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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 application called "Burn" if you want to be able to play the DVD like a regular DVD.
Steps
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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.
- You can buy a USB drive called the "Apple USB SuperDrive" from Apple for less than $90.
- 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.
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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.
- If prompted to select an action, just click Ignore .
- DVD-Rs may be difficult to find in physical store locations, but you can usually find them online.
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Open iMovie. This app's icon resembles a movie camera icon on a purple background.
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Open your project. Click File , click Open , and double-click the iMovie project that you want to export to a DVD.
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Click the "Share" button. It's in the upper-right corner of the iMovie window. A drop-down menu will appear.
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Click File . This film strip-shaped icon is in the drop-down menu.
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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.
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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 .
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Edit the quality options if necessary. You can change the following options for your video: [1] X Research source
- Resolution - 1080p is the standard for HD, but you can select a different resolution to cut down on your file's size.
- Quality - High should be sufficient for most places, but clicking the current quality option will prompt a drop-down menu with different quality options.
- Compress - Better Quality should be selected here, but you can select Faster if you're in a hurry to export.
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Click Next… . It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so opens the save location window.
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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.
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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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Select your movie's file. Click the file that you want to burn onto a DVD to do so.
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Copy the file. Press ⌘ Command + C , or click Edit and then Copy , to do this.
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Select your DVD. In the lower-left side of the Finder window, click your DVD's icon. This will open its folder.
- You can also double-click the DVD's disc icon on the desktop to do this.
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Paste in your movie file. Press ⌘ Command + V or click Edit and then Paste . The movie should appear in the DVD's window.
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Click File . It's a menu item in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
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Click Burn [name] to Disc… . You'll find this option in the File drop-down menu. [2] X Research source
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Enter a name for the DVD. In the "Disc Name" text field, type in the name that you want to use for your DVD.
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Select a burn speed. Click the "Burn Speed" drop-down box, then click the option that you prefer in the drop-down menu.
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Click Burn . It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. The video will begin burning onto the DVD.
- Once the burn is complete, you'll hear a chime, and the DVD's icon will disappear from the desktop.
![Step 6 Click Burn [name] to Disc….](#/Image:Export-iMovie-Project-to-DVD-Step-18.jpg)
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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:
- Open the Burn ZIP folder by double-clicking it.
- Click and drag the Burn app icon into the Applications folder.
- Double-click the Burn app icon.
- Verify the download .
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Open Burn. Double-click the Burn app icon in the Applications folder to do so. The Burn window will open.
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Click the Video tab. It's at the top of the Burn app window.
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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] X Research source
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Click + . This icon is in the lower-left corner of the Burn window. A Finder window will open.
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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.
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Click Open . It's in the bottom-right corner of the Finder window. Doing so copies the video into the Burn window.
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Click the file type drop-down box. This option is in the upper-right side of the Burn window.
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Click DVD-Video . It's in the drop-down menu.
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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.
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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.
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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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Community Q&A
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QuestionMy exported iMovie project won't play in either of the DVD players I have. What could cause this problem?Community AnswerThe problem could be the type of disc you purchased, or you may have exported as a data DVD or missed a step.
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QuestionHow do I export a movie if the size is 10GB?Community AnswerMost standard blank DVDs have a capacity of 4.7 GB. You may be able to purchase one with higher storage. The easier option would be to export the movie using a lower resolution, which would shrink the overall size. These options would be in the File->Share option in iMovie. Try using the lowest resolution for a mobile device. You can also try third-party apps to compress movie files. If you have a compilation of video clips, you could also try compressing each of the clips separately and then reloading them in iMovie.
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QuestionWhat do I do if my Mac keeps spitting the disc out when I insert a DVD?Community AnswerThis may be because your disk already has content on it. Try a different empty/blank disk.
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Tips
- There are several paid DVD converting and burning options for Mac.Thanks
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Warnings
- Most DVD players and computers won't recognize MP4 files as playable files.Thanks
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References
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Insert a blank DVD-R.
2. Open your project in iMovie.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click File
and enter a name.
5. Save the file in the desired quality.
6. Navigate to the movie file in Finder.
7. Drag the movie to your DVD drive.
8. Choose your settings and click Burn
.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 422,682 times.
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