Editing the Text

Obviously, you'll need some text in your title. iMovie offers three types of text fields, depending on the type of title used. To begin editing titles, click the Titles button beneath the Shelf (Figure 12.1). As with transitions and effects, a rough example of each title plays in the preview window when clicked, and you can view a larger approximation in the Monitor by clicking the Preview button.

Figure 12.1. The Titles pane contains more controls than anything else in iMovie and it's still easy.

Text fields

Most of the title options use a set of two text fields. The top field typically acts as the primary title and appears larger in some titles than the bottom field.

To add text to title fields:

1. Click once within a field to select its contents. Click again to position the pointer.

2. Type new title text, then press Return or click outside the field (Figure 12.2).

   Figure 12.2. Once you type your title into the text fields, you don't need to type it again when switching between title styles.

   

Multiple text fields

If a two-line title isn't long enough, some titles offer multiple text fields, which are one or more field pairs. Usually, the extra fields are used for animating the text for example, the Centered Multiple title displays the first field pair, clears the title, then displays the next field pair. Multiple fields are also used to set up titles, such as Rolling Credits, which face each other across the screen (Figure 12.3). You can add more text pairs and change their order, if you like.

Figure 12.3. Multiple text fields enable you to create titles with opposing elements, such as Rolling Credits.

To add text fields:

1. With a title selected that offers multiple text field pairs, click the plus-sign button. A new pair is created (Figure 12.4).

   Figure 12.4. In title styles with multiple text fields, use the plus-sign button to add more fields.

   

2. Type your text into the fields and press Return or click outside the field.

To remove text fields:

1. Click a text pair to select it.

2. Click the minus-sign button. The pair is deleted.

To rearrange text fields:

1. Click a text pair to select it.

2. Drag the selection up or down the list to change its position, then drop it in place (Figure 12.5).

   Figure 12.5. Think your name needs to appear sooner in the credits? Click and drag the text field into place.

   

Text blocks

If you still need more text in your title, use a style with a text block field, such as Music Video. It accommodates more text and can wrap your words (i.e., move them to the next line) as space allows.

To add text to block fields:

1. Type your text into the field.

   or

   Paste some text you've copied elsewhere, such as from a word processing application (Figure 12.6).

   Figure 12.6. Text blocks let you enter more text than is allowed in other text fields.

   

2. Click the name of the text style to apply the text. (Unlike the other text fields in iMovie, pressing the Return or Enter key in a text block creates a line break instead of applying the edit.)

Tips

• You can select (and therefore delete or move) only one text pair at a time.

• iMovie remembers the last text you entered, so you don't need to type it again if you click another title effect or even if you create a new project.

• iMovie 3 can help with your spelling. Select some text and choose Check Spelling from the Edit menu, or choose it from the contextual menu.

Titles Don't Look Good Onscreen

One of the most common questions I get from readers is, "Why don't my titles look good when I play them in iMovie?" Text appears jagged, or sometimes there's a lot of visual noise surrounding the letters.

Don't worry, this is actually normal. The picture you're viewing in the Monitor has been optimized to fit into a normal television aspect ratio in reality, the video dimensions are wider than what appears in iMovie (see Chapter 15 for more info). To view your titles properly, export your movie to tape and play it back on a television (see Chapter 14), or connect a monitor to your computer (see Chapter 6).