How Do You Shrink a Quicktime Video?

Although QuickTime videos are most commonly associated with QuickTime Player, you do not usually need QuickTime Player and the Pro Component to shrink your videos. The standard .mov file extension is recognized by many applications, including HandBrake and MPEG Streamclip; both available for free download. (However, there are no conversion programs that come standard with Windows or Mac computers.) Re-sizing the dimensions of your QuickTime video simply requires a program that supports and allows .mov conversions. If you do decide to convert to a different file format, note that this may result in some loss of audio/visual quality.

Things You'll Need

• HandBrake
• MPEG Streamclip
• QuickTime Player and Pro Component ($29.99)

Instructions

HandBrake

1. Launch HandBrake after download and installation finish. Open your QuickTime video by clicking the "Source" icon to locate your movie in the pop-up window.

2. Click the "Presets" or "Toggle Presets" button and choose a QuickTime setting under the "Apple" options.

3. Click "Picture Settings" to re-size your video; you may also choose to crop your video or set it to anamorphic settings. Select the "Browse..." button to choose your file's output destination and click "Start" to begin the conversion.

MPEG Streamclip

1. Open your file in MPEG Streamclip after download and installation either by dragging the actual video file into the empty box, or by clicking "File" and selecting "Open File..."

2. Choose the "Export to QuickTime..." option under "File" and set your compression codec and a frame size.

3. Select "Upper Field First" as your field dominance and click "Make Movie" to begin the re-sizing process.

QuickTime Pro

1. Download QuickTime Player (free) and the Pro Component ($29.99) from Apple and agree to the licensing terms. Open your QuickTime video in its own player window.

2. Click "File" and "Export..." to bring up your export options menu and select "Movie to QuickTime Movie. You may choose to re-size your video by clicking "Options..."

3. Rename your file, if desired, choose an output destination, and click "Save" to begin the conversion.

Tips & Warnings

• If shrinking a video for a portable media player, consult your manual for the correct picture size. For example, you don't want your video to be a larger size than your player supports.

• For uploading to the Web, try an H264 encoding option with your QuickTime video. This allows for a smaller file size with better streaming quality.

• Depending on the size of your QuickTime video, please allow several minutes to several hours for re-sizing to complete.

References

• moviesmac.com: How to Use HandBrake
• support.vio-pov.com: How to Use MPEG Streamclip
• apple.com: QuickTime Pro Manual (PDF)

Resources

• Download HandBrake
• Download MPEG Streamclip
• Download QuickTime Player and QuickTime Pro