Straighten clips, level horizon - iMovie iPad/iPhone/Mac

How to level your video clips for iMovie without using a 3rd party app, just the Apple Photos app.
0:00 Why straighten clips
0:18 iPad/iPhone demo on the left, Mac on the right (split screen)
0:30 Import your clips into Photos if they aren't already there
0:38 Open clip for editing
0:41 Select the crop tool
0:45 Use the Straighten tool
1:08 Export to the Downloads folder - Photos won't retain the edit if you don't
1:24 Bring up iMovie and import from the Downloads folder
1:39 Voila!
1:49 Use the level in the Measurements app to record level videos
1:57 Comments appreciated!
#iMovie #iOS #MacOS #iPhone #iPad #PhotosApp

[@trishaswaney648]

Thank you!!! I’m still mentally trying to come down from the anger I had at my EDITED clip not being edited after I drug it to imove. I didn’t know I had to export first.
You saved my 2023. Well done sir.

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks for your kind words! Have a great 2024!

[@robertneff6583]

Great explanation

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks Robert!

[@JonMarshall]

Perfect!! Just what I needed. You make it look easy. Thank you!

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks for your kind words Jon!!

[@JaredKS4]

Thanks so much. This is exactly what I needed.

[@KurtPapke]

Good to hear Jared!

[@GStraveller-nr3eo]

excellent thank you very much

[@KurtPapke]

You are very welcome Traveller!

[@jg_cello]

Thanks for this help!

[@KurtPapke]

You bet!

[@DoingThings_NL]

Excellent, thanks!

[@KurtPapke]

You’re welcome!

[@RicCarter]

Thanks for the cheap fix

[@KurtPapke]

Cheap AND fast! Thanks Ric!

[@PicturebikeMXphotography]

Brilliant tip!

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks!

[@jeffroberts4485]

Thanks, I didn't know Photos could do movies either. I use an iPhone for recording golf swings and, even with a tripod and a special video app, it's difficult to square the camera perfectly to the horizon. This solves that problem.

[@KurtPapke]

I often use the Measure/Level app on my iPhone to make sure I have the horizon straight before I shoot a video. Doesn’t help for handheld shots, but with a tripod it’s pretty effective.

[@jeffroberts4485]

@@KurtPapke The app I use for capturing golf swings helps me set up pretty close to square horizontally and vertically but not always close enough. Before I saw your video, I had been leveling clips with Keynote which is cumbersome at best and only outputs 30fps. Photos does a much better job.

[@OliverHikes]

Thanks. I do this with photos but I did not realize it was possible with video. I usually use GoPro 9 with horizon lock because of this issue. But good to know when I use a phone to capture video.

[@KurtPapke]

I wish Apple would add horizon lock... thanks for the feedback!

[@humandroid53]

The exported file will not play in iMovie

[@wayneread1534]

GREAT THANK YOU MY FRIEND. DO YOU KNOW OF A FREE EDITOR THAT WITH DO THIS FOR MY CAMCORDER VIDEOS
PLS ??

[@KurtPapke]

Thanks. IMovie is free!

[@wayneread1534]

@@KurtPapke LIKE I SAID ITS FROM CAMCORDER NOT IPHONE SO I DONT THINK I CAN IMPORT INTO PHONE FOR IMOVIE AND ANT GOT A MAC PC ONLY WINDOWS MY FRIEND

[@KurtPapke]

DaVinci Resolve is a well-respected editor that is free and runs on Windows. It is complicated to learn though.

[@darrelpeters]

for some reason when I import a clip the crop button is greyed out. Any ideas?

[@KurtPapke]

Are you on Big Sur or later? discussions.apple.com/thread/252334924

[@user-sr4we2vn7q]

Will not let me edit on Mac! The crop button remains grey.

[@KurtPapke]

Are you running Big Sur or later?