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In iMovie for macOS, how do I blur a video (something like a "Gaussian Blur"-effect)?
I have an actor in front of a green screen keyed out, and a moving beach background video recording as a background. I want to blur the beach background video to simulate a constant out-of-focus (shallow depth of field) effect on the beach background, while keeping the actor in focus. How do I do this in iMovie version 10.3.9?
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.5
As mentioned above, I think that ultimately you would be better off getting a more advanced editing app, particularly the free version of DaVinci Resolve.
However, if that course of action does not appeal to you, there is a way of blurring your background video in iMovie which involves using the "Pull Focus Title".
Having said that, it looks as though you are quite ambitious in your film making so you would be better served in the long run by having a pro editing app.
DaVinci Resolve will not cost you a penny and there is no reason why you can't use iMove and Resolve together . . . if you are doing something quick and easy use iMovie but for the more demanding tasks you can use Resolve.
P.S. How long did it take to grow the beard?
As mentioned above, I think that ultimately you would be better off getting a more advanced editing app, particularly the free version of DaVinci Resolve.
However, if that course of action does not appeal to you, there is a way of blurring your background video in iMovie which involves using the "Pull Focus Title".
Having said that, it looks as though you are quite ambitious in your film making so you would be better served in the long run by having a pro editing app.
DaVinci Resolve will not cost you a penny and there is no reason why you can't use iMove and Resolve together . . . if you are doing something quick and easy use iMovie but for the more demanding tasks you can use Resolve.
P.S. How long did it take to grow the beard?
I do not think there is a blur filter in iMovie.
You need a more advanced editor.
You can download a completely free 90 day trial of Final Cut Pro . . . no strings attached, no personal info or credit cards . . . at the end of 90 days it simply stops working unless you decide to buy it.
Final Cut Pro for Mac - Free Trial - Apple
However, an even better app is DaVinci Resolve which has a completely free version which can do everything that FCP can . . . it's a bit of a no-brainer!
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/uk/products/davinciresolve
Both apps have a steeper learning curve than iMovie but there are lots of free tutorials on YouTube.
I can't get it to stay in the middle either!
So until someone comes up with a better suggestion you should export the blurred background clip and import it into iMovie. Then stick it in the timeline with the green screen clip on top.
Thank you Ian for your answer. I actually own and have used both Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro for many years. However, I'm going to teach some friends the basics of video editing, and since they don't have a lot of money, a paid option is not an alternative, and DaVinci is not ideal since I want to teach them in the most user-friendly NLE first, and DaVinci is quite the opposite for beginners. I was impressed with iMovie, the last time I opened the software was 10 years ago and I was surprised how great is has become. I has the power to create some really cool effects easily, but I'm just surprised that the most basic and essential effect of all time, the Gaussian Blur, is not one of the many effects built in?
Thank you Ian. Do you know if it's possible to put the "Pull Focus"-title between two video layers? It seems to only want to exist on the top of all the video layers which also blurs the actor (I only want to blur the background).
P.S.: It took as long as a trip to the Halloween costume store and back. 😂
iMovie for macOS - Blur a Video (Gaussian Blur)
