← BACK TO COMMAND

💻 MAC EDITING GUIDE

Level up your filmmaking on the big screen

Why Edit on Mac?

Bigger screen + keyboard shortcuts + mouse precision = PROFESSIONAL FILMS!

✨ NO TYPING REQUIRED

📚 YOUR LEARNING PATH

1

Start: iPhone Editing

You're here! iMovie or CapCut on your phone.

Touch Controls Basic Cuts Add Music
2

Next: iMovie on Mac

Same app, bigger screen, more power!

Mouse & Keyboard Timeline View Multi-Track Keyboard Shortcuts
3

Later: DaVinci Resolve

Professional tool (free forever!) - when you're ready.

Color Grading Advanced Effects Pro Workflow Industry Standard
📝 FOR PARENTS:

This guide focuses on visual, click-based workflows. Minimal typing needed! He'll learn computer skills (mouse precision, keyboard shortcuts, file management) while creating. Supervise downloads and initial setup, then let him explore!

🚀 GETTING STARTED: AIRDROP WORKFLOW

📱 → 💻 AirDrop Your Stop-Motion Video

First, get your video from iPhone to Mac:

1
📱
On iPhone: Export your stop-motion from your app

(Stop Motion Studio/CapCut → Export → Save to Photos)

2
📱
Open Photos app on iPhone

Find your exported video

3
📤
Tap Share button (square with arrow up)

Bottom left corner

4
📡
Tap AirDrop

Choose your MacBook from the list

5
💻
On Mac: Click "Accept" when it pops up

File saves to Downloads folder

🎬 iMOVIE ON MAC - BASICS

Opening iMovie & Creating a Project

1
🖱️
Find iMovie
Applications → iMovie

Or: Click 🔍 Spotlight (top-right) → type "imovie" → hit Return

2
Create New Project

Click "Create New" → "Movie" (not Trailer)

3
⌨️
Name Your Project

Example: "D-Day Beach Landing" → Click OK

📝 (Parent can help name it)

Importing Your Video

1
📥
Click "Import Media"

Big ⬇️ arrow button at top

2
📁
Navigate to Downloads

Left sidebar → Downloads → Find your AirDropped video

3
🖱️
Select & Import

Click your video → "Import Selected" (bottom right)

Adding Video to Timeline (Drag & Drop)

1
🖱️
Find Your Video

In "Media" panel at top (it shows all imported videos)

2
🖱️↓
DRAG to Timeline

Click and HOLD on video → drag down to timeline (black area at bottom) → release

3
▶️
Play!

Hit Spacebar (or click ▶️ play button) to watch

⌨️ ESSENTIAL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

These make editing MUCH faster! No typing needed - just press keys:

Playback Controls (MOST IMPORTANT)

Spacebar
Play / Pause

Press once to play, again to pause

Move Frame by Frame

Left = back, Right = forward (one frame at a time!)

J K L
Rewind / Pause / Fast Forward

J = backwards, K = stop, L = forward

\ (backslash)
Play Selection

Play just what you selected

Editing Shortcuts (Super Useful!)

+ B
Split Clip

Cut your video in two at playhead position

+ Z
Undo

LIFESAVER! Undoes your last action

Delete
Delete Selected Clip

Select clip → Delete key → gone!

+ S
Save Project

Save your work! Do this often!

🎯 START WITH THESE 4:

Spacebar (play/pause), (frame-by-frame), +B (split), +Z (undo). Master these and he's 80% there!

🖱️ MOUSE TECHNIQUES

Trimming Clips (No Typing!)

1
🖱️
Hover Over Edge

Move mouse to beginning or end of clip in timeline

2
↔️
Cursor Changes

Cursor becomes ↔️ arrows - this means you can trim!

3
🖱️↔️
Click & Drag

Drag left to make clip shorter, right to make longer

Adding Sound Effects (Drag & Drop)

1
🔊
Click Audio Button

Top toolbar → 🔊 Audio icon

2
📂
Browse Sound Effects

"Sound Effects" tab → Browse categories or your downloaded sounds

3
🖱️↓
Drag to Timeline

Click sound → drag to timeline → line it up with action!

📤 EXPORTING YOUR FINISHED FILM

Save Your Movie (Easy!)

1
📤
Click Share Button

Top-right corner → 📤 icon

2
📁
Choose "File"

(Not YouTube - we're saving to computer)

3
🎬
Settings

Resolution: 1080p (or 4K if available)
Quality: High
Compress: Better Quality

4
💾
Choose Location

Save to: Desktop (easy to find!) or "LEGO Films" folder
Click "Next" → "Save"

5
Wait for Export

Progress bar shows in top-right. Can take 2-10 minutes depending on length!

👨‍👩‍👦 TIPS FOR PARENTS

✅ WHAT TO HELP WITH:
🎯 WHAT HE CAN DO INDEPENDENTLY:
⚠️ SUPERVISION NEEDED FOR: