iMovie PIP - is it possible to remove the theme border for PIP

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Level 1

9 points

iMovie PIP - is it possible to remove the theme border for PIP

Hi hoping someone may be able to help...

My students at school are doing a documentary movie with one section having a picture in picture (PIP) - they want the PIP part with their face and their narration (news report style) while the (earthquake) movie they are describing plays on in the main part. However, they dont want the thick bulky theme borders of the newsreel theme on their PIP part and just want a "clean" PIP in the corner . Is it possible to remove the PIP theme for the PIP but still keep the theme for the rest of the movie. Hope this makes sense.

thanks

jsant1

iMovie '11, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Aug 22, 2013 2:14 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 22, 2013 6:02 AM in response to jsant1

Just ran a quick test on this. It does appear that once the Theme is set any PIP that is added will have the thick Theme border (as you describe). Double-clicking the PIP to open the Inspector will show some optione for the PIP, such as for adding an effect (dissolve, zoom or swap), and for showing a drop shadow. But there is no option for changing the border unfortunately.

A workaround is to complete the project with all added titles, transitions, music, effects and so forth - but without the PIPs. Then export the project and import that export to an Event. Finally, create a new project from that Event, but with no theme selected. You can now add the standard PIPs with no borders. A bit cumbersome, but it will provide the desired result.

When exporting, choose Share>Export using QuickTime. For the Export setting (on the pop-up menu) choose Movie to QuickTime Movie. For Options>Video>Settings>Compression Type choose Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC). Leave other settings as they are. This will give you a full quality movie file (.mov) in the AIC format, which is iMovie's preferred editing format.

John

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Answer 2

jsant1 Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 22, 2013 2:01 PM in response to John Cogdell

Thanks John. I had a feeling that was prob what I'd have to do. Thanks for confirming it.

So just in summary:

We do the whole movie without theme and add the PIP as needed - clean and without theme.

We then export the finished movie to QT AIC (as you suggest).

Re-import it as new project but now adding themes. For the themes to appear I would say Id need to then "split it" into various sections fin order for the themes, (transitions and Lower 3rds etc) to appear. I think it might just work!!

Hope no one else in the class wants to do it that way! I can already see the grey hairs on my head multiplying....

Thanks John.

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Answer 3

Aug 22, 2013 6:31 PM in response to jsant1

Actually, my suggestion works the other way around. But either method should work.

My thinking was that it would be best to firstly create the project with the selected Theme (News Report). In that project, do all of your editing, including titles, transitions and so forth, BUT excluding the Picture in Pictures. Then export that project. When the exported project is re-imported it will be "flattened", that is, all titles, transitions etc. will be embedded in the video as a single clip.

The final step is then to insert the PIPs in the new project, which will need to be a standard project with no Theme.

But, as mentioned, the same result can be achieved using the alternative method described in your summary (whatever works best for your students).

John

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Answer 4

Aug 22, 2013 10:56 PM in response to John Cogdell

When using PIP in a standard (non-themed) project, there is an option in the Inspector to add a border. There are selections available for Border Width and Border Color (together with Drop Shadow). However, as I mentioned earlier, the Border selections are not available for any Themed project (they simply don't appear in the Inspector) - so you are stuck with the Theme border.

Here is tha Apple iMovie Help topic regarding Picture-in-Picture:

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2243

John

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Answer 5

jsant1 Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 23, 2013 6:29 PM in response to John Cogdell

Thanks John for your help and suggestions. Def will be able to get something happening with it now. Your suggestion of doing it WITH the theme first makes sense - it will cut down on the number of splits I need to do for adding "theme" to the non PIPs.

Thanks again.

jsant1

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