iMovie project file sizes in the GB range...what on earth have I done?

[Argelius]

I have been working on a rather elaborate (for an Mac newbie, anyway) movies of vacation photographs using iMovie. I have been using iMovie to create separate projects with the ultimate aim to have each represent a chapter on a DVD.

Based on recommendations I've received somewhere, I selected "DV" as the format for the movies.

Anyway, as I am nearing the end of my creative process I happened to glance at the file sizes of the iMovie projects. They are huge, between 1-4 GB. Obviously with around 10 "chapters", there's no way this is going to fit on a 4.7 GB DVD (unless I am missing something).

Most of the photographs I used were high-resolution digitial photos (4-5 megapixels). Each chapter incorporates between 30-80 pictures and include Ken Burns was well as transitions.

My questions are:

[1] What has let to the huge size of the projects: the original photo size, the choice of "DV" format, or merely the number of photos used?

[2] If these are then burned using iDVD, I assume it doesn't magically compress the iMovie projects to be able to fit on a DVD.

[3] I am guessing I am hosed, since I know once you've started a project you cant change the format. (Guess that wasn't a statement).

[4] So, assuming there is no way to rescue me from my bloated project, if I start from scratch what do I need to do to bring my files sizes down to reality?

Thanks!

 

[DaftUnion]

I have been working on a rather elaborate (for an Mac newbie, anyway) movies of vacation photographs using iMovie. I have been using iMovie to create separate projects with the ultimate aim to have each represent a chapter on a DVD.

Based on recommendations I've received somewhere, I selected "DV" as the format for the movies.

Anyway, as I am nearing the end of my creative process I happened to glance at the file sizes of the iMovie projects. They are huge, between 1-4 GB. Obviously with around 10 "chapters", there's no way this is going to fit on a 4.7 GB DVD (unless I am missing something).

Most of the photographs I used were high-resolution digitial photos (4-5 megapixels). Each chapter incorporates between 30-80 pictures and include Ken Burns was well as transitions.

My questions are:

[1] What has let to the huge size of the projects: the original photo size, the choice of "DV" format, or merely the number of photos used?

[2] If these are then burned using iDVD, I assume it doesn't magically compress the iMovie projects to be able to fit on a DVD.

[3] I am guessing I am hosed, since I know once you've started a project you cant change the format. (Guess that wasn't a statement).

[4] So, assuming there is no way to rescue me from my bloated project, if I start from scratch what do I need to do to bring my files sizes down to reality?

Thanks!

1. The huge size of the projects is that the DV format is large in general, so you can edit stuff frame by frame more effectively if you want to (pretty sure on this)

2. lol, actually...it does magically compress it a lot to fit onto a dvd...the dv format will get changed into a .mov file in iDVD before it burns, so it'll be a LOT smaller. You'll know how much space it'll take up on a dvd after it's in iDVD and not iMovie.

3. the DV format is just fine, don't worry two much about the size because it'll get all changed into a .mov file in iDVD...if your going to make a 2-3 hour movie...be concerned...but if it's under an hour you should be fine.

4. Question 2 should answer that.

 

[eRondeau]

Everything's gonna be okay!

Relax, iMovie is working normally. It will compress just fine. I've recently finished a 4th birthday DVD for my nephew and the iMovie Project file is 17GB. It easily squeezed onto a 4.7GB DVD and it looks amazing! Even on my stock 1GHz iBook G4, iMovie churned all that data without even breaking a sweat.

 

[Argelius]

Thanks, all. I feel SOOOO much better now...