Using Microsoft Movie Maker 2

Training needs
All staff involved in teaching this project will need to be conversant with the use of Movie maker and some may need help with using the digital camera and downloading files in an appropriate format. These instructions relate to Movie Maker version 2.1 - if you are not using this version - download it now from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx

MicrosoftMovie Maker work space

When you open Movie Maker you will see the work space as illustrated. The workspace is divided into four different functions: Movie tasks Collections Playback Timeline
Movie tasks - contains all the different functions for importing clips, editing and finishing the finished movie		Collections is where you will view all of your imported clips, transitions and so forth
Playback - allows you to preview individual clips or the whole project		Story board - lets you assemble your project clip by clip and add sounds

Step 1 - Importing movie clips into your project

Once you have decided on the order that you want to assemble your movie clips your next job is to import. To do this expand the Capture Video options from the Movie Tasks dialogue and choose Import Video

For each file that you select in this way drag the image down to the time line. If you have created any titles in the form of a JPEG image or you want to add in any still pictures, you can drag these in at the same time.

Step 2 - Adding transitions

Once you have finished importing all of your clips, change the Collections drop down to to read Video Transitions. Drag down your selected transitions to sit between each of the clips.

Step 3 - Adding titles, credits and text overlays

Expand the Edit Movie options and choose Make titles or credits Under the heading Where do you want to add your title? You will see five options, four of these effectively add another slide in the selected position. The fifth option, Add title on the selected clip on the storyboard, allows you to add a text overlay on a slide.

Step 4 - Adding sounds and viewing the time line

From the Capture Video options select Import audio or music. Browse to your selected file and import. It is important to choose a sound that is suitable and appropriate rather than something that you just like!

When the sound icon appears in the collections work space you can drag it directly to any position on your project. Immediately you do this the story board will switch to time line view and you will be able to see the length of the sound represented next to the length of all the clips that you have used so far.

Working in Time line view you can drag objects around (for example to make a title show for more or less time) and see how long sounds will take in relation to clips

Step 5 - Saving the project and rendering the movie

It is important to remember that you can return to a saved project easily and edit it, a saved movie is less easy to edit.

Saving the project

You can save your project at any time but it is important to remember that the saved project does not contain any of the actual movie clips and audio files that you have used - it just remembers where they are. If you move any of the files used in your project then Movie Maker will not find them again when you reopen your project.

Saving the movie

From the Finish Movie options click Save to my computer. When you save your movie it is important to select a suitable rendering option according to where the movie will be used - there are many options which represent a compromise between quality and file size