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Changing aspect ration in iMovie from 16:9 to 9:16

Hello. I have recently used the iMovie 10.1.9 version for making a short video for my IGTV channel. I am trying to change the aspect ratio of the movie from 16:9 to 4:5 or 9:16 (which is the IGTV specification). But I am unable to do it or know how to do it. Can someone let me know how best I can work through this.

I did read a few blogs where it said to navigate from "File" to "Project Properties" where the aspect ratio can be edited. I did try to look for the "Project Properties" but I am unable to find that under my file menu as well.


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MACBOOK AIR (13-INCH, 2017), macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Jul 20, 2018 8:51 AM

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Posted on Jul 20, 2018 9:24 AM

Hi,


The "project properties" feature of iMovie 9, and the aspect ratio adjustment, were removed in iMovie 10.


In iMovie 10 the 16:9 screen aspect ratio cannot be changed. Using the rotate feature you can rotate the 16:9 clip so that it displays vertically on its side, with black pillar bars on each side to fill out the 16:9 screen, but that would leave you with a 9:16 clip displaying on its side. Not workable unless the orientation makes no difference, such as a graphic or grid. Clips that were shot in 9:16 ratio can be displayed in iMovie, but again there would be black pillar bars to fill in the 16:9 screen.


You could open your clips in Quicktime Player, do a File/New Screen Recording, and manually crop the clip to display at 16:9. That would involve severe cropping that would eliminate much of the clip.


I think that your best option is to shoot the clip in the aspect ratio that you need.


-- Rich

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Question marked as Best reply

Jul 20, 2018 9:24 AM in response to gauravranjit

Hi,


The "project properties" feature of iMovie 9, and the aspect ratio adjustment, were removed in iMovie 10.


In iMovie 10 the 16:9 screen aspect ratio cannot be changed. Using the rotate feature you can rotate the 16:9 clip so that it displays vertically on its side, with black pillar bars on each side to fill out the 16:9 screen, but that would leave you with a 9:16 clip displaying on its side. Not workable unless the orientation makes no difference, such as a graphic or grid. Clips that were shot in 9:16 ratio can be displayed in iMovie, but again there would be black pillar bars to fill in the 16:9 screen.


You could open your clips in Quicktime Player, do a File/New Screen Recording, and manually crop the clip to display at 16:9. That would involve severe cropping that would eliminate much of the clip.


I think that your best option is to shoot the clip in the aspect ratio that you need.


-- Rich

Changing aspect ration in iMovie from 16:9 to 9:16

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