How to Add Mosaic/Censor Effect in iMovie? [iMovie Tutorial]

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The mosaic of video helps to replace the memory-consuming videos with still images that contain complete information with less bandwidth and small, saving time as well as size. One of the best software to create such mosaics is the iMovie platform as it consists of all easy-to-use tools. In this article, we will show you how to add a mosaic effect or the censor effect to your video footage with iMovie.

• Part 1: How to Add Mosaic (Blur Objects) in iMovie?
• Part 2: How to Add Mosaic Using iMovie Alternative for Windows and Mac?
• Part 3: FAQs About Adding Mosaic and Censor Effect in iMovie?

Part 1: How to Add Mosaic (Blur Objects) in iMovie?

We have explained how to blur faces in iMovie previously. While in this article, we will show you how to add mosaic or the censor effect with iMovie in ways.

1. Basic Mosaic Effects

If you want to add a basic mosaic effect, you can drag a black bar image onto your footage and merge it anywhere on your timeline.

As soon as you place it to the timeline and select "Picture in Picture", the black bar will start appearing on your video screen, and you can drag it anywhere as well as can resize it as per need.

This is all about the basic mosaic addition, but if you are thinking to use advanced tricks, then you have to follow the process in Section 2.

Related: How to Use Picture in Picture Effect in iMovie

2. Advanced Mosaic Effects

Another way to add a mosaic effect in iMovie is to use a low-resolution video exported from the original one through the "Export using QuickTime" option in the Share menu. In order to get a better mosaic effect, you can adjust the size of pixels in "Export Size Settings" to smaller-scale manually.

Now import this low-resolution file to iMovie and create a low-range copy of your original video. Once you drag the low pixel clip to the timeline and select “Picture in Picture”, it will start appearing on your preview window.

Crop the low pixel added movie and then place the cropped part anywhere on your project as per need. It can be applied to a movie clip of any size and resolution level without any trouble.

Related: How to Crop and Rotate Videos in iMovie

Part 2: How to Add Mosaic Effect Using iMovie Alternative for Windows and Mac?

If you are not able to use iMovie due to its complicated interface and compatibility issues, then here is one more useful software tool for you.

Wondershare Filmora can help you in the creation of beautiful mosaics within very little time due to its easy-to-use interface. The best thing to know about Wondershare Filmora is that it can support all major video file formats, and users can download the trial version of this software for free from the official website.

It is one of the best solutions for beginners and can produce beautiful results within less time. Let's check the tutorial below to find out how to add a mosaic effect in Filmora.

Related: Why Should You Use iMovie Alternative Filmora to Edit Videos?

So, if you are a Mac user, you can add a mosaic effect to your video easily with Filmora. If you want to replace the face in the video, I recommend you try the Face-off effect under Utility, which will detect the face and replace it with the presets you selected automatically. Here are the detailed steps:

Step #1. After importing your video clips to the timeline, place the playhead to the point that you want to add a mosaic effect.

Step #2. Go to the Effect tab, scroll down to the Utility category, and then drag the Mosaic effect to the track above the video.

Step #3. Adjust the duration of the mosaic effect by dragging the edge. Double-click the mosaic effect in the timeline, and then you can change the mosaic type, intensity, and opacity accordingly.

Step #4. Move the mosaic area to the desired position or adjust the frame border to adjust the size in the preview window.

That's how you can add a mosaic effect with the iMovie alternative Filmora. If you are looking for more alternatives to iMovie, then you should not miss the best iMovie alternatives for Windows and best iMovie alternatives for Mac.

Part 3: FAQs About Adding Mosaic and Censor Effect in iMovie?

Here are some frequently asked questions about adding mosaic and censor effect in iMovie for your information.

1. How to censor videos in iMovie?

iMovie doesn’t offer a simple way to blur objects or faces, and it has no movement tracking capabilities. However, you can still use this video editor to cover a face or a license plate in iMovie, although this process can get difficult if the object you are trying to cover is moving. In addition, you can use iMovie’s audio editing options to censor the strong language in your video.

2. How to add a censor bar in iMovie?

Place a monochrome black image over the video clip you would like to censor, then choose the Picture in Picture option from the Video Overlay menu. The black bar will appear in the Preview Window and you can resize and reposition it as you wish. 

3. How to beep out words in iMovie?

Even though iMovie doesn’t offer audio effects that enable you to censor strong language in a video, you can still use this video editing software to beep out words.

However, you will need an audio file that contains the beep sound in order to cover inappropriate language. Use iMovie’s cutting tool to remove the part of the audio file you want to censor and replace it with the audio file that contains the beep sound.

4. How to blur a license plate in iMovie?

The only way to blur a license plate in iMovie is to create a low resolution of the entire video clip, and then use the Picture in Picture effect to cover a license plate. However, performing this task becomes very difficult if the license plate you’re trying to cover is moving throughout the shot since you will have to change the position of the overlaying image in each frame. 

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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