How to Make a Time-Lapse Movie from Photos Using Windows Movie Maker
From a blooming flower to building a house, time-lapse photography can be a great way to condense a lengthy process into a short movie.
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You Will Need
- Digital camera
- Tripod
- PC
- Card reader or USB cable
- Windows Movie Maker
- Music (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Photograph the subject
Set up your camera on the tripod and shoot pictures of your subject using either the time-lapse setting on the camera or by manually pushing the shutter button a few times per minute.
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Step 2
Upload the pictures
Upload the pictures to your computer using a USB cable or a card reader. Create a new folder unique to this project and copy your pictures to it.
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Step 3
Open Movie Maker
Click the Start menu, go to Accessories under All Programs, and click on Windows Movie Maker to open it.
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Step 4
Import pictures
Import the pictures by going to File and clicking Import Media Items. Find the folder with your pictures, select them all, and click Import.
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Step 5
Adjust transitions
Adjust the transition length between pictures by going to Tools, Options, Advanced. Set transitions to one second or less.
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Step 6
Arrange photos
Right-click on a white space between the icons in the Collection panel, go to Arrange Icons By, and click Date Taken. Select all the pictures and drag them into the timeline.
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Add music to the movie to make it more interesting by importing an audio file and dragging it to the timeline.
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Step 7
Export the movie
Export the movie by going to File and clicking Save Movie File. Follow the prompts to choose the destination, name, and quality settings for the final movie.
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The first permanent photograph was taken by Joseph Niepce in the 1820s, and took eight hours to expose.
