Important in the editing process, the green screen backgrounds effect allows you to combine two video streams based on color. Most commonly, digital backgrounds are used in place of green screens since they provide a more realistic image. Nevertheless, you can utilize a video background switcher to acquire any background you desire. You don’t have to go to the trouble of shooting the video.

Hollywood productions frequently employ this method nowadays to save money while still providing an impressive visual effect. This method is also useful for expanding their creative thinking and the worlds they create in their heads. To add a touch of professionalism and humor to their films, many vloggers use the green screen effect.

how to use green screen on imovie

But as a beginner, do I need to shoot the green screen material myself, and if not, where can I readily locate such footage? And how can we put this video material with green screens to good use? We will find the answer to these questions here. You will get the answer to the question of how to use the green screen on iMovie here.

You can alter your video’s background in iMovie on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone by utilizing the green-screen effect. Green-screening in iMovie allows you to composite your film over another video, photo, or image. Get your subject in front of a green or blue screen and record a video. To do so, simply drag and drop the clip into the iMovie timeline above the backdrop clip. If you want the backdrop video to be seen behind your subject, you can utilize iMovie’s green-screen effect.

Create a video with a green or blue background.

Use a green or blue screen to record video on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or another device. Record in front of a blue background if your video’s subject is green or is wearing green. Record in front of a green screen if your video’s subject is blue or is wearing blue. The complete answer to the question of how to use the green screen on iMovie is given below.

  1. To create a green-screen effect in iMovie for iOS devices, use your device’s camera.
  2. Open your project and insert the opening scene into the timeline.
  3. Move the white vertical line to the point where it is over the backdrop clip.
  4. Select the green-screen video by tapping the Add Media button, selecting it from the list, and then tapping the video itself.
  5. Select Green/Blue Screen by clicking the More option. Once the backdrop video is placed in the timeline, the green-screen clip may be placed on top.
  6. Just hit the Auto button to have the viewer remove the green or blue tint for you. Alternatively, you can tap the color in the clip viewer to de-saturate the video.
  7. You can adjust the length of the backdrop video by trimming it or by moving it such that it overlaps the duration of your green-screen movie. When you rearrange clips in the timeline, the two will shift together because of the connection.

The above is the answer to the question of how to use the green screen in iMovie.

Using the green screen in iMovie

The step-by-step process of how to use the green screen on iMovie is described below:

  1. Start the iMovie (assuming that you have already downloaded and installed it). Green screen footage and the video or image that will serve as the background can be imported at the same time by clicking the Import Media arrow at the top of the screen. You may also drop both files onto the timeline by dragging and dropping.
  2. Move the green screen footage to the first track of the timeline (you should have two tracks on the timeline, the first has the green screen footage, and directly below has the second video or images that you would be using).
  3. Next, choose the green screen footage on the timeline and click the “Video Overlay Settings” option at the top of the preview window.
  4. The green color will magically disappear if you select the “Green/Blue screen” option from the menu.
  5. To play your finished product, click the play button in the preview box. Extra polish can be added to your video with the softer cropping tools.

Using the green screen in iMovie by compositing three layers

Green screen compositing often makes use of two layers of footage. In the aforementioned method, the green screen footage and the backdrop film both served as separate layers. Two-layer tracks are all you get in iMovie. The step-wise process and answer to how to use the green screen on iMovie is given below:

  1. Finish your 2-layer footage and export the final video when you’re happy with it. If you export the video, both layers will be merged into one.
  2. When you’re ready to share your finished project with the world, select the export button in iMovie’s toolbar in the top right.
  3. After your video has been exported, step 2 is to remove all clips from the timeline. The completed video is reimported by dropping it onto the timeline.
  4. Add the clips to the timeline that you want to use in the final product. If you’re using iMovie, move the backdrop video to the first video track. In the preview pane, you can watch the clip while making edits.
  5. If you’d like to add more layers, you may just export the updated version and start afresh.

Final Words

The above is the complete answer and the solution to the question of how to use the green screen in iMovie. Using a green screen, a film can be shot entirely on a sound stage while simultaneously depicting multiple different environments and scenes. This method has a wide variety of applications in Hollywood, most of which include the use of special effects. By recording an actor or actress in front of a solid hue, such as green, it is possible to composite in post-production special effects. 

By Swati