iMovie Tutorial 4

Intermediate Compositing: Creating a Glow Outline

iMovie Tutorial 4

Effect	Plugin
Glow, Extreme	Glows & Blurs
Combine	Masks & Compositing
Composite	Masks & Compositing

This tutorial assumes you have already read Tutorial 2, and understand how masks and compositing work.

In this tutorial, we will see how a mask can be used in a multi-step process to create an interesting compositing effect featuring a glow outline.

Steps

Step 0

Open an iMovie project containing at least two clips of video.

Step 1

Place both clips in the timeline.

Step 2

Create or find an image or clip to use as a mask. Ideally, the mask should be white on black.

Step 3

Import the mask into iMovie.

Step 4

Place the mask in the timeline, between the two clips.

Step 5

If the mask is a clip, trim the mask so that it is the exact same duration as the first clip in the timeline. If it is a still image, set its duration to match the first clip.

If the mask is a clip and is shorter than the first clip, then trim the first clip.

(!) It is essential that the first clip and the mask be the exact same length.

Step 6

Select the mask clip

Step 7

Copy the clip.

Step 8

Paste the clip.

Step 9

Make sure the second mask is selected.

Step 10

Select the ss| Glow, Extreme effect. Adjust the sliders as shown. We want a nice bright glow with a hard spread.

Step 11

Click the Apply button and wait for the clip to render.

Step 12

Make sure the second mask is still selected.

Step 13

Select the ss| Combine effect.

Step 14

Click the Apply button and wait for the clip to render.

Step 15

Select the last clip.

Step 16

Delete (clear) the clip. You can use the menu or hit the delete key.

Step 17

Select the first clip.

Step 18

Choose ss| Composite effect.

Step 19

Click the Apply button and wait for the clip to render.

Variations

Try playing with the sliders of the Glow, Extreme effect in Step 10. You can adjust the glow to be harder or softer, and can modify its brightness. The amount should usually not be touched, if you are using a white-on-black mask such as the one used in this tutorial.

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