How to Zoom In/Out on Video Clips in iMovie (Apply Ken Burns Effect)

September 24, 2019Jenny Ryan

Zoom in/out is a technique that's been widely used in filmmaking industry, it helps viewer to simplify the picture and focus on the real matter. To create a zoom effect during shooting, you have to rely on some highly professional and expensive recording equipment. Fortunately, video editors like iMovie or Video Converter Ultimate enables you to zoom in/out video easily during editing process.

In this article, I'm going to give you a full guide on how to create a pan & zoom effect (Ken Burns Effects) with iMovie and iMovie alternatives.

Part 1. How to zoom in/out video in iMovie on Mac
Part 2. How to apply zoom in/out (Ken Burns) effect on iMovie for iPad/iPhone
Part 3. Best iMovie alternative for zooming in/out videos

Part 1. How to zoom in/out video in iMovie on Mac

Step 1.

Open your iMovie and load the video you want to zoom in the project, drop the video clip in the timeline.

Step 2.

Click the Cropping button above the preview window, then you'll see three styles to crop videos. To apply pan/zoom effect, choose "Ken Burns" to apply zoom in/out effect.

Step 3.

Two frames, labeled Start and End, appear over the clip in the viewer. You can:

Set the crop at the beginning of the clip: Select the Start frame, and then drag and resize it until the beginning of the clip is framed the way you want.
Set the crop at the end of the clip: Select the End frame, and then drag and resize it until the end of the clip is framed the way you want.

Also, you can change the aspect ratio in iMovie after you cropping the video size to let it be suitable for your player.

Step 4.

Click Apply button to save your project. When the clip is played back, it's cropped at the beginning of the shot as set by the Start frame, and appears to zoom in or out based on how the End frame is cropped.

Before you start to crop video in iMovie, you can also try the iMovie effects.

You can check the video tutorial down below:

Part 2. How to apply zoom in/out (Ken Burns) effect on iMovie for iPad/iPhone

If you get iMovie for iPhone or iPad, learn here to zoom in and out wiht iMovie on iOS devices.

Step 1.

Open iMovie on your iPad/iPhone. Click the "Projects" tab on top, and then "Create Project" to load the photo you want to apply zoom in/out effect.

Step 2.

The Ken Burns effect controls appear in the lower-right corner of the image in the viewer.

Tap the Start button to set the way the photo is framed at the beginning, pinch to zoom in or out, then drag the image in the viewer to frame it the way you want.
Tap the End button to set the way the photo is framed at the end, pinch to zoom in or out, then drag the image in the viewer to frame it the way you want.

Step 3.

Previews the zoom in/out effect, if you are satisfied, tap outside of the clip to close the controls.

Part 3. Best iMovie alternative for zooming in/out videos

If you intend to create a stunning video zoom effect, we would like to recommend you an iMovie alternative that enables you to quickly and easily make a zoom in and zoom out video along with more special effects as well. This multiple functional video editor works for both Windows and Mac.