Windows Movie Maker: Pixelating the Image

Pixilation is one of the new classics when it comes to releasing yourself from a video clip. This is often a way of indicating that you are leaving a clip or that you are coming out of a sequence. The effect is applied when you are trying to convey the artificially or technological aspects of the events while at the same time openly acknowledging that this is a film.

This effect has its own application unique to the non-linear video editing software that is using it. Each program employs this effect or transition in its own way, adding a special amount of control or preset decisions about how it will come up on the selected video segment. Windows Movie Maker has its own settings and rules for use on a video clip.

When you find a clip that you want to add pixilation t,o you need to first drag it into a sequence through either the Timeline or Storyboard. Timeline is going to be easier if you are editing clips while adding these effects. But, if you just want to add single effects to your Windows Movie Maker clips, then the Storyboard is going to be a great choice. Right click on the clip, and go down to Video Effects. This will bring up the dual columned video effect menu with the effects available on the left hand side, and the ones on the clip are listed on the right.

Find Pixelate from the left hand column, and press the Add button in the middle to bring it to the other side. Now, you can just press OK in the lower right hand corner, and it will be applied to the clip. You can also add Pixelate to your clip in another way. Go to the Movie Tasks side bar, and select “View video effects” from under the Edit Movie banner. This will put a whole host of effects available in the Collections window, where you can select them individually and get a preview of them. Just select Pixelate, and drag and drop it onto the clip you want to alter.

Windows Movie Maker applies Pixelate to the clip as one continuous change. It goes from the normal image position of the clip to one that is so pixilated that you can barely recognize it. There is no way to alter or customize it.