Following a Moving Subject With an Arrow or Circle in iMovie

[@davidseibert5268]

Phenomenal. Your timing is perfect. This is precisely what I need for a video I’m working on. You are an absolute gem of a resource. Thank you so much.

[@zedgarden]

thank you man, finally an excellent Imovie motion tracking video tutorial made by an adult who speaks clearly. I was nearly giving up my search as the only things coming up on google were total garbage. Thank you again!

[@handiman5]

Gary, you are the absolute best! Not only the technical know how, but more importantly, you KNOW HOW TO TEACH IT!! Thank you.

[@bellaromamanager9153]

My arrow keeps moving up and down within it's invisible box.

[@yamintoel7635]

This is what I have been looking for. Thank you gary the great job

[@Peace-for-the-world]

Thank you Gary, your videos are awesome!

[@greerdenhouter7608]

This tutorial helped so much, thank you! However, I’m having 1 issue. After I put my arrow in, the arrow is slowly sliding up and down on the screen instead of staying in one place. The shape is slowly moving instead of staying still. Can you help with that?

[@macmost]

Looks like you simply have a keyframe there. Look for that extra keyframe and remove it, or start again.

[@tracyhodgedds]

Hi there. I can't seem to get the PNG image to drag to imovie. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

[@macmost]

Where are you dragging it to inside iMovie? Try dragging to the timeline at the bottom.

[@pleaseplantme-n3b]

I had to comment again. I was just thinking how you just changed the game for me and what’s capable with iMovie. I’ve had premier pro however I’m able to produce quality videos simply with iMovie now I can take that even further. Thanks again for the keynote tips/ no fill etc. great stuff thanks for taking the time and uploading really appreciate this !

[@BroncosandPartsGarage]

my arrow was huge and wouldn't get smaller in overlay

[@hritvikjain__3594]

AMAZING Gary!! Keep up the good work

[@GraftingTactick]

Top shelf work👍👌 Very informative content my friend #graftingtactick

[@thewildman4300]

Very informative! Quick question is there any way to disable the yellow line that tries to orient the arrow when I'm near the middle between keyframes

[@davidhavemann9303]

This is amazing. I can't believe that these tools come built in with an Apple computer. It just takes someone like you to dig them out!

[@PowerPlayerSam]

You can use a semi transparent texture with this to make a spot shadow! Helped a ton.

[@pleaseplantme-n3b]

Much value here my friend. Thank you

[@carlosprovyrivera8522]

Gary great job with this tutorial. I’m an occasional iMovie user but was never aware of ‘key frames’. Do you have another tutorial which explains this in depth with more examples when to use? Thx and keep up the excellent work!!

[@macmost]

See kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYTZmn18gLejmJI

[@eyeojo]

Wow, pretty slick!

[@ajp.9997]

Do you have a tutorial for the same but using keynote on iPhone and iMovie also

[@kunaldutt]

Amazing man! Posting a video today using this tutorial :)

[@franciscoknopik185]

Gary, you are my favorite teacher! Thank you for your patient presentations, there is just so much to learn!

[@garyrussell8222]

You sir; just gained a sub! Much appreciated

[@marjoriecollado78]

Thank you so much for the help, Sir.

[@nigelcarren]

Mate, you are the best! Thank you 🇬🇧🏆🇺🇲

[@samiqbal]

Amazing info. I need to make a 6 min soccer video for college

[@diamondpaintingwiththebesties]

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed! So easy to follow

[@RealtorKaryn]

My arrow is cut off & I don’t know how to resize inside iMovie. Any advice?

[@macmost]

Not sure what you mean. Resize the arrow? Keep playing around with it and I'm sure you'll see how to do it.

[@Skepilot]

@@macmost Mine does the same. I can resize in iMovie, but I can't change the aspect ratio - the tip of the arrow always remains cut off.

[@macmost]

@@Skepilot With the arrow selected in the timeline, go to the Cropping tools at the top right. Make sure you have the Style set to "Fit"

[@Skepilot]

@@macmost Thanks, that did it!

[@TheUnapologeticKnitter]

Champion video! Thank you!

[@turbulencegaming7377]

had an issue adding multiple without erasing orignal

[@pizzaicecreamOG]

really useful. Thank you!

[@adityadarekar5497]

Thank You so much for this!

[@Longwing70]

Apple made sure that the keyframe button was absolutely the trickiest, sneakiest, smallest, camouflaged, stubborn to show up and use feature ever. Any normal programmer would just simply give you a point and click interface so you could just click where you wanted to insert and then tap Command-K. Instead, they gave you this button (if it ever shows up, hours of testing have failed to produce it) which is about 4 pixels in size and not really clear what it's going to do or if it's done it.

[@lKhaight]

I followed this and it was a huge help, but I'm having problems with the arrow eventually disappearing. I noticed that when I use the arrows to tab forward five frames I start to loose it. How can I stop this forming happening? I go from a full size arrow at the beginning of the clip to at the end of a video clip just the tip of the arrow.

[@macmost]

You just have to be careful when you set the keyframes. Sounds like you have one past that point that is not where you want it.

[@djebless3225]

AWESOME video. Step by step process and I was able to emulate. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[@BenJett]

Thank you, these videos are so well done. Everything is explained clearly and at just the right pace. Your work is appreciated!!

[@4af]

Incomprehensible unless prior knowledge of how to use Keynote. Example: How does one "start with a blank template" in Keynote if you don't know how and where to find one in the first place?

[@macmost]

Yes, this requires some Keynote basics. I can't start every tutorial with an introduction to the app basics. But I do have other videos that cover those things. Like kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIatf3aro5eWmck

[@ericmathison6901]

For some reason when I go to export the circle image from keynote, I do not have the option to "Export with transparent backgrounds" as was demonstrated in the video. Anyone have an idea why not? Therefore, my circle image is not transparent. I have made sure that "no fill" is selected in the slide format. Help please!

[@macmost]

The most likely reason, assuming you are not using an old version of Keynote or macOS, is that you have a slide that has the background set to something other than No Fill. It has to be those way for ALL slides.

[@voyager333]

No matter how small I make my arrow before adding it to imove, it's too big!? What size should the arrow be? Many thanks.

[@macmost]

Make sure you follow along closely as I show you how to size it once you bring it into iMovie.

[@michaelgordon2009]

This is such a great video, thanks. I created my arrow in Keynote and brought it into iMovie and placed it over my daughter's head, but when the video plays, the arrow moves up the screen on its own. How do I make it stop doing that? Thanks!

[@macmost]

Just review what you are doing, frame by frame. Watch the video again as I explain each step to make this work.

[@The73ryan]

Quick question: I followed the tutorial and the image I'm using as the Picture-In-Picture marker (arrow, same as the example) is moving or zooming in its PIP box as I scrub thru the video. Not sure what setting I need to change because the media itself is a just a static PNG with a transparent background that I dragged out the length of the main clip. This is iMove 10.3.5 running in Big Sur

[@macmost]

So the arrow changes size? Sounds like when you moved it at some point you also resized it maybe.

[@The73ryan]

@@macmost I'm not explaining it clearly. The first arrow I tried was a transparent background PNG I downloaded. It moved from the top of the PIP box to the bottom. The next one I made myself, it was larger than the PIP box when I added it to iMovie, and it got smaller over the length of the video clip. I hadn't resized the PIP box in either case. I'd probably have to record my screen to show this. Maybe there's just some weird glitch with iMovie or my Mac.

[@FlameVR7]

I am a very small and new youtuber so this is very educational and great for me.Thank you so much

[@jiannashaju7700]

Omg tysm!! I'm new to ur channel but this thing has totally helped me! Tysmm!!!

[@naylor2006]

Thank you, was editing a video in iMovie and as well all know iMovie is kinda great but is missing some key onscreen features, this was a perfect guide to help me get an arrow onto my 'movie'.

[@prodis15]

Thanks for sharing it.

[@HookCircle]

Awesome, thank you for this great tutorial!

[@kiaellis4553]

Can you do this on an iPad? I tried and I am unable to move my arrow to follow the subject. Help?!

[@macmost]

No, this is only on iMovie for Mac I'm pretty sure.

[@pdamanic]

VERY helpful, but I have one question... How do I put more than one arrow on the screen at once?

[@bethellwood2902]

This worked perfectly thank you so much!!

[@TRAVELSTUCK]

Thanks a lot .

[@gizmoitus]

Thanks, great video that was very helpful for me. I had some issues understanding how to get the keyframe window to appear. You have to click on the image you are overlaying, then on the video overlay settings (after you've changed to picture in picture) however, on my macbook pro, the control appears inside the actual video preview window in the top left corner. I think this is because i had a 4k widescreen video and your sample video wasn't widescreen, which gave the impression that the controls would be separate.

[@seanhendrie5335]

The only helpful video on this topic I have watched, thanks man

[@DilshadDilliwala]

Thanks for valuable information👌

[@bigwoo9656]

How do you get the folder

[@maryellensheedy7000]

How would I draw the objects path? I would like a line that traces motion.

[@macmost]

You can't in iMovie. Depending on your needs you may be able to use Keynote. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5Wzk2mGd5l6eNU

[@iyofujita438]

Thank you so much for your great tutorial. I learned a lot, and I could teach my son how to do it very efficiently.

[@eddy3039]

why does my "Arrow' move ?? why doesn't it stay in position?!! i need help asap please !!!

[@macmost]

What and follow long carefully to see how it works.

[@markmitros]

Wow! Thank you!

[@platinumspi03]

this is amazing thank you so much. I was wondering if you had a video on how to do this on an iphone using iMovie

[@macmost]

You need to use iMovie for Mac to do this.

[@island-360]

when i drag my shape into imovie, my shape is cut in half? any suggestions?

[@macmost]

When you check the graphics file in Quick look or Preview before you import it, does it look OK?

[@islamicinsights101]

thanks for letting us know about that Gary

[@southbear123]

Great video. Very clear explanation. Thank you very much.

[@KilpatrickBaumpflege]

Legend thanks !!!

[@terrymccann1125]

This is exactly what I was looking to do for my son's hockey videos. Great, simply explanation. Thank you.

[@canalwriting4723]

Perfect video on the topic! Thank you. 🙏

[@planereality3675]

Thank you.

[@debiduenkel8638]

Thank you for this. You're a great teacher.

[@ElectricWaves]

Thank you so much for this walkthrough! Helped me tremendously!

[@HiFiInsider]

great video

[@BlancettReynolds]

Thank you! This was just what I needed. Phew!

[@nayanpatel7037]

U R Amazing!!!!

[@mr.dieselbouyz7073]

How to check page layout in Numbers?

[@MrSoloDev]

This is awesome

[@iReiad]

Thought the software would do it automatically for me

[@huardjonathandale3488]

thank you!!

[@2RA9]

Hey Gary can you make a video on how to make circle video in imovies?

[@macmost]

Circle video?

[@SupriyoGhatak]

excellent video , what I wanted . thanks a lot

[@brett123]

Maybe some apple motion tutorials would be great if possible.

[@tonyt6301]

My arrow moves up and down, strange as the frames proceed?

[@mammaroni]

Change the Style (the fourth icon along from Picture on Picture - looks like a crop icon) from Ken Burns to Fit

[@rodkelly3525]

Thanks a lot dude 👍🏾 👌🏾 ✅

[@widlyman5097]

KING STATUS

[@nayanpatel7037]

thx so much

[@jogabonito1.1]

This video is awesome! Thank you for sharing, it has helped me out a lot.

[@BikeIntelligencer]

Wow, a KZbin video that’s not only accurate and complete but I actually learned something! Thanks for your generosity in sharing…

[@Ironmantadio]

Thanks for the great video, but I kept having a problem with the Keynote arrow & the key frame. As I got further and further along in the video (I'd use the right arrow and go ahead 7 frames...5 was just taking forever), the arrow that I made in Keynote kept getting smaller and smaller. This went on until all I had left was the arrow head and no line at all behind it. Do you know why it did this and how I can fix it? Thanks for posting this; I plan to look at more of your really informative videos.

[@macmost]

Maybe you were grabbing it in such a way that you were scaling it too?

[@PowerPlayerSam]

Haha... 5 months late but I think you have it set to "Ken Burns" (which is default) change it in the crop icon (set to fill)

[@iftekharuddin]

Thanks for this video! Great explanations.

[@danieltan513]

Wonderful. Thank you!

[@joeclifton-eo5xk]

Great tutorial. Thank you!

[@BobbinTalk]

Great tutorial! I would've never thought to use keynote to make the symbol! Thank you!

[@alicewood3064]

thank you so much this video is perfect

[@sgm7788]

Great job

[@marcocipriano5922]

Hi! thanks for your video! Is there any way to use different transition animations between one keyframe and the other? for instance if the transition between one keyframe and the other is very abrupt, one would like to have a very short fading between the previous position of the image

[@macmost]

Not quite sure what you are after here from that description, but play around with the transitions in iMovie to see what they each do.

[@marcocipriano5922]

Thanks for your answer :) I think all I needed is to set keyframes right before and after each of my target's moves to avoid any smooth animation. I was working on a gif with a low FPS and the movement of the following item looked like "dancing" around my target rather than following it

[@ducky_2playz732]

Dude I feel like this is coding

[@vsm330]

This is fabulous! Thank you!

[@Jstroke615]

You are the master! Thank you!

[@Unit13FREMSLT]

Awesome, thank you!

[@baileythomas4653]

Awesome video. But for some reason I am unable to clear the background colour. The option to export image without background doesn’t show up. Any idea why?

[@macmost]

Make sure you have set the background of every slide to none.

[@TalmSawyer]

a-freaking-mazing! thank you!

[@ScottShireman]

Gary I want to financially support but don’t want to do it monthly. Do you have any way for folks to do this? Also do you sell your hats? Please and thanks S

[@macmost]

You could just buy a course at courses.macmost.com -- caps are at www.zazzle.com/store/rosenz but I don't really make money from them.

[@freshstartdetail8680]

Somebody may have mentioned this error in this otherwise great tutorial... in Keynote you don't want to make the image square, you want it to be the same aspect ratio as iMovie 16:9. The reason is because otherwise it will automatically chop off your image to fit into that aspect ratio, sometimes resulting in a chopped image (like a circle has been chopped top and bottom so the image now looks like a pair of parentheses). Otherwise this tutorial helped me quite a bit. Thanks!

[@macmost]

Shouldn't make any difference as long as you have the arrow set to crop to Fit, not crop to Fill.

[@freshstartdetail8680]

@@macmost hmmmm ok thank you, where would I find that setting?

[@macmost]

@@freshstartdetail8680 Select the overlay, then click the cropping settings at the top.

[@ralesandro]

Excellent step by step to create transparent shapes. Thank you!