How to Burn/Export/Convert iMovie to DVD with or without iDVD

Overview

iMovie 10 is considered to be easy to read, fun to edit, and simple to share since its release. iMovie 10 is free bundled with all new purchased Macs with Mavericks system. However, iMovie 10 isn’t perfect, at least for those who ever tried to burn iMovie project to DVD. In earlier version iMovie (iMovie ’11/’09/’08 and other earlier iMovie), users can share iMovie project to iDVD, then use iDVD to burn DVDs. However, Apple discontinued iDVD which doesn’t come with every Mac since Lion. Apple even no longer supports iDVD and in iMovie 10, all references to iDVD to burning DVDs are removed. So various problems occurs when trying to burn iMovie 10 to DVD. It becomes much difficulty to export, convert and burn iMovie 10 to DVD.

This article introduces a step-by-step guide on how to burn iMovie 10 to DVD with or without iDVD in Mac Monterey, Big Sur, macOS Catalina, Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, OS X 10.11 EL Capitan, OS X 10.10 Yosemite, OS X 10.9 Mavericks and OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and how you can solve problems encountered during the exporting and burning process. Burning iMovie to DVD is that easy by following the guides in this article.

Part 1: How to Burn iMovie 10 to DVD with iDVD

If you’ve purchased iDVD and it still installs on your Mac, you can follow the guide in this part to burn iMovie to DVD. If you don’t have iDVD, TechiSky recommends you refer to How to Burn iMovie 10 to DVD without iDVD, as there is almost no way to purchase iDVD, even you can purchase iDVD on some place, Apple makes it quite difficulty to install on Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, EL Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion.

    1. Create a project in iMovie 10.
    2. First highlight the project in the iMovie Library. Then go to File > Share > File. And for Size choose 480p and click Next.
      *As DVD is standard definition(SD) not HD. 480p is the correct resolution for standard DVDs. If you share a larger resolution it is a waste because it will be encoded as SD.
      *If you cannot see “Share” button in iMovie or you can see “Share” button but nothing happens when clicking “Share” button, make sure your uninstall MacKeeper which will disable all the sharing functions of iMovie. Then reinstall iMovie 10.
      *If you do not have MacKeeper installed but “Share” button still does not work, try to delete iMovie 10 and install it again.

Share lists in iMovie 10

  1. Choose a location on the hard drive to save the file to.
    For easy to locate your movie file next time, you can set file to end up on your desk top
  2. Wait for the blue circle activity indicator to finish.
    It will take minutes to finish if your file is small. However, it will take hours if your files is large. So wait in patience until the indicator disappears which means the share operation has finished. During the process you can click the activity indicator to see details.
  3. In Finder, verify that iMovie created an MP4 file in the location specified in step 3.
    If the file does not appear in the designated folder you created in finder then close iMovie. Open iMovie and do the share again.
  4. Open iDVD and click “Create New Project.”
  5. Give the project a name and save it to your hard drive.
  6. Drag the file you created earlier from the Finder into your iDVD project window.
    Or go to File > Import > Video and choose your video there.
  7. Make any adjustments to drop zones, etc.
  8. Click the Burn button.
  9. Insert a DVD and let it burn.

Part 2: How to Burn iMovie 10 to DVD without iDVD

As a new owner of Mac Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, 10.13 High Sierra, macOS Sierra 10.12, OS X EL Capitan 10.11, OS X Yosemite 10.10, OS X 10.9 Mavericks or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, you will soon realize that iDVD is no longer offered or bundled as part of the iLife package. In this situation, you can still burn iMovie 10 to DVD by the help of third party DVD burning software – Wondershare DVD Creator for Mac.

Wondershare DVD Creator for Mac can easily burn iMovie video to DVD disc, DVD folder and ISO files in high quality with massive beautifully designed DVD menu templates. The iMovie 10 to DVD burner can convert videos to DVDs from popular videos like AVI, MPG, MPEG, MP4, WMV, MOV, MKV, FLV, etc. with free yet gorgeous DVD menus. Besides, this iMovie to DVD creator lets you create slideshows and edit videos using tools like trim, crop, rotate, watermarks, etc.

