Expect a wealth of keyboard shortcuts at your disposal, with J for reverse, K for stop, L for forward, and Spacebar for playback control. For power users, the Keyboard Customization panel offers extensive customization options, including the ability to configure the program to use Final Cut or Premiere Pro shortcuts. An excellent feature in the Fusion page is the ability to press Shift-Spacebar, which summons a searchable list of all available tools for your project.
Much like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve embraces multiuser collaboration workflows, enabling editors, colorists, and sound professionals to collaborate seamlessly on the same timeline, even simultaneously. The use of proxy media enhances efficiency in these scenarios, and DaVinci Resolve integrates smoothly with Frame.io, an online collaborative video editing platform that streamlines project synchronization.
Editing a video on DaVinci Resolve – Basic Editing, Effects, Transitions, and more
When you dive into the world of video editing using DaVinci Resolve, you’ll encounter a versatile array of tools and features, starting with the process of adding clips to your timeline in Cut mode. Here, you have a range of options at your fingertips: Smart Insert, Append, Ripple Overwrite, Close Up, Place on Top, and Source Overwrite (the latter requiring synced time codes in the clips). As expected in professional video editing, you can trim source clips before integrating them into your timeline.
In the midst of working on your video project, the preview window smartly divides into two, revealing the commencement and conclusion frames along with a compact timeline that clearly denotes frame numbers. Furthermore, you have the capability to set in and out markers on the timeline, allowing you to precisely specify where a clip from your source should be incorporated into your video project.
DaVinci Resolve also provides robust support for three- and four-point editing, permitting you to establish in and out points both in the source and on the timeline. This level of control empowers you to fine-tune the positioning of clips within your video project with precision.
DaVinci Resolve intelligently selects the appropriate editing tool based on your cursor’s position, whether it’s a roll edit, transition duration adjustment, or slip-and-slide operation. However, you always have the option to manually choose your preferred editing mode.
In the realm of transitions, professional video editors often steer clear of canned transitions commonly found in consumer-grade software. Instead, they opt for custom transitions to achieve a distinct look and feel. DaVinci Resolve provides access to transitions in either the Cut or Edit page, with a dedicated button on the former and a toolbox within the Effects section on the latter.
What sets DaVinci Resolve apart is its exceptional transition interface. It presents transitions as simple monochrome shapes in the list, but when you hover over an entry, your own timeline clips illustrate how the transition will appear in the viewer when applied. This visual representation adds a level of clarity and convenience. Additionally, the Fusion Transitions section introduces captivating transitions like Camera Shake, Drop Warp, and Tunnel of Light.
The process of applying transitions varies, with some being draggable directly onto the timeline. For transitions that require more clip content, the program offers the option to automatically overlap clips when you select ‘Add to Selected Edit Points and Clips’ from the context menu. Furthermore, any effects you apply come under scrutiny in the Inspector panel, accessible from the top-right button. Here, you can control effects using keyframes, smoothly animating parameters from the start keyframe to the end.
DaVinci Resolve’s Fusion Studio editor employs a unique node-based workflow that may seem unfamiliar to the average enthusiast-level video editor. This approach resembles an input/output system, where you add effects and media along a flowchart and connect one node’s output to another node to its right. This intricate system allows for the reuse of effect groups and precise control over selected image areas.
In the realm of motion tracking, DaVinci Resolve excels, even supporting multiple tracks. This involves creating nodes in Fusion, and it’s worth noting that this process is more intricate compared to consumer software like Corel VideoStudio. The program offers multiple tracker tools, including Camera, Planar, and Point trackers. The last two take 3D space into account, tracking objects across three axes. A new capability even allows for tracking surfaces as they warp.
For those looking to adapt their video for different platforms, DaVinci Resolve introduces ‘Smart Reframe,’ akin to tools recently seen in Adobe Premiere Pro and Apple Final Cut. This feature transforms a landscape scene into a vertical smartphone-shaped canvas, automatically maintaining the point of interest within the frame. Please note that ‘Smart Reframe’ is exclusively available in the paid Studio version of DaVinci Resolve.
Chroma keying in DaVinci Resolve might require a bit of exploration. To apply a chroma key effect, you’ll need to switch to Edit mode, even though you can access and apply effects in Cut mode and through the Inspector. Additionally, you’ll need to switch the viewer window mode to ‘Open FX Overlay view.’
Once configured, you can select the color you wish to key out by drawing a box around it. The program offers a reasonable starting point for fine-tuning, and simply checking the ‘Despill’ box can remarkably improve keying results, especially in challenging scenarios like frizzy hair.
