How do you insert a picture to a video using iMovie 10 with the video still playing behind it?

That's known as a Picture in Picture. In iMovie 10, drag the picture (either video or still) and place it above the timeline approximately where you want it to appear. (Note: Don't drag it on top of the video in the timeline like in the earlier version of iMovie).

Click on the picture so that it is highlighted with a yellow border. Now click on the Adjust tool at the top right of the iMovie window (just above the Viewer) alongside the Enhance tool. You will see a range of tools under the Adjust tool. Click on the first icon (video overlay settings). Another set of tools will appear beneath the other tool icons. Here you can select Cutaway, Green/Blue Screen, Side by Side and Picture in Picture - just click on the disclosure triangle (down pointing arrow) to see the selection menu.

Using the other tools in that group, you can add borders and transitions to the Picture in Picture. You can also drag and resize the Picture in Picture within the Viewer.

John

Here's the iMovie 10 Help topic for Picture in Picture:

http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/#mova1aaa682b

John

The old imovie 9 use to put a green checkmark by the pictures one used in a video... the new imovie 10 does not. Drives me crazy. Is there a way to turn this on?? thanks.

Tigervision wrote:

The old imovie 9 use to put a green checkmark by the pictures one used in a video... the new imovie 10 does not. Drives me crazy. Is there a way to turn this on?? thanks.

I've also noticed this. It is a bit annoying when you are placing many pictures in the timeline (say for a slideshow). It becomes difficult to remember which ones have been placed. Certainly, there is no marker or indication on the photos in the iPhoto Library within the iMovie Library. However, if you click back on the Event you will see all photos listed that have been included in your project. Also, right-clicking on a photo in the timeline will reveal a drop down menu. If you select Reveal in Event Browser you will see the photo listed in the Event.

Of course, this is not as handy as having the photo marked as in iMovie '11 (version 9.0.9). I've not found a way of enabling this feature in iMovie 10.

if you are using iMovie to prepare a slideshow, a good method is to firstly create an Album in iPhoto then place all the required photos in the preferred order within that Album. Now drag the Album into the iMovie project timeline.

John

Thanks John. I think I know what you mean... but man... this is horrible. I sometimes add a hundred or more pics to a video time line when making my kids movies... there is no way I can remember which I added and which I have not. This is like a deal breaker. I see your point about a slideshow, thanks, but I never use imovie to make those... I combine video and pics.

I appreciate your suggesion about reveal in event... but still that is a bit painful. I usually go through and flag many pics in iphoto.. then I used the view by flagged option in imovie to insert them between movie clips.... and without these markers... I don't know what I will do. Someitme I might flag 100 pics and only use 50 when it comes down to it. So those gree check marks in Imovie 9 were a golden.

This is horrible. And I stil dont' get this who new iMoive... it apears that when you add a pic and music to a project, those pics and that music become a permanent part of the imovie library. Weird. So then one would have duplicate pics and songs in iphoto and itunes respectively.

Thanks,

j