How to Use Green Screen in iMovie on Mac & iPhone (Alternative Ways Included)

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How to Use Green Screen in iMovie on Mac & iPhone (Alternative Ways Included)

Last Updated: 2024. 03. 19

Let your creation catch up with your imagination via iMovie's green screen effect. Simply find a green screen footage and replace the background with any video clip as you like, then magical videos are within reach!

Ready to know how to use the green screen effect on iMovie now? Here we've gathered two ways to do green screen effect with iMovie. Let's get started!

Part 1. How to Apply iMovie Green Screen on Mac

Part 2. How to Add Green Screen Effect in iMovie on iPhone/ iPad

Part 3. iMovie Alternative to Apply Green Screen Effect in Video

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions

Part 1. How to Apply iMovie Green Screen in iMovie on Mac

Before diving in, ensure that your video is compatible with iMovie. If the format is incompatible, utilize free online converters such as FlexClip to adapt the video for seamless editing. Additionally, gather supplementary background footage to enhance the layers of your video.

Step 1

Create a new project, select the background you'd like to use, and then drag it to the timeline.

Step 2

Choose the green screen footage you want to use and drag it above the background.

Step 3

Drag the edge of the background to make the background match your green screen video.

Step 4

Double-click the green screen footage in the timeline and select the Green/Blue Screen from the Cutaway drop-down menu.

Find the Green/Blue Screen Icon

Step 5

You can use the softness and clean-up tools to perfect the final result.

Adjust the Green Screen Effect

Part 2. How to Add Green Screen Effect in iMovie on iPhone/ iPad/iPod Touch

If you want to apply green screen effect on iPhone or iPad, directly follow the steps below:

Step 1

With your project open, add a background video or still image to the timeline.

Step 2

Tap the Add Media icon and choose your green screen video from the category list.

Step 3

Now hit the More icon and use the Green/Blur Screen feature from the drop-down menu. You'll see the green-screen clip is added to the timeline above your background clip.

Step 4

Tap Auto to automatically remove the green from your clip or tap the color of your clip in the viewer to remove that color.

Step 5

Trim or move your background video to match the length of your green-screen clip.

Adjust the Length as You Like

To adjust the green-screen clip in the timeline, you can use any of the green-screen controls to achieve that goal:

To change the amount of the green removed from the clip, tap the Adjust option, then drag the Strength slider left or right to control the amount.

To crop the green-screen clip, click the Mask option then drag the corners.

Part 3. iMovie Alternative to Apply Green Screen Effect in Video

Struggling to import your green screen video into iMovie after conversion? Or seeking a comprehensive alternative for green screen effects without device limitations? Look no further than FlexClip, the top-tier free online green screen editor, offering seamless creativity at your fingertips.

Have a Try

View Templates

Here's why FlexClip stands out:

Effortless green screen application: FlexClip simplifies the green screen effect with one-click ease. Just add your green screen footage to the timeline, select the Chroma Key sidebar, and effortlessly remove the green backdrop for further editing.

Wide format compatibility: FlexClip supports a plethora of file formats including MP4 (H264), MOV, WEBM, M4V, and more, ensuring a broad selection of files for your projects. Moreover, its auto transcoding feature seamlessly transforms incompatible formats into accessible ones.

Abundant green screen resources: Beyond being a green screen editor, FlexClip offers a treasure trove of green screen photos and videos accessible through keyword searches, saving you time and effort in your projects.

Abundant Green Screen Resources in FlexClip

Automatic background removal for images: Bid farewell to limitations on background color! With FlexClip's auto background remover, you can effortlessly cut out subjects regardless of their background.

Remove Green Screen Background of Photo in FlexClip

Comprehensive editing toolkit: Once the green screen is removed, FlexClip provides a plethora of editing tools to elevate your footage, from adjusting speed to adding text, all without a steep learning curve.

Comprehensive Editing Toolkit in FlexClip

How to Apply Green Screen Effect Using FlexClip

Step 1

Import the Media Files to FlexClip

Begin by accessing FlexClip's editor page and uploading your footage in the Media panel. Add the background clip to the timeline, then layer the green screen footage above it.

Comprehensive Editing Toolkit in FlexClip

Step 2

Use the Green Screen Tool

Select the green screen footage and move to the top toolkit to activate the Chroma Key, then drag the slider to adjust the intensity level to make the background transparent.

Activate the Chroma Key Feature to Make the Background Transparent

Step 3

Save Your Green Screen Video or Make Edits

Preview the result by clicking the Play icon. Once satisfied, proceed to export the video. Alternatively, continue refining your creation using FlexClip's versatile editing toolkit.

Save Your Green Screen Video or Make Further Edits

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions

1.What Types of Videos Can I Make with Green Screen Videos?

With iMovie green screen effect, you can superimpose any green screen video to any shot. For example, you can transfer yourself to the sky, appear in your favorite movies or create a funny meme.

2.Can I Adjust the Green Screen with iMovie?

Yes! After applying a green screen video, iMovie lets you crop any unwanted frame or clean up areas that should not be showing on the screen. However, you can't reposition the green screen overlay.

3.Why Can't I Add My Video to iMovie?

Many causes that will lead to this problem while the file format is the most common one. The formats supported by iMovie are pretty limited, including MOV, MP4, AVI, HDV, HEVC etc. If your video file doesn't match with formats that iMovie supports, you will have to convert them by using FlexClip's online converter for free.

The Bottom Line

That's all for how to use green screen on iMovie. If you have other useful tips, please get in touch with us through Facebook.

Bella /

Full of vitality, curiosity and hope, Bella is an energetic copywriter at FlexClip. She mainly concentrates on video creation and troublesome issues related to video editing, providing users with practical solutions and tricks. Personally, Bella loves novels, sci-fi movies, cooking and travel. And, she believes that all her life is the best arrangement from God.