This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore your iMovie project using cloud storage. The process for backing up a Final Cut project is the same.
Right at the iMovie menu bar, you will be able to see the 'file' icon which will be the first step when saving your already finished project. When you scroll down, the 'save project' icon will be seen and you should click on it. The project will save automatically to your system ready for exporting to the right device. Luckily, iMovie periodically saves the application database / library so you are unlikely to lose everything if you decide to shut down the Mac or force quit the application. Once you regain control of the application (you already know you can't do anything with it stuck in a state where it's no longer responding to messages, input - a.k.a.
Movie Library
Imovie Tutorial
iMovie will autosave all of its data and assets (video, images, audio) into a library file called iMovie Library in the Movies folder of the computer you are working on for the day. Every time you make a change or add to your project in iMovie, your project will autosave. This iMovie Library file must not be renamed or it will stop working.
When you are done editing for the day, close out of iMovie by click on the red button in the top-left corner of the program. This will ensure that your project saves one last time before you back it up.
Next, locate your iMovie Library in the Movies folder by either double-clicking on the Macintosh HD icon in the top-right corner of your desktop, or clicking on the Finder icon at the bottom of your screen. This will bring up a new Finder window.
The Movies folder is located on the left-hand side of this Finder window, so click on Movies. Your iMovie Library will be listed in that folder. This is the file you will want to move back and forth, between your external storage and the computer.
The iMovie Library will be named accordingly and the icon looks like two pieces of film. The Final cut project will either be named 'untitled' or will have the name you gave it, and its icon is 4 purple squares with stars in them.
When you are done editing for the day, close out of iMovie by click on the red button in the top-left corner of the program. This will ensure that your project saves one last time before you back it up.
Next, locate your iMovie Library in the Movies folder by either double-clicking on the Macintosh HD icon in the top-right corner of your desktop, or clicking on the Finder icon at the bottom of your screen. This will bring up a new Finder window.
The Movies folder is located on the left-hand side of this Finder window, so click on Movies. Your iMovie Library will be listed in that folder. This is the file you will want to move back and forth, between your external storage and the computer.
The iMovie Library will be named accordingly and the icon looks like two pieces of film. The Final cut project will either be named 'untitled' or will have the name you gave it, and its icon is 4 purple squares with stars in them.
Do not double-click on this file, otherwise, it will open your project back up and you will have to close out of iMovie again.
Right-click on your iMovie Library file. Within this menu, select 'Compress iMovie Library.' This will compress your file into a .zip file, which protects your file, and creates a second backup.
Once you've compressed your iMovie Library, you should now have a file called iMovie Library.zip in this list as well.
Decide which cloud storage service you want to save your project to (Box, Google Drive, or Dropbox, etc.). Open a browser and log into your account. You will want to be able to see your web browser and the Finder window with your iMovie Library.
Imovie Titles Help
To back up your project to your cloud storage, drag and drop your iMovie Library.zip file into the file area and it will begin to upload. If there is an older version of your iMovie Library already uploaded, it will be replaced by the new version.
Your project is backed up once your iMovie Library.zip file has finished uploading.
To restore your project from cloud storage, you will reverse the back-up process, this time returning the iMovie Library.zip from to the Movies Folder. You will need to to this before you launch iMovie.
You will first access the cloud storage account you backed up to (Box, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.). Locate your iMovie Library.zip file, click the '…' icon for the file and select 'download'.
Once you've downloaded the file, double-click on iMovie Library.zip to unzip it. This will bring back your regular iMovie Library file.
Move the un-zipped iMovie Library file into the Movies folder of the computer.
Voice effects pc. Now double-click on your iMovie Library to continue editing in iMovie.
If you are not 100% sure about how to back up your files to the Media Commons Storage Space or have general questions, please contact us before you leave the Media Commons editing lab.
