HOW TO Edit a home movie

1 Create a new project

Launch iMovie. If you don’t see the project library, click Projects in the top–left of the window. Click “+,” then Movie to create a new project. You’ll see the Media library, viewer, and timeline ready for you to add clips.

2 Import from Photos

Click Photos in the Media library, then click the menu next to Search and choose Videos. Click the video clip you want, then click Play in the viewer to preview it. Drag the clip to the timeline to add it to your movie.

3 Alternative imports

Make sure your Mac is connected to the drive hosting the clip. Click the down arrow next to Projects. Navigate to the clip you want to add and click it. Cmd–click to select more than one. Click Import Selected.

4 Choose a theme

If you want to use a theme to help you get started, choose Settings above the timeline. Click No Theme. Select the theme you want to use and click Change. The theme will be applied to your project, with placeholder text.

5 Add a transition

With at least two clips on the timeline, choose Transitions in the toolbar. To preview a transition, drag the cursor over it. When you’ve chosen, click the transition and drag it between two clips on the timeline.

6 Fix camera shake

If some of your footage is a little unsteady, click a clip in the timeline and choose the shaky camera icon just above the viewer. Check the box marked Stabilization and use the slider to set the degree to which it is adjusted.

7 Adjust the look

Select the clip in the library or on the timeline. Use the magic wand for a one–shot video and audio fix. Or use the Color Balance, Color Correction, and Clip Filter buttons above the viewer for manual adjustments using sliders.

8 Trim or split a clip

Choose the clip in the timeline. Grab the left or right edge by clicking it and then drag it inwards to remove footage at the start or end. To split a clip, drag the playhead to where you want to split it and press Cmd+B.

9 Add a title

Click Titles above the Library. Drag a title either between clips or over a clip. Click the purple marker in the timeline, then double–click the placeholder text in the viewer. Type your text and style it using the options.