7 min read
How to Crop and Rotate Video on Mac and PC
Sometimes you capture videos (or choose from iStock’s wide selection of stock footage), and then realize they’re not positioned the way you want. Or (maybe) you want to flip the image to create a special effect.
There are also times when you only want to use a specific area of a video. It could be that you want to focus the attention on that section, or eliminate defects in the surrounding area.
In both situations, you need to master how to crop and rotate videos to get your desired result. Cropping and rotating videos will help you both achieve the desired framing, and position the images for your content.
In this article, you’ll learn how to crop and rotate videos on generic video editing apps, software and devices. Let’s get started.
How to Crop and Rotate Videos
With the different devices and video websites available, rotating or cropping a video can appear more complicated than it needs to be. You must have some basic knowledge of the tool you’ll need, and most importantly, how to go about it.
We’ll be breaking down the steps for the many devices and sites so you can see how they stack up and decide which one is best for your needs.
How to Crop and Rotate Video on Mac (iMovie)
iMovie is a video application built into the MacOS ecosystem. You can use it directly to rotate and crop your video. If you’re accustomed to the app, you probably know how to handle it with precision. But if you don’t know, follow the steps below.
1. Open iMovie and Choose Your Target Video
First thing, locate the iMovie app on your computer and launch it. Next, select “File” then choose “Import” to upload your target video to iMovie.
2. Crop your Photos and Videos
iMovie is relatively intuitive and user-friendly. Upon choosing your target video, you can easily figure out the following steps with the icons in the toolbar. To crop the video, select the “Crop” icon in the browser toolbar above the Viewer.
You can shrink the video and eliminate all unwanted sections to your liking. Now, let’s discuss how you can rotate your clips on iMovie.
3. Rotate your Photos and Videos
Rotating the video is just as easy. For this, you need to locate the “Rotate” icons (counterclockwise and clockwise).
Each helps you rotate the clip right or left depending on the direction of the arrow on the icon.
4. Preview and Save
After completing the settings for rotating and cropping your video, preview to see the result before validating it. You can do this by selecting the “Play” button.
Upon verification and approval, you can now save the final video. Just select “Done” to finalize the rotation or cropping in iMovie.
How to Crop and Rotate Video on PC
Cropping or rotating your video on a Windows PC is a bit more complicated. It’s hard to come by an integrated Windows program that can perform both actions, so we suggest two different programs you can use.
Rotating Videos on Windows Photo App
If you are familiar with the Windows Photo application, you probably know it features a video editor. If you are not familiar with the program, it’s fine. We’ll show you the different steps you’ll need to follow to successfully rotate your video.
Notice that the app will not allow you to crop the video, but you will be able to trim it, add music, and perform many other basic modifications. Here’s how to rotate your video using Photo App for Windows.
1. Find and Launch Photos on Your Computer
Press the “Windows Key” on your keyboard and start typing photo. Photos will be suggested to you. Select it to open.
2. Open the Video Editor
After opening the app, you will need to choose “Video Editor” to start editing your video.
3. Upload Your Video
The next step in the process is to upload the video you want to rotate. Select “New Video Project” to begin the process.
Select “Add” and you will now be able to upload your video according to its location. After uploading your video, you will see your editing features appear. You will be presented with a dashboard with a library of features to edit your video (below).
4. Rotate Your Video
Now you can use the “Rotate” icon to turn your video. It appears with the spinning arrow, and every click turns the video a notich in one direction. Continue until you get the position you want.
5. Validate and Save
When you are satisfied with the position of the video, all that remains is for you to save it. You can do this by selecting the “Finish your video” button in the top right-hand corner of the tool. Next, you will need to choose the resolution for the quality you want for your video, and then export it to the location of your choice.
Cropping Video on VLC Media Player
VLC is basically a video player that also offers basic functionality for video editing, including video cropping. Using VLC for cropping videos involves several steps and may seem a bit complicated. So, you need to carefully take the following steps to do it seamlessly.
1. Play the Target Video on VLC
Playing the video on VLC will allow you to bring the video into the tool. You can start the editing process from there.
2. Go Tools and Preferences
Start by selecting “Tools” in the viewer’s dashboard as the video plays. Next, choose “Preferences” from the dropdown.
3. Set the Preferences for Cropping
Set “Show settings” for “All” — it is set to “Simple” by default.
4. Crop the Video
Under “Advanced Preferences” select “Video” and expand the “Filters” option, then choose “Croppadd” to open the Video cropping filters.
Now, you can enter the specific pixels to crop from top/bottom/left/right as you like. Here is an example:
5. Validate and Save
The validation process is similar to the process you use to start cropping the video. Select “Video” and under “Filters” check the box for “Video cropping filter” and then “Save” to save the crop.
Cropping and Rotating Video FAQ
Can You Crop Video Using an iPhone?
Yes, it is possible and you can do it from the Photos application on your iPhone. You will need to locate the video in the Photos app, open it and select “Edit” in the top right corner. You can then choose the crop icon. This feature will give you the ability to crop your video and rotate it as you see fit.
Can You Crop and Rotate Video Using an Android?
The Google Photos app allows you to edit photos and videos. To edit your videos, play the video and tap the screen while the video is playing to bring up more options. Select the edit button in the bottom middle. Then choose “Crop” to crop the video. Rotate it by choosing the “Rotate” button.
Can I Export Vertical Videos From iMovie?
To date, iMovie does not have an option to export vertical videos from the application. However, there is a workaround. You can edit vertical videos using the iMovie application in combination with the Photos application on your iPhone.
Is There a Windows 10 Built-In App to Crop My Video?
No. There is still no built-in video editor with a cropping feature on any Windows 10 computer. But there is a workaround. You can install free software, such as VLC, Windows Movie Maker, etc., to get your cropping task started.
Do I Need Adobe Premiere Pro to Crop and Rotate My Videos?
That’s a big no. Even if you don’t have a video editing tool, you can still rotate and crop your videos using the built-in video program on your computer like iMovie, VLC, or Photo.
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