Adjusting iMovie Aspect Ratio on Mac, iPhone & iPad

When you’re working on a video project, the aspect ratio can make a huge difference in how your content appears on various platforms and devices. Whether you’re editing on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, iMovie gives you the tools to adjust the aspect ratio to fit your needs. In this guide, we’ll explore how to change the aspect ratio on each of these devices, keeping things straightforward and effective.

Changing Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac

iMovie on Mac offers a lot of freedom with your video editing project, but unlike some professional editors, it does not have an explicit feature to alter the aspect ratio. However, there are methods by which you can adjust your video to accommodate another aspect ratio for your intended platform.

One method is to create a new project with a different aspect ratio. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open up iMovie and start a new project. You’ll be asked to select a project type. Click “Movie” to begin.
2. As soon as a new project is established, iMovie will default to an aspect ratio of 16:9. This is the norm for the majority of YouTube videos and widescreen monitors.
3. To alter the aspect ratio, you will have to modify your video’s crop settings. Click on the “Crop to Fill” option in the video preview window.
4. Stretch the corners of your video inside the preview window so that it adjusts to a different ratio (for instance, 4:3, 1:1, etc.). This process technically crops your video, which will enable you to concentrate on the relevant part of your video.
5. You can also apply the Ken Burns effect if you want a more dynamic treatment of the aspect ratio. This means you can pan or zoom in on areas of your video at a maintained aspect ratio.

Though you cannot directly alter the project aspect ratio within iMovie, these resizing and cropping techniques will enable you to fit the video to your specifications.

Adjusting Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPhone

When you’re editing on an iPhone, the process for changing the aspect ratio is a bit more limited, but you still have a few options. iMovie for iPhone doesn’t give you a direct option for changing aspect ratios, but you can crop your footage to make it fit your desired look.

1. Open the iMovie app and create a new project by tapping the “+” symbol.
2. Select “Movie,” then choose the video you want to edit from your library.
3. Once the video is loaded, tap on it in the timeline to bring up the editing options.
4. You will see a toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Tap the “Crop to Fill” option.
5. In the video preview, you can adjust the video frame to change its aspect ratio. By dragging the corners of the frame, you can resize the video to fit the desired crop (like 4:3 or a square 1:1 ratio).
6. If you’re working on a video intended for Instagram or other social media platforms, you might find it easier to crop the video to a square format by adjusting the crop area to fit the 1:1 ratio.

One limitation here is that iMovie for iPhone doesn’t allow you to change the aspect ratio globally for the entire project. You’ll have to adjust each clip individually.

Editing Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPad

Editing on an iPad offers a similar experience to the iPhone, but the larger screen makes the process a bit more comfortable. The steps for adjusting the aspect ratio are almost identical to those on the iPhone. Here’s what to do:

1. Open the iMovie app on your iPad and tap the “+” symbol to start a new project.
2. Select “Movie” and choose the clips you want to edit.
3. Once your clips are in the timeline, select one to begin editing.
4. Tap the “Crop to Fill” option at the bottom of the screen. This allows you to adjust the framing of your video by cropping it.
5. Drag the corners of the crop box to adjust the framing to your desired aspect ratio, such as 16:9 for widescreen or 1:1 for social media posts.
6. For a more dynamic video, you can apply the “Ken Burns” effect. This will allow the video to zoom in or out during playback, giving it a cinematic feel while maintaining the aspect ratio.

The iPad also doesn’t allow for global aspect ratio changes, so you’ll need to adjust each clip individually. However, with a little patience, you can make each clip fit perfectly within your desired aspect ratio.

Using FilmoraGo for More Flexibility

If you’re looking for more control over your aspect ratios and need features iMovie can’t provide, third-party apps can help. Apps like FilmoraGo give you more direct control over the aspect ratio, allowing you to set the aspect ratio for your entire project. It also provides additional editing tools that are more robust than iMovie’s built-in features. You can:

• Choose from a range of predefined aspect ratios, including 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, and more.
• Edit the entire project with a specific aspect ratio, eliminating the need to adjust each individual clip.
• Use advanced cropping tools, including zoom and pan effects, to achieve the desired composition.

While iMovie is great for basic video editing, if you’re working on a project that requires fine-tuned aspect ratio control, FilmoraGo might be a better choice.

Wrapping Up

Changing the aspect ratio in iMovie is not as straightforward as in some other video editing software, but with a few workarounds, you can make it work. Whether you’re editing on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can crop and resize your footage to fit different aspect ratios, making it ideal for various platforms, from YouTube to Instagram.

The key steps across all platforms involve using the “Crop to Fill” tool, adjusting the framing of your video, and making sure the crop aligns with your intended output. Although iMovie doesn’t offer a direct way to change the aspect ratio of an entire project globally, the editing methods available are often enough to get the job done.