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Reference Manual
March 2017
DaVinci
Resolve
12.5
Welcome
Welcome to DaVinci Resolve 12.5 for Mac, Linux and Windows!
DaVinci is the world’s most trusted name in color and has been used to grade more Hollywood
films, TV shows, and commercials than anything else. Now, with DaVinci Resolve 12.5,
you get a complete set of professional editing and advanced color correction tools combined in
one application so you can edit and grade from start to finish, all in a single tool!
DaVinci Resolve 12.5 has the features professional editors and colorists need, and is built
on completely modern technology with advanced color and image processing that goes far
beyond what any other system can do. With this release, we hope to inspire creativity by letting
you work in a comfortable, familiar way while also giving you an entirely new creative toolset
that will help you cut and finish projects at higher quality than ever before!
We hope you enjoy reading this manual. With its customizable interface and keyboard
shortcuts, DaVinci Resolve 12.5 is easy to learn, especially if you’re switching from another
editor, and has all of the tools you need to create breathtaking, high end work!
The DaVinci Resolve Engineering Team
Grant Petty
CEO Blackmagic Design
3Contents
Contents
1 Introduction to Resolve 20
Getting Started 23
Switching Among Pages 27
The Media Page 27
The Edit Page 31
Edit and Color Page Effects andFusionConnect 35
The Color Page 36
The Deliver Page 40
User Interface Conventions in Resolve 43
2 Logging In and The Project Manager 51
Single-User versus Multi-User Installations 53
Logging In and Creating New Users 53
Using the Project Manager 56
User Pop-Up Menu 58
Saving Projects 62
Dynamic Project Switching 63
Archiving and Restoring Projects 64
3 Project Settings and Preferences 66
Opening and Editing Project Settings 69
Presets 70
Master Project Settings 71
Image Scaling 76
Editing 78
Color 79
Camera Raw 82
Color Management 82
4Contents
Versions 88
Audio 89
General Options 90
Capture and Playback 92
Control Panel 94
Auto Save 95
Keyboard Mapping 96
Metadata 96
DaVinci Resolve Preferences 97
4 Camera Raw Settings 101
Camera Raw Decoding Explained 103
Using ARRI ALEXA files 105
Using RED files 107
Using Sony Raw Files 112
Using CinemaDNG files 114
Using Phantom Cine Files 117
5 Improving Performance, Proxies, and the Render Cache 119
Understanding the GPU Status Display 121
Prioritizing Audio or Video PlaybackintheEditPage 121
Using Proxies to Improve Performance 122
Reducing Decode Quality to ImproveRawPerformance 122
Using Optimized Media to ImproveOverallPerformance 123
Using the Smart Cache to ImproveEffectsPerformance 126
Other Project Settings for ImprovingPerformance 131
5Contents
6 Data Levels, Color Management, ACES, and HDR 132
Data Levels Settings and Conversions 134
DaVinci Resolve Color Management 137
Color Management Using ACES 142
High Dynamic Range (HDR) GradinginResolve 145
7 Using the Media Page 161
Understanding the Media PageUserInterface 163
Viewer 167
Media Pool 168
Metadata Editor 171
Audio Panel 172
Dual Monitor Layout 173
Customizing the Media Page 174
8 Adding and Organizing Media 175
Copying Media Using the Clone Tool 177
Adding Media to the Media Pool 178
Adding Media in the Edit Page 182
Removing Media From the Media Pool 182
Adding and Removing External Mattes 182
Adding Offline Reference Movies 184
Extracting Audio 185
Organizing the Media Pool 185
Creating and Using Smart Bins 190
Finding Clips and Timelines intheMediaPool 193
6Contents
9 Working With Media 194
Renaming Clips Using Display Names 196
Editing Clip Metadata 198
Importing and Exporting MediaPoolMetadata 201
Syncing Audio 203
Changing Clip Attributes 206
Relinking Media Simply 212
Locating Media Files in the MediaStorageBrowser and Finder 213
Update Timecode from Audio – LTC 213
Changing Clip Thumbnails intheMediaPool 214
Creating Subclips 214
Organizing Stereo 3D Media 214
Camera Raw Decoding 215
10 Using Scene Detection 216
Using Scene Detection 218
The Scene Detect Window Interface 218
An Example Scene Detect Workflow 223
11 Ingesting From Tape 225
Tape Ingest 227
The Tape Capture Interface 227
Setting Up to Capture From Tape 228
The Three Methods of Capture 230
Batch Capture Via EDL 232
7Contents
12 Capturing From the Cintel Film Scanner 234
Controlling the Cintel Film Scanner 236
The Cintel Scanner Interface 237
Cintel Media Page Settings 239
Film Scanning Workflows 243
Grading and Sizing Scanned Media 251
13 Using the Edit Page 253
The Edit Page User Interface 255
The Interface Toolbar 255
The Media Pool 256
More About Timelines 257
Effects Library Browsing 260
Edit Index 262
Source and Timeline Viewers 265
Metadata Editor 270
Inspector 271
Timeline 271
Toolbar 275
Navigating the Edit Page Using the Keyboard 276
Dual Monitor Layout 277
Customizing the Edit page 278
Undo and Redo in the Edit Page 278
14 Editing Fundamentals 279
Creating and Duplicating Timelines 282
Selecting Clips in the Media Pool to Edit 284
Transport Controls and TimelineNavigation 286
Setting In and Out Points 290
8Contents
Working With the Timeline 292
Assembling Clips in the Timeline 295
Source/Record Editing 297
Three-Point Editing 301
Different Types of Edits 309
Subclips 319
15 Working in the Timeline 320
Match Frame Operations 322
Selecting Clips in the Timeline 324
Deleting Clips From the Timeline 329
Selecting Edits in the Timeline 331
Linking and Syncing Audio and Video 333
Locking Tracks 336
Moving, Resizing, and Rolling Clips inSelectionMode 337
Shuffle or Swap Edits and Inserts 341
Splitting and Joining Clips 343
Copying and Pasting Clips in the Timeline 344
Duplicating Clips and Transitions intheTimeline 346
Flagging and Marking Clips for Reference 346
Color Coding Clips in the Timeline 352
Enabling and Disabling Clips and Tracks 353
Finding Clips, Timelines, Media, Markers,andGaps 354
16 Multicam Editing, Take Selectors,
CompoundClips,andNestedTimelines
355
Multicam Editing 357
Take Selectors 365
Compound Clips 367
Nested Timelines 369
9Contents
17 Trimming 372
Using Trim Mode and the Trim Tool 374
Summarizing Trim Operations 374
Trim Tool Operations With the Keyboard 379
Trimming Without the Heads Up Display 382
Trimming Using Timecode Entry 382
Trimming Clips in the Source Viewer 383
Ripple Editing Rules 384
Commands to Start Trimming Quickly 386
Trimming Multiple Edits or Clips at Once 387
Keyboard Trimming DuringLoopedPlayback 392
Dynamic Trimming 393
Trim Start and Trim End 395
Extend Edits 397
18 Using Transitions 399
Working With Transitions 401
Adding and Editing Transitions 401
Adding Transitions When There’s Not EnoughHandles 402
Transition Properties in the Inspector 403
Using Transition Curves 404
DaVinci Resolve Transitions 405
OpenFX Transitions 409
Organizing Transitions 409
Changing the Standard Transition 410
10Contents
19 Edit Page Effects 411
Using the Inspector 414
Adding Titles 416
Using Generators 421
Using Stills 421
Composite Modes and TransparencyEffects 422
Keying, External Mattes, andWindowCompositing 428
Transform, Cropping, and Lens Correction 428
Speed Effects and Retiming 432
Keyframing Effects in the Edit Page 441
Paste Attributes 450
Fusion Connect 451
20 Working With Audio 458
Compatible Audio Formats 460
Assigning Audio Channels intheMediaPool 460
Editing Audio Into the Timeline 463
Editing Audio In the Timeline UsingInandOutPoints 468
Setting Clip Levels and Pan 470
Keyframing Audio 472
Audio Fade Handles 475
Audio Crossfades 475
Audio Meters 476
The Audio Mixer 477
Automation Recording 479
Using Audio Filters 482
Pro Tools Export 484
11Contents
21 Media Management 485
What is Media Management in Resolve? 487
File Formats Compatible With MediaManagement 487
Using Media Management 488
Options in the Media ManagementWindow 491
File Naming When Consolidating DuringMediaManagement 493
22 Importing Projects and Relinking Media 494
Preparing to Move Your ProjecttoResolve 497
How DaVinci Resolve Conforms Clips 504
Creating Digital Dailies ForRound Trip Workflows 511
Conforming XML and AAF Files 517
Conforming AAF Files 521
Conforming EDL Files 530
Verifying Imported Projects With OfflineReference Clips 535
Manually Conforming and RelinkingMedia 538
23 Introduction to Color Grading 548
The Goals of Color Correction 550
Maximizing the Look of Your Media 550
Emphasizing What’s Important 553
Audience Expectations 554
Balancing Scenes 555
Adding Style 557
Quality Control 560
Never Stop Experimenting 561
12Contents
24 Using the Color Page 562
The Color Page Interface 565
Customizing the Color Page 571
Using the Viewer 571
Monitor Calibration 579
Viewing Broadcast Safe Exceptions 581
Comparing Clips in the Viewer 581
Using Video Scopes 586
Navigating Using the Color Page Timeline 590
Sorting and Filtering Clips in the Timeline 593
Using the Lightbox 600
The Info Palette and Clip Information 602
Undo and Redo 604
25 Color Page Basics 605
Color Controls Covered in This Chapter 607
Camera Raw 607
Color Match Palette 611
Color Wheels Palette 616
RGB Mixer Palette 631
Automated Grading Commands 634
Using CDL Grades and ARRI Looks 638
26 Curves 639
Introduction to Using Curves 641
Custom Curves 643
Soft Clip 650
The HSL Curves 654
13Contents
27 Secondary Grading Controls 662
Secondary Qualifiers 665
Basic Qualification Using the 3D Keyer 669
Basic Qualification Using the HSL Keyer 672
HSL Qualifier Presets 675
Using Highlight to See What You’re Isolating 676
Qualifier Parameters 677
Matte Finesse Controls 682
The Many Ways to Invert a Key 685
Combining Qualifiers and Windows 685
Manipulating Keys Using Additional Nodes 686
Power Windows 687
The Window Palette Interface 689
Drawing a PowerCurve 694
Combining Power Windows WiththeMaskControl 697
Copying and Pasting Windows 699
Saving Window Presets 699
Using Windows and Qualifiers Together 700
Manipulating Windows Using aControlPanel 701
Motion Tracking Windows 702
Tracker Palette Controls in More Detail 705
Cloud Tracker Workflows 710
Point Tracker Workflows 716
Rotoscoping Window ShapesAfterTracking 721
28 The Gallery and Grade Management 727
Using the Gallery 730
The Gallery Window 737
Importing and Exporting Stills 738
14Contents
Using and Organizing Memories 739
Using Versions to Manage Grades 740
Copying Grades 751
Copying Individual Nodes and Settings 757
Rippling Adjustments Among Multiple Clips 757
Appending A Node to Multiple Clips 759