How to direct your own film with iMovie

 Edit your footage into the ultimate home movie with Apple's film studio

AS MANY MAC AND IPHONE 4 OWNERS WILL ALREADY

know, iMovie is an intuitive, accessible piece of software that lets you edit togetheryour digital video footage into a single film. With the addition of twin cameras to the iPad 2 Apple has now made the experience available for tablet users too.

Like it's progenitors, the portable version lets you splice together footage filmed with your iPad, or on another compatible Apple device, into a slick, professional movie. You can add in still images from your camera, add a soundtrack, record a voiceoverand create your own credit sequence or title screens too. When you're done, you can then share your creation with friends or even upload to iTunes for the world to see.

This is a complete package, not just a scaled down taster ofthe full Mac experience. With the tablet's tactile touch screen controls and large display, it's actually easier to use than the smartphone version and more portable than the desktop original. At £2.99 it's hard to overstress just what great value iMovie is. Just try and find software anywhere near as fully-featured on a PC for ten times that amount.

Like GarageBand, iMovie is absolutely packed with knobs to tweak and dials to twirl so will take a little time to getyour head around. Fear not though, with help from our step-by-step tutorial you'll be piecing together
homespun blockbusters worthy of the big screen in no time.

 KIT LIST:

■ iPad 2

■ iMovie app (£2.99)

Time required : 30 mins
Difficulty : Intermediate/ Advanced

 Your video dips

All of your raw video footage is displayed in this window. To drop it into your movie, just tap on it, pinch to select the desired frames then hit the arrow-shaped button and it will be placed in front of the scroller in your timeline.

Capture new footage

If you need to record more footage on the fly, there's no need to exit iMovie and bring up the standard camera app. Just hit this tab and start filming. Once you're done, the clip will immediately be added to your video library.

Work in progress

Here's where your current project is displayed. Hit the play button to run through what you've already edited together or double tap on different scenes to bring up a range of further editing options.

Add new media

Ifyou want to add music or still images to your film, toggle between these three tabs to access your system's media libraries.

 1 Film some footage Boot up the iPad's built-in Camera app and capture your footage. You can switch between still camera and video capture using the switch on the bottom-right ofthe screen.

 2 Getting Started This is the first screen you'll be presented with when you start iMovie. Hit the'+' button to start a new project. You can also play and share any existing movies you've made.

 3 Choose your first frames To insert frames, select the clip from the footage library on the left of the screen, pinch to zoom in on desired frames and tap the arrow-shaped button to drop it in.

4 Piece your film together

Add more clips as desired to slowly put your movie together. You can reposition clips by tapping and holding down on a segment and then dragging it to the desired place on the timeline, or crop their length.

 5 Add an intro iMovie also lets you acid a title screen or end credits to your film. Double-tap on your movie's first frame, select 'Title Style', then press 'Opening' and type in the text you'd like to appear. You can select a font theme by hitting the cog-shaped button in the top-right corner of the screen (see 'Fine tuning' panel).

 6 Compose your soundtrack To add a soundtrack to your creation press the 'Music' button on the left of the screen. You can then pick a song from iTunes or add Sound Effects.

7 Find an audience AM done? Hit the 'My Projects' button to return to the menu screen where you can name your film, play it full screen or share it with friends via email or by uploading it onto iTunes,

 Record a voiceover

Should you want to record additional sound or add a voice over, just hit the microphone button on the right of the screen and say your piece. Once you're done, you'll find the clip under the sounds tab on the left of the screen.

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