Importing Pictures from Other Sources

iMovie can easily import photos you've scanned or taken with a digital still camera or better, images that you've modified in an image-editing program such as Adobe Photoshop (www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/) or GraphicConverter (www.lemkesoft.com). But first, make sure it's ready to be imported.

To prepare a still picture for import:

1. Open the image in your favorite image-editing application.

2. Size the image so that its dimensions are 640 by 480 pixels (Figure 9.3). Make any other changes you see fit.

   Figure 9.3. To fit correctly into a movie, still images must measure 640 by 480 pixels.

   

3. Save the image as a JPEG file.

To import a still picture:

• Drag an image file from the Desktop to iMovie's Shelf or Timeline.

  or

1. In iMovie, choose Import File from the File menu (or press Command-I).

2. In the Import File dialog box, select the still image you want (Figure 9.4) and click the Open button.

   Figure 9.4. Using the File menu's Import command shows you a preview of your image.

   

   The image appears as a clip on the Shelf, which can be added to your movie like any other clip (Figure 9.5).

   Figure 9.5. Come on, did you honestly think I could write an iMovie book and not include a baby picture?

   

Tips

• Imported images that don't measure 640 by 480 pixels appear with black bands on the sides or top and bottom.

• iMovie 3 doesn't display PICT image files correctly best to avoid them entirely.

• The duration of imported images is set by the Duration value in the Photos pane.