You can trim a clip in iMovie by using the “Clip Trimmer” and the “Trim Selection” tool. In case you only need to make minor adjustments to the start or end of your clip, you can simply drag the edges towards the center to trim them.
Hi, my name is Nancy, and I have been using iMovie to create videos for several years. As part of my video editing process, I commonly utilize the trimmer tool. In this post, I’ll explain how easy it is to trim a video in iMovie on a Mac and offer some helpful tips.
Let’s get started.
Contents
How to Trim a Video in iMovie on a Mac
There are 3 methods to trim a clip in iMovie. To learn how to use all of these trimming techniques, follow the steps outlined below.
Method 1: Trim the Start or End of a Clip
First, select the clip in the timeline that you wish to trim and zoom in to get a closer view.
Next, position the playhead bar at the beginning or the end of the clip. By clicking and dragging the edge towards the center of the clip, you can effectively shorten its length and trim either the starting point or end point to your desired position.
Method 2: Use the Clip Trimmer
Click on the clip and then navigate to the top menu. Click on Window and then select Show Clip Trimmer.
The trimmer tool will appear on the timeline on your clip, where you will be able to trim the length of the clip by dragging its edges. To adjust the starting and ending frames of the clip, simply drag the clip from its center to reposition it.
Method 3: Trim Selection Tool
To select a specific portion of a clip that you want to keep, press and hold the R-key and drag across the clip to highlight it.
Once selected, right-click the mouse and choose Trim Selection from the drop-down menu.
You can also access the Trim Selection tool in the top menu under the Modify tab.
How to Undo a Trimmed Clip in iMovie
If you need to undo a trimmed clip, simply use the keyboard shortcut Command + Z to undo the last action.
If this option is not available, you can always readjust your trimming edits by using the Clip Trimmer tool. The Clip Trimmer tool always displays the full clip, providing you with the flexibility to undo any changes if necessary.
How to Delete a Part of a Clip in iMovie on Mac
In order to delete a part of a clip instead of just trimming it, you can split the clip into separate sections and delete the part you want to remove permanently. Trimming only adjusts the duration of the clip frame without removing any part of it.
To split a clip, place the playhead on the desired point and use the keyboard shortcut Command + B. Once you have selected the part of the clip you want to remove, press the Delete button on your keyboard.
Why Can’t I Trim a Clip?
While iMovie’s clip trimming feature is very versatile, there are some limitations to keep in mind.
For instance, it’s not possible to trim a clip that is shorter than 0.1 seconds.
Also, you cannot drag a clip’s edges to extend its duration unless there are unused portions of the clip available. You will see a red line at each end of the clip indicating that you can’t use the trimmer tool to extend it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, iMovie is an excellent video editing tool for beginners, and it offers a range of features that are useful for creating and editing videos easily. You can quickly trim your video clips by using any of the methods we mentioned in the article.
What is your preferred method for trimming videos in iMovie? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
