Many users want to create a full-fledged video clip or film from their photos or videos that would not be inferior in quality to professional videos. To do this, it is not necessary to use the complex programs used when shooting movies or clips. Just turn to the Windows Movie Maker application. How to use this program, we will consider further in the article.
Immediately note that this utility is included with all versions of Windows operating systems except the eighth and tenth modifications. Therefore, if it is supposed to work with the application in these environments, the program will first have to be independently downloaded and installed on the computer.
What is Movie Maker?
Like a built-in application or an additionally installed application, Movie Maker is the simplest video editor that allows even a person absolutely far from creating clips and films to make a small video clip of alternating photos and images of video footage shot on the camera with an audio track and visual overlays in minutes. effects.
Of course, we are not talking about professional editing now. Yes, this is, by and large, an ordinary user does not need. But using Window Movie Maker is very simple. The program is designed for that.
First introduction to the interface
So, here is Windows Movie Maker. How to use this application, we will consider based on its version 2.6. It is important to know that it is included in the standard set of Windows 7 or XP.
Before starting a direct study of the question - how to use the program Windows Movie Maker 2.6, you should study its interface. There are several key elements here:
- main panel with menu sections;
- area of sections of tasks and operations;
- storyboard and timeline;
- content window (elements that are inserted into the video);
- preview window of the finished video.
Key features and initial settings of the program
Among the tools offered by the application, first of all, it should be noted the ability to add graphics, video and audio from almost all formats known today (with rare exceptions) with the ability to synchronize.
Here, the main tool is a special timeline located at the bottom of the main program window. In the taskbar, which is on the left, most operations are available that will be used to import content, apply effects, add sound, titles, etc. In principle, when deciding how to use Windows Movie Maker, the menu on the top panel can be used and do not open it, because all the basic commands involving one or another action are always at hand and are simply duplicated in all menus (in fact, as in all other Microsoft editors). Now we go directly to the process of creating a movie.
How to use Windows Movie Maker 2.6: adding video and graphics
Initially, in order to create a full-fledged video, you need to add elements to it that you plan to use. First of all, in the taskbar, you can use the import of videos or images.
When you click on each link, a navigation window opens into which you can add the necessary elements by choosing the location of the files you are looking for. They will first appear in the above content area of Windows Movie Maker.
How to use the added files to set the priority of their display?
This is done by dragging each element onto the storyboard scale (you cannot drag all files at once, so you will have to add them to the scale of the future movie one at a time). If necessary, the order selected by the user can be changed directly in the scale.
In the case of adding video material, again, on a scale, it can also be edited in duration. For example, to reduce playback time, an inserted clip can be shortened using the clip split point. This is followed by a left click on the frame, after which two red arrows will appear on the screen. By moving them in different directions, you can increase or decrease the duration of each part.
Audio track overlay
The sound accompaniment is inserted in exactly the same import method as in the cases with images, but the audio import is currently selected. Selected audio files also need to be placed on the timeline.
Naturally, the duration of audio and video clips may not coincide. Audio is edited by shortening or increasing the duration of the sound. If desired, you can add a new audio file to the end location of the previous one (the duration of the sound is also displayed on the timeline). But this is not even the main thing.
In fact, if you want to make a truly attractive video, first of all you need to pay attention to the fact that the semantic load of the image corresponds to the musical accompaniment. Agree, it’s absolutely ridiculous to look like a relaxing video clip with wildlife with the soundtrack of some “heavy” band.
Apply effects and transitions
So, the preliminary steps are over. Now, to make the video more attractive, and the pictures do not change dramatically, you need to insert transitions (overflowing or converting one image to another when changing them).
To do this, use the video transition line in the clip menu (sometimes this is a service section) on the main panel. The selected transition must be dragged onto the scale and placed between two adjacent fragments.
Further, in the question of how to use Movie Maker for Windows 7, for example, you cannot ignore the addition of special effects, from the application of which the final video will only benefit.
To do this, use the corresponding line in the taskbar. The selected effects, again, you just need to drag to the desired frame in the scale. At the same time, for each frame (or to the broken parts of the main imported element), you can apply your own effect.
Adding captions
Finally, you can add captions and a title if you wish. Many users like to sign their clips or insert information, say, with a description of the place in which they were shot.
For this operation, everything in the same taskbar uses a string of names and titles, after which it will be necessary to indicate to the program the insertion place (for example, the name at the beginning of the clip and the titles at the end) and edit the text.
Instead of a total
Here's a quick summary of everything about Windows Movie Maker. How to use this application, it seems, is already clear. The whole process, as already noted, is reduced to dragging the necessary elements onto the scale. Such editing of video and audio, of course, cannot be attributed to professional, but to quickly create a simple movie from some own set of graphics, video and audio (especially for novice users who only delve into the basics of working with clips), the program will do just fine. .