Editing Windows Movie Maker (section)

==Layout==
The [[Graphical user interface|layout]] consists of a ''storyboard view'' and a ''timeline view'', collections for organizing imported video, and a [[Preview (computing)|preview]] pane. When in ''Storyboard view'', the video project appears as a film strip showing each scene in clips. The storyboard/timeline consists of one 'Video' (with accompanying 'Audio' bar), one 'Music/Audio' bar, and one 'Titles/Credits' bar. In each bar, clips can be added for editing (e.g., a {{mono|[[.WAV]]}} music file will belong on the 'Music/Audio' bar). Still images can also be imported into the timeline and "stretched" to any desired number of frames. The Video and Music/Audio bars can be "cut" to any number of short segments, which will play together seamlessly, but the individual segments are isolated editing-wise, so that for example, the music volume can be lowered for just a few seconds while someone is speaking.

===Importing footage===
When importing footage into the program, a user can either choose to ''Capture Video'' (from camera, scanner or other device) or ''Import into Collections'' to import existing video files into the user's collections. The accepted formats for import are [[Windows Media Video|.WMV]]/[[Advanced Systems Format|.ASF]], [[MPEG-1|.MPG (MPEG-1)]], [[DV (video format)#Application software support|.AVI (DV-AVI)]], [[Windows Media Audio|.WMA]], .[[WAV]], and [[MPEG-1 Layer 3|.MP3]]. Additionally, the Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Movie Maker support importing [[MPEG-2]] [[Program stream]]s and [[DVR-MS]] formats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/pix/archive/2007/03/21/movie-maker-vista-file-format-support.aspx|title=Movie Maker Vista File Format Support|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> Importing of other container formats such as [[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]]/[[3GP]], [[Flash Video|FLV]] and [[.mov|MOV]], and [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]] are also supported if the necessary codecs are installed and the system is running Windows 7 or later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Windows Movie Maker FAQ (File Types)|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/movie-maker-file-types-faq|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324014142/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/movie-maker-file-types-faq|archive-date=March 24, 2012|access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref>

In the  XP version, import and real-time capture of video from an analog source such as a VCR, tape-based analog camcorder or webcam is possible. This feature is based on [[Windows Image Acquisition]]. Video support in Windows Image Acquisition was removed in Windows Vista, as a result importing analog footage in Windows Movie Maker is no longer possible.<ref>{{cite web|title=Problems importing files into Windows Movie Maker|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Problems-importing-files-into-Windows-Movie-Maker|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721114433/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Problems-importing-files-into-Windows-Movie-Maker|archive-date=July 21, 2010|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref>

When importing from a DV tape, if the "Make Clips on Completion" option is selected, Windows Movie Maker automatically flags the commencement of each scene, so that the tape appears on the editing screen as a collection of short clips, rather than one long recording. That is, at each point where the "Record" button was pressed, a new "clip" is generated, although the actual recording on the hard drive is still one continuous file. This feature is also offered after importing files already on the hard drive. In the Windows Vista version, the "Make clips on completion" option has been removed — the clips are now automatically created during the capture process.

The efficiency of the importing and editing process is heavily dependent on the amount of file fragmentation of the hard disk. The most reliable results can be obtained by adding an extra hard disk dedicated for [[scratch space]], and regularly re-formatting/defragmenting it, rather than simply deleting the files at the end of the project. Fragmented AVI files result in jerky playback on the editing screen, and make the final rendering process much longer.

Although it is possible to import digital video from cameras through the USB interface, most older cameras only support [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] version 1 and the results tend to be poor — "sub [[Video Home System|VHS]]" — quality. Newer cameras using USB 2.0 give much better results. A [[FireWire]] interface camera will allow recording and playback of images identical in quality to the original recordings if the video is imported and subsequently saved as DV [[Audio Video Interleave|AVI]] files, although this consumes disk space at about 1 gigabyte every five minutes (12&nbsp;GB/Hr). Alternatively, most DV cameras allow the final AVI file to be recorded back onto the camera tape for high quality playback. Some standalone DVD recorders will also directly accept DV inputs from video cameras and computers.

===Editing and output===
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After capture, any clip can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the timeline. Once on the timeline, clips can be duplicated, split, repositioned or edited. An ''AutoMovie'' feature offers predefined editing styles (titles, effects and transitions) for quickly creating movies.

The original camera file on the hard drive is not modified; the project file is just a list of instructions for reproducing a final output video file from the original file. Thus, several different versions of the same video can be simultaneously made from the original camera footage.

Earlier versions of Windows Movie Maker could only export video in [[Windows Media Video]] or [[DV (video format)#Application software support|DV AVI]] formats.<ref>{{cite web|title=What kind of files can I use in Movie Maker? - Windows Help|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308464|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027230423/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308464|archive-date=October 27, 2006|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> It includes some predefined profiles, but users can also create custom profiles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Create custom movie settings for Windows Movie Maker|url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Create-custom-movie-settings-for-Windows-Movie-Maker|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118091526/http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Create-custom-movie-settings-for-Windows-Movie-Maker|archive-date=November 18, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2014|work=Windows Vista Help|publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> [[Windows XP Media Center Edition]] bundled Sonic DVD Burning engine, licensed from [[Sonic Solutions]], allowing video editors to burn their project in [[DVD-Video]] format on a [[DVD]]. In Windows Vista, Windows Movie Maker passes the video project to [[Windows DVD Maker]].

Windows Movie Maker 2012 introduced the default ability to export in [[H.264]] [[MP4]] format.

Video can be exported back to the video camera if supported by the camera. Movie Maker also allows users to publish a finished video on [[video hosting]] websites.

Windows Movie Maker can also be used to edit and publish audio tracks. If no video or image is present, Movie Maker allows exporting the sound clips in [[Windows Media Audio]] format.

===Effects and transitions===
Windows Movie Maker supports a large variety of titles, effects and transitions.
* Titles are animated text screens, normally placed at the beginning or end of the movie, but can also be placed over video clips. Titles and credits can be added as stand alone titles or overlaying them on the clip by adding them onto the selected clip. Titles range from static (non-animated) titles to fly in, fading, news banner, or spinning newspaper [[animations]]. They can also be placed on video clips to create sub-titles.
* Transitions affect how one video clips flows into another. Examples include fade and dissolve, but many more spectacular transitions are available.
* Effects alter how a video clip appears. Example include allowing control of brightness, contrast or hue, but other more dramatic effects are available, such as giving an 'old time' flickering black and white feel.

Versions 2.x included in Windows XP includes 60 transitions, 37 effects, 34 title and 9 credits animations. The Windows Vista version includes a different set of transitions, effects and title/credits animations while dropping a few older ones. There are in all 49 effects and 63 transitions. They are applied by using a [[drag and drop]] interface from the effects or transitions folders.

Early versions (V2 onwards) of Windows Movie Maker had a flexible interface so programming custom effects and other content were possible via [[XML]]. The Windows Vista version supports [[Direct3D]]-based effects. Microsoft also provides SDK documentation for custom effects and transitions.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070224115446/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=db25c30a-44f4-4306-be62-2f3b7ef3849f&DisplayLang=en Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker SDK]</ref> Since the effects are XML based, users could create and add custom effects and transitions of their own with XML knowledge.

Many custom transitions were commercially available and created additional features such as picture-in-picture.

Windows Movie Maker V6 did not support customisations to effects and transitions in the same way as V2.x and so many customisations had to be re-written. Versions after V6 do not support custom transitions and effects at all.