How to Export iMovie Project to DVD

This wikiHow teaches you how to export an iMovie project to a file and then burn that file onto a DVD. You can burn the file using the Finder if you don't want to play the DVD in a standard DVD player, but you'll need to use a free...

Part 1 of 3:

Exporting the iMovie Project

Attach an external DVD drive to your Mac. Since most Macs no longer have built-in DVD drives, you'll need to buy and use a USB DVD drive. Plug the USB DVD drive's connector cable into one of your Mac's USB ports.
1. You can buy a USB drive called the "Apple USB SuperDrive" from Apple for less than $90.
2. If you buy a DVD drive that has a USB 3.0 cable, you may also need a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter for your computer.
Insert a blank DVD-R into the DVD drive. Make sure that the logo is facing upward when you do so. The DVD must be blank in order for the burn to be successful.
1. If prompted to select an action, just click Ignore.
2. DVD-Rs may be difficult to find in physical store locations, but you can usually find them online.
Open iMovie. This app's icon resembles a movie camera icon on a purple background.
Open your project. Click File, click Open, and double-click the iMovie project that you want to export to a DVD.
Click the "Share"
How to Export iMovie Project to DVD Picture 1
button. It's in the upper-right corner of the iMovie window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Click File. This film strip-shaped icon is in the drop-down menu.
Enter a file name. Click the bold text at the top of the pop-up window, then change it to whatever you want to name your file.
Make sure the format is set to "Video and Audio". If the item to the right of the "Format" heading says "Audio Only", click it, then click Video and Audio.
Edit the quality options if necessary. You can change the following options for your video:^[1]
1. Resolution - 1080p is the standard for HD, but you can select a different resolution to cut down on your file's size.
2. Quality - High should be sufficient for most places, but clicking the current quality option will prompt a drop-down menu with different quality options.
3. Compress - Better Quality should be selected here, but you can select Faster if you're in a hurry to export.
Click Next…. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so opens the save location window.
Select a save location. Click the "Where" drop-down box, then click a folder in which you want to save the exported movie file (e.g., Desktop) and click Save. Your movie will begin exporting into a file.
Click Show when prompted. You'll see this option in a notification that appears in the top-right corner of the screen once your movie finishes exporting. Doing so will take you to the movie's folder, at which point you can proceed with burning the file onto a DVD.

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Part 1 Quiz

What can you do if you need to burn your iMovie project quickly?

Use a fast-burning DVD.

Not exactly! The only thing you need to make sure of is that your DVD is blank. There isn't a different type of DVD that will make your project burn faster. Guess again!

Choose 1080 resolution.

Try again! 1080 resolution is standard, but it can also make your file pretty big depending on the size of your project. If you want to cut down on file size (and potentially burn time), consider choosing a lower resolution. There's a better option out there!

Select "Faster" under the Compress option.

Right! "Better Quality" will usually be autoselected under the "Compress" heading, but if you're in a rush, select "Faster" instead. You can also change the "Quality" setting or the "Resolution" setting, but remember that these options might affect the look of your final product. Read on for another quiz question.

Change the format to "Audio Only."

Nope! Not only will this not make your burn go any faster, it won't put your entire project on the DVD. You want to make sure that "Video and Audio" is selected under "formatting." Try another answer...

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Part 2 of 3:

Burning with Finder

Select your movie's file. Click the file that you want to burn onto a DVD to do so.
Copy the file. Press ⌘ Command+C, or click Edit and then Copy, to do this.
Select your DVD. In the lower-left side of the Finder window, click your DVD's icon. This will open its folder.
1. You can also double-click the DVD's disc icon on the desktop to do this.
Paste in your movie file. Press ⌘ Command+V or click Edit and then Paste. The movie should appear in the DVD's window.
Click File. It's a menu item in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Click Burn [name] to Disc…. You'll find this option in the File drop-down menu.^[2]
Enter a name for the DVD. In the "Disc Name" text field, type in the name that you want to use for your DVD.
Select a burn speed. Click the "Burn Speed" drop-down box, then click the option that you prefer in the drop-down menu.
Click Burn. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. The video will begin burning onto the DVD.
1. Once the burn is complete, you'll hear a chime, and the DVD's icon will disappear from the desktop.

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Part 2 Quiz

How will you know when your project is finished burning onto the DVD?

When the DVD icon is gone from the desktop.

Yep! When you notice the DVD icon is no longer on the desktop, your project is done! You'll also hear a "ding" if you have your computer volume turned up. Read on for another quiz question.

When a popup appears telling you that the burn is finished.

Not quite! There won't be a popup to let you know that the burn is finished. You'll have to watch and listen a little more carefully. There's a better option out there!

When your DVD automatically pops out of the player.

Not exactly! This won't happen when the burn is finished. After it's done, though, you'll be able to safely remove your DVD with your successfully burned project on it. Try another answer...

All of the above.

Nope! Only one of the previous answers will happen to tell you that the burn is finished. Since you're able to select your burn speed on Finder, you should have a good idea of when it will be finished. Pick another answer!

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Part 3 of 3:

Burning with Burn for OS X

Download and install Burn. This program is several years old, but it's free and it still works. Go to http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html in your browser, click Download Burn in the lower-right side of the page, and then do the following:
1. Open the Burn ZIP folder by double-clicking it.
2. Click and drag the Burn app icon into the Applications folder.
3. Double-click the Burn app icon.
4. Verify the download.
Open Burn. Double-click the Burn app icon in the Applications folder to do so. The Burn window will open.
Click the Video tab. It's at the top of the Burn app window.
Enter a DVD name. Click the text field at the top of the Burn window, then replace the current text (usually "Untitled") with whatever you want to name your DVD.^[3]
Click +. This icon is in the lower-left corner of the Burn window. A Finder window will open.
Select your iMovie video. Click on the left side of the Finder the folder in which your iMovie video is stored, then click the video to select it.
Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the Finder window. Doing so copies the video into the Burn window.
Click the file type drop-down box. This option is in the upper-right side of the Burn window.
Click DVD-Video. It's in the drop-down menu.
Click Convert if possible. If you see a Convert option appear after selecting the file type, click it, then follow any on-screen prompts. This will ensure that your DVD file is playable on the DVD disc.
Click Burn. This option is in the bottom-right corner of the Burn window. Doing so will prompt your file to begin burning onto the DVD.
Follow any on-screen prompts. You may receive a notification when the burn is complete; otherwise, just wait for the progress bar to disappear. Once the burn is complete, you can eject your DVD and play it on any standard DVD player.

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Part 3 Quiz

Why might you decide to use Burn to burn your iMovie projects onto DVDs?

Because it won't change the formatting of your project.

Nope! None of the burning options should change the formatting of your project. If you change the resolution or quality of the burn, the picture quality might be a little different, but the program you use won't change the project itself. Choose another answer!

Because it's already on your computer.

Not quite! No matter what type of computer you have, you'll have to download Burn independently. It's easy to do—just go to the website and follow the instructions. There's a better option out there!

Because it's the easiest option.

Not necessarily! All of the burning options are pretty simple if you follow the rules. It just depends on how much time you have and what programs are already on your computer. Choose another answer!

Because it's free.

Absolutely! Burn is free and easy to download and it works much the same as the other options. It's a couple of years old, but it still works well. Read on for another quiz question.

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