How do I change the font in a Theme transition (iMovie 11).

This is not easily done in iMovie. However, if you have Final Cut Pro, it is simple. For example, here is a title in the Comic Book Theme. The screenshot shows all the parameters you can change, including the Font.

If you have Motion in addition to FCPX, you can change even more.

Probably not worth getting FCPX just for this, but if your needs grow, you might consider it.

Actually, you can change the font. I was successfully able to substitute the font that a certain theme wants to use.

1. Locate the internal /Fonts/ folder that is within the iMovie package.
2. Open that font in the X11 FontForge Editor, along with the font you want to use instead
3. In the Font Info settings, copy all the font information from the iMovie font to your custom font's Info
4. Save the altered custom font to a new file as a TTF font.
5. Rename the new, altered custom TTF font to be the exact file name of the iMovie font
6. First backup (to your desktop), then delete the original iMovie font file from the /Fonts/ folder (admin rights needed).
7. Copy and paste the altered custom TTF font with the same name into that /Fonts/ folder (admin rights)
8. Restart iMovie and any part of the theme looking for that font will now use the custom one you added

Unfortunately I wasn't able to figure out how to change the color. It's hard-coded within the .NIB files in a mysterious NSRGB format, and any substitutions I made to that color in there aren't getting picked up in iMovie.

Atwixtor wrote:

Actually, you can change the font. … Unfortunately I wasn't able to figure out how to change the color. It's hard-coded within the .NIB files in a mysterious NSRGB format, …

actually, the Terms of Use of the iLife.apps don't allow to alter fonts & colors (not 'mysteriously hard coded' - plain quartz format, to be handled with the DevTools).

so, technically, my reply was wrong.

basicly, you can't/'shouldn't' change it 😉

Workaround for font issue for iMovie (Mavericks).

Problem: Unable to change/edit default font when adding text to movie project.

Observation: Except for “Boogie Lights” and “Centered”, none of the Text templates allow change from the default.

Ah, but there is a work-around, I learned.

Solution:

1. Go ahead add your desired text title to the movie project.

2. Elsewhere in the movie project, add “Centered” Title.

3. Selected ‘Show Fonts…’ under drop down menu under the capital T for text/font editing.

4. font panel window will open

5. Then go back to your desired title and edit the text.

Observation: Cannot seem to edit the text size, but can change the font and color.

Aside: The other day I idled into an Apple Store with my friend to see about his laptop trouble. While he was being waited upon, I asked a random Apple person about this iMoive issue. He did not know the answer and went away to ask some one who might. He returned with this suggestion and we walked-through the solution.

Lesson learned: Sometimes it pays to ask.

I reproduced the problem and when I 'shared' my project, I experienced the same non-change in the title font and coloring.

Good observation 'vodiejo'. Goes to show, this is a bug still.

Next time I am at an Apple store, I shall ask.

Thanks.

you can't.

I was able to edit, however, once I went out of editing mode, the font didn't save. Do you know what I need to do?