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In iMovie, how can an image be replaced with another while retaining the original settings? There must be a way, but it's not intuitive. I believe there's a keyboard code while dragging onto the existing image. Please say there is. Thanks.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Drag the replacement image to the timeline and place it on top of the image to be replaced. Hold for 2-3 seconds and then release. A popup box will give you options, one of which is to "Replace". Selecting Replace will result in the photo in the timeline being replaced. You may need to adjust the duration if the duration of the two photos is different.
-- Rich
Drag the replacement image to the timeline and place it on top of the image to be replaced. Hold for 2-3 seconds and then release. A popup box will give you options, one of which is to "Replace". Selecting Replace will result in the photo in the timeline being replaced. You may need to adjust the duration if the duration of the two photos is different.
-- Rich
Well, I had tried that a while ago, but all I get is a 'not allowed' symbol. I must have an older version but I can't upgrade. Are there any work arounds? I recall using a keyboard command while dragging and dropping. Of course, I didn't document it and have long forgotten it.
Hmmm. All I can tell you is the way I described is the way to replace a clip in the timeline.
Since that method is not working for you, try deleting preferences and see if see if that cures it. To delete preferences, open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys and select to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects. Deleting preferences is a safe procedure that will not cause data loss or disruption to your project.
If still no luck, try redownloading iMovie. To update/redownload iMovie 10, drag your iMovie 10 app from the Applications folder into the trash, but do not empty the trash. Sign in to the app store and open your purchases folder by clicking on your name at the bottom of the app store side bar. You will see your purchases displayed, including iMovie 10. Redownload/update iMovie from there. If not successful, drag your present iMovie app out of the trash and return it to the Applications folder.
All else failing, try contacting Apple Support. The techs there have the capability of remotely accessing your computer that we cannot do here. To contact apple support click on the Contact Support item in the upper right hand corner of this forum’s screen. Navigate to a place where you can enter your phone number.
-- Rich
Rich, thanks so much for taking the time to net out the options, but I don't believe I can upgrade to iMovie 10. The reason? Adobe. I use several of their apps like InDesign 5.5 (yes it's that old) and when they went subscription I had it with them. If I upgrade my OS (still at El Capitan) I'll lose functionality of those apps. I'm now an independent author and use the apps for illustrations, covers and iMovie for promotional videos. So—I'm stuck, but thanks for all your advice. I'll give your preferences tip a try.
Rich, I re-read the instructions deleting the preferences and am not sure about this:
"iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects."
Not sure what you mean by 'new library.' Not sure what you mean by 'Reopen your old library.'
I'm very close to completing a long worked on video and that sounds like a minefield. How would I open the old library? Jargon is important to identify things but when you don't know the translation, it does not compute. Thanks.
Deleting preferences might solve it, as that procedure often cures issues where iMovie is behaving in an unexpected way. So try that and see what happens. It is a harmless procedure.
If deleting preferences doesn't cure it, the redownload iMovie procedure would get you the highest iMovie version that your operating system will run. So, the version would be compatible with El Capitan. El Capitan is a 32 bit OS and you would be updating/redownloading an iMovie app that is compatible with 32 bit. That shouldn't cause you to lose the functionality of any of your 32 bit apps, versus what would happen if you upgraded your OS to Catalina or newer, that are 64 bit.
Since you are running El Capitan, the redownload procedure is slightly different. Everything would be the same except that for El Capitan and older, click on the Purchases tab at the top of the app store screen and then sign in. Click on Purchases again to reveal your purchases. You should be able to redownload from there.
As a workaround, put your cursor on any audio clip that may be below and attached to your photo clip that you want to be replaced and, while pressing down, pull the audio clip down to a lower audio well until you see the little attachment coupling pull off of the photo. (If the audio clip is attached to a different photo, you can skip that step.) The point is to have a free photo of the audio clip so that you can delete the photo without also deleting the audio clip. Now that the photo is free and independent of the audio clip, drag your replacement clip to the timeline and place it right after the clip that you want to replace. It should squeeze right into the timeline, pushing the other clips aside. Then, select the clip that you want to replace and press Delete on your keyboard. That will delete it and it will be replaced by the replacement clip that you inserted into the timeline. It will slide over into the space vacated by the deleted clip. Adjust the duration of the replacement clip to match that of the deleted clip. That should accomplish what you want without disrupting the rest of the timeline.
-- Rich
Dragging the audio to a lower level and decoupling, but won't that potentially shift the synch between audio and images? But this tip is not intuitive, in no tutorials available and a real gift. Thank you.
As for 'manually' replacing images and video clips, yes, I've been using diagrams of the existing setup, sliding the new, in my case, image into position and making adjustments. Then checking the remainder of the timeline and fixing whatever synch problems were introduced. It's maddening when many images, captions and video clips are involved. That said, hail iMovie.
No, decoupling the audio won't disturb the sync, unless you move the audio clip other than straight downward. The sync would be disturbed when you delete the photo above it if you replace that photo with a clip of different duration than the deleted clip. So, you need to check the duration of the deleted clip before you delete it, and adjust the duration of the replacement clip to match it after you replace it in the timeline. If any transitions were deleted (which probably won't happen) you would need to replace them with the same duration for the transitions that you had previously.
Also, there won't be any sync problems if you replace a photo with another photo of the same duration, and reinsert the transitions that you had. (if they were deleted). The transitions shouldn't delete, however.
Try duplicating your project and trying some of these procedures on the duplicate project. That will preserve your original work in case something goes awry.
-- Rich
When you delete preferences iMovie will open in a new blank library. To get back to your projects you need to return to your original library that contains the projects. So, close iMovie and go to your Movies folder in the Finder (Go/Home/Movies) and double click on your original library's icon. iMovie will then open in your original library.
Another way is, from within iMovie, go to File/Open Library/Other and navigate back to your original library located in the Movies folder.
-- Rich
So, that's the trick when adding a replace image to the timeline: first match the duration, then move it. That makes perfect sense. Luckily, the images I'm toiling over are not linked to the audio, that's not to say I've haven't suffer greatly in the past.
Rich, you've provided more helpful guidance than most of the YouTube tutorials I've suffered through. I really appreciate the big assists. Glad I found ya.
This is the kind of thing that causes gooseflesh for us medium users, but it's valuable to know if I need to do it.
Question: where's the manual that contains all these non-intuitive yet vital maneuvers? Answer: nowhere, except here. Apple's missing a revenue opportunity, but I guess they're too wrapped up in the iPhone to be bothered. Your time and expertise is why Apple remains better than the rest. I'm looking forward to getting it done and moving on. Thanks, Chris.
Thanks, Rich, but I've been there, done that. I'll versed with the standard options and procedures in setting up a movie. It's the editing, swapping images/video, all the hidden tricks that are buggers. (like decoupling audio from an upcoming edit). Perhaps these tricks should be cataloged and added?
Yesterday I completed the project, with your help. Thanks again.
Glad we were able to help. A help tutorial that you might find useful, and that has a very good search feature, can be found at this link:
https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/
-- Rich
Great! Glad you were able to complete your project, and that we could help. 😊
— Rich
How to replace an image for other on iMovie, retaining original settings?
