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iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6 Book Review |
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Written by Don Lee
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Wednesday, 31 January 2007 |
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Page 1 of 2  Apple Computer’s iMovie and iDVD programs provide consumers with the
ability to do video editing and DVD authoring in an easy to learn
environment. The programs are so easy that they don’t even come with a
manual. While these programs are very easy and you can probably get by
with just knowing the basics, there is still so much more to these
programs and that is why you need iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6 from
Peachpit Press.
The 295-page book contains 23 chapters covering the basics of both iMovie and iDVD 6. There is a lot of information to learn so let’s get started in learning iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6.
Chapters one begins with informing you about digital camcorders and the things to look for when you go to purchase the right one for you. There’s some important information here to help you avoid those pesky salespeople from selling you something you may not need.
Once you have your digital camcorder, you’re ready to learn some of the basics about proper video recording techniques. Chapter two through five covers subjects such as composition and coverage, understanding timecode, focusing, and depth of field. Chapter three covers topics such as zooming, dollying, shutter speed and panning. Chapter four and five focuses on lighting and audio recording issues such as the differences between hard and soft light, color temperature, three point lighting, using bounce cards and reflectors, shooting outside as well as using headphones, your cam’s microphone, ambient sound and how to properly use microphones.
Chapter six through thirteen begins your journey into using Apple iMovie HD. Chapter six starts out with showing you the basics of the program and helping you navigate around the interface. Once you have picked up that information, you are now ready to import your video footage from your digital camcorder. Chapter seven begins the video editing process by teaching you how to import your captured video footage into iMovie. Some of the topics discussed include making Magic iMovie, importing clips, backing up video, mixing video formats, how to import old VHS tapes and how to manage your video clips within iMovie. Chapter eight covers video editing subjects such as timecode, adding clips to your project, ordering clips, how to use bookmarks and how to paste and rotate clips.
Chapter nine discusses the use of still pictures for your video project. Topics such as creating a still clip from a video clip, creating the Ken Burns effect and how to import pictures from other sources. Chapter ten moves on to audio editing issues such as fading in and out, changing a clip’s volume, extracting audio, how to record voiceovers, adding music from iTunes and GarageBand, importing audio files and how to add sound effects. Transitions provide a cool way to change from one clip to another in a seamless fashion. Chapter eleven teaches you about the use of transitions, how to incorporate multiple transitions, edit and remove transitions. Chapter twelve covers the use of titles in your project. Some of the topics covered include editing text, ensuring a readable appearance of the text, proper typography, setting title duration and position, adding titles as well as modifying and deleting existing titles. Applying effects to your video project can really spruce up the video. Chapter thirteen demonstrates the uses of effects such as applying, removing, modifying current effects, reversing clip direction, change playback speed and applying audio effects.
Chapters fourteen through eighteen covers are short but they cover some important topics regarding the sharing your files from iMovie. Chapter fourteen gets things started by teaching you how to score your video using Apple’s GarageBand music application. It also shows how to get that scored piece of video back into iMovie so you can use it in your final output. Chapter fifteen shows how to record your project back to tape or back to your video camcorder. Chapter sixteen covers the use of QuickTime such as exporting to QuickTime, video compression terms, the difference between QuickTime and QuickTime Pro and more QuickTime related items. Chapter seventeen shows how to make your video available for email, Apple’s iWeb website software as well as serving it up for Bluetooth access. Chapter eighteen takes your final video to iDVD. It shows how to create chapter markers, export to iDVD and how to export to DVD.
You can click HERE to purchase iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6 book.
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