iMovie is a simple video editor that comes standard on many Macs. It can also be downloaded in the Apple App Store for free.
For basic and most up-to-date exporting instructions for iMovie, see Apple's user guide. Keep our compression guidelines in mind when exporting, but we generally recommend the settings below:
- Highlight your final sequence. Go to File > Share > File... then select the following options:
- Title
Enter the title for your video. - Description
If desired, enter a description for your video.
⚠️ This description will not appear on Vimeo.
- Tags
If desired, enter some tags for your video.
⚠️ These tags will not appear on Vimeo.
- Format
Video and Audio - Resolution
Choose the highest available for best quality. - Quality*
-
*These bitrates are suggested for average video files. If your video contains below average visual complexity (such as a slideshow presentation or talking head interview), choose a lower data rate. If your video contains above average visual complexity (such as a video with high levels of grain or a sporting event), choose a higher video bitrate.
If you’re having trouble with video quality, try switching to the highest bit rate value for your video’s resolution, or setting the quality to “Best (ProRes)” instead.
Remember: Lower data rates lead to smaller file sizes and faster uploads! Experiment to pick the lowest data rate that yields an acceptable image quality.
Custom
Then, choose the average bitrate appropriate to your video file using the slider:
SD: 2-5 mbps
720p: 5-10 mbps
1080p: 10-20 mbps
2K: 20-30 mbps
4K: 30-60 mbps
5K or higher: 50- 80 mbps- Compress
Better Quality - Add to Theater
Unchecked.
- Click Next... Name your file next to "Save As" and select a destination location for the exported file on your computer. Pick somewhere that you will remember — for example, your Desktop.
- Click Save, then the export will begin. You can track its progress in iMovie.
- Once the export is complete, a notification will appear indicating that your share was successful. View the exported compressed file to test before uploading to Vimeo.