Video Effects in Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker offers many video effects as easy to use as drag and drop. Compared to professional video editing effects that require multistep processes performed by a skilled video editor, Movie Maker effects allow you to accomplish similar results automatically. You can change your video or stills to black and white, watercolor, blurry or use the grainy film look.
Windows Movie Maker
You need a basic understanding of Windows Movie Maker desktop video editing software. Movie Maker is available with all Windows applications or can be downloaded free at the Microsoft download website. There you can find excellent Movie Maker tutorials and software upgrades (see Resources below).
What Is a Video Effect?
A video effect adds texture, color or movement to video or a still picture. Effects are different from video transitions, which digitally blend one piece of video into another. A good way for you to remember the difference is that video effects are placed on top of your video and are indicated by a star on the Windows Movie Maker time line. Transitions are dropped in between video clips and are indicated on the transition line.
Popular Effects
1. Ease In, Ease Out---This effect slowly zooms your video or still in or out. This is especially important when creating a video with just still pictures, because it gives the illusion of movement.
2. Film Age---There are three types of aged film effects. These are great if you want to make a black and white Western or silent movie.
3. Speed Up/Slow Down---This allows you to change the speed of your video.
4. Rotate 90, 180, 270 Degrees---You can turn your video sideways left, right and upside down.
5. Posterize---This is a popular effect that adds color and texture to your video.
Popular Transitions
1. Dissolve---This transition blends one video clip to another
2. Wipes---There are a variety of Wipes moving up, down and sideways that move the first video clip off to reveal the next one.
3. Pattern Wipes---You can reveal a video clip using patterns such as stars, hearts, circles and diamonds.
Notes on Video Effects
Applying a video effect to a clip in your time line won't alter your original video or still. The effect or transition only appears in your edited version.
Notes on Video Transitions
When you are editing with music, be aware that transitions shorten each video clip slightly. Add your transitions first and then add music, so your video and stills work correctly with the beat.
