iMovie question

[Jim Brennan]

I have a client that needs to work with some files in iMovie. The files are SD and are saved in a 720x480 aspect ratio.

When the files are brought into imovie the thumbnails look correct in the event library and the project timeline. In the viewer the video from the library look stretched. The video from the project timeline look stretched and cropped in the viewer.

Aspect ratio changes only stretch the image more.

Any thoughts?

 

[cyclone]

When this has happened to me, I open the file in Quicktime and check movie properties. Often you'll find the file is flagged for a different aspect ratio. Try resaving with the correct aspect ratio.
Good luck.

 

[Jim Brennan]

Thanks. That was our first step.

 

[cyclone]

Bummer. I also sometimes re-import it into iMovie (Preferences set the way you want, either wide screen or not) and then re-export. Believe it or not, sometimes you can't successfully import by going through "file:import". You have to drag the file into the media file and then open iMovie. It will read as "Hey there's a file here we don't know how you want iMovie to handle - shall we trash it?" Then tell imovie to keep it. A weird work-around, but it has worked for me.