The following is the Step-by-Step Guide on how to Burn iMovie 10 to DVD with the iMovie to DVD Burner

Step 1: Export iMovie to File

Follow the steps 1 to 5 in Part 1 to export iMovie to MP4

Step 2: Download and install iMovie to DVD Creator

Download DVD Creator for Mac. Install and and launch it.

The DVD Creator trial version will add a watermark to the output DVD with no functional difference from the full version. You can pay for registration code from the buy link built in the program.

Step 3: Load your iMovie video to the DVD Creator for Mac

In the iMovie to DVD burner, click “Create a New Project” to enter into the program’s interface. After that, simply drag your iMovie videos directly into the program window, or slide out Media Browse to load any video created with iMovie in one click.

Load video to iMovie 10 to DVD burner

Step 4: Customize a DVD menu (optional)

Click “Menu” on the bottom of the program window, and then pick up your favorite template to customize it. And you can freely adjust buttons, frames, titles, and thumbnails as you want.

Customize DVD Menu in iMovie 10 to DVD burner

Step 5: Start burning iMovie 10 project to DVD

Hit on the the “Burn” icon to access the “Burn” window. Insert a black DVD-R D5 or D9 as per your content capacity, and set the TV standard like NTSC or PAL. At last, click “Save” to start burning.

Start burning iMovie 10 to DVD

Related Articles

How to Export iMovie to MP3, WMA, FLAC, etc?


19 comments on “How to Burn/Export/Convert iMovie to DVD with or without iDVD

  1. Jen Eggleston says:

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been working on a DVD project for the last 48 hours (almost straight) and ready to throw my computer because I couldn’t burn from iMovie 10. Even the Apple forums couldn’t help. I appreciate this article. Your instructions worked perfect!

  2. Emma says:

    Agree with Jen! Thank you for great instructions! 🙂

  3. Val says:

    Same as that Jen….thank you Techisky….BRILLIANT and VERY helpful

  4. Anja says:

    Thank you -it was very helpful an understandable!!

  5. Australia says:

    Thank you so much!!!!! You are a lifesaver! I agree with Jen Eggleston – the Apple forums were hopeless!

  6. Floribel says:

    thank you soooo much for this tutorial! Saved my life!!!! 🙂

  7. Jenn says:

    I’m with the other Jen – THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve been working for weeks(!) on a 50th Anniversary video for my parents (which, of course, is this weekend) and was ready to pull my hair out over not being able to figure out how to burn a dvd anymore! (3 minutes left to the burning, as I type this) You and your wonderfully easy-to-follow article have taken me from near-tears to joy! Thank you, thank you!

  8. Sam says:

    Great very helpful. Thanks!

  9. Rebecca says:

    You are AMAZING and very very easy to understand. Thank you for saving me! We need more techies like you in the world!!!

  10. Leah says:

    Amazing quality
    but
    what is with the high copyright text going right across the video? Ruins the quality and has disappointed me hugely

    • admin says:

      Hello Leah. Thanks for your comments. There is note in the article “The DVD Creator trial version will add a watermark to the output DVD with no functional difference from the full version. You can pay for registration code from the buy link built in the program to remove the copyright watermark.”

  11. cornell says:

    Thank you love i bought the full version works like a champ. I’m still trying to figure out to add music to the DVD title.

  12. applelover says:

    Thanks so much I was trying to figure out how to make a video for my husband who is away at sea, this was perfect!!!!

  13. Anonymous says:

    It worked, thank so much

  14. Peanut says:

    Thank you just does not cut it. You saved me from going nuts. Simple instructions from start to finish. Great for those of us who may not be exactly Geek Savy. You’re the best!

  15. Lisa says:

    Will the DVD play on a DVD player to watch on my tv?

    • admin says:

      Hello Lisa. Thanks for your comments. Sure, it can be played on a DVD player to watch on a TV. Let me know if you have anything.

  16. Scott says:

    Thanks so much. I had completed a tribute to my father but could not export it to DVD. With the advice from here I was able to complete the DVD with no watermark (bought Wondershare straight away).

  17. Tom says:

    TechiSky- Thank you, gracias, merci beaucoup. Much gratitude for your HOW TO and the great directions. I doubted that this old guy could follow them to a successful result to get my much labored over 50th Reunion iMovie to DVD, but the result is great. Thanks soooooo much.

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