800 pixels whereas iMovie was lowering it to the DV standard of 768 pixels.
This was dramatically reducing the resolution so that fine print in the video was completely unreadable and the whole image was somewhat blurred.
I think you stated your video was 720p?
This is probably too low for a fine detailed PowerPoint image.
You need to use at least 1080p.
O.K. But how do the slides play on your desktop, or in the photos app?
Also, what version of iMovie are you using? The screen dimensions of iMovie 10 are 16:9 and that is a fixed dimension that cannot be changed. However, you can play 4:3 aspect ratio photos although they will display with black bars at the sides to make them fit the 16:9 screen.
Have you tried exporting the PowerPoint slides from iMovie to see if they play clearly in the final product?
-- Rich
Since the slides play fine on your desktop and in the Photos app, that would indicate that there is something about the slides that iMovie doesn't like. What is the format of the slides?
Try using the slides in a Photos app slide show, exporting that to your desktop as a video, and then importing the video into iMovie.
As for the 4:3 aspect ratio, if you have the crop setting set to "Fit" it will display the photo with black bars in order to preserve the true 4:3 aspect ratio. You may not notice the bars, but if you look closely you will see that the photo does not fill the full 16:9 screen. There is a black area on each side. If it filled the full screen it would look like a wide angle shot. If you have the crop setting set to "Crop to Fill" it will crop the photo to fit the 16:9 aspect ratio screen, but then you lose some of the photo.
-- Rich
I have never used Power Point, so I can't test for myself.
You might try reducing the resolution of the presentation and see if that clears it up.
When you export the Power Point presentation to your desktop as an image (or video), does it play clearly on your desktop? If it doesn't then the problem would not be related to iMovie, but rather to the Power Point app that is not exporting clear images.
Perhaps others with experience using the Power Point app with iMovie will chime in here.
-- Rich
Thank you for the reply. The slides play clearly in the PowerPoint. When I convert them to PDF and look at them they are sharp. The blurriness I believe is related to iMovie. I have also selected standard screen (4:3 ratio) 720 for the PPT which is the same as the iMovie.
The slides look fine on the desktop and in photos app. I'm using iMovie version 10.2.3
I did play the slides at 4:3 aspect. However, they did not display black bars at the sides to make them fit the 16:9 screen
Suggestions by Rich 839 and Ian. Brown were very helpful in providing direction and ideas. I didn't always understand what I was doing but eventually I managed to create slides for iMovie that were crisper and clearer looking. Mission accomplished.
Thanks to both folks for helping out and thanks to this community for being here!
Thanks. I’ll give that try. Let you know tomorrow.
Glad you got it working.
Can you share what worked for you, as it might help others that have experienced the same issue.
— Rich
Ah. So that was it. I figured that there may be something about the PowerPoint slides that iMovie didn't like. Glad you were able to get it working. 😊
-- Rich
blurry powerpoint slides in iMovie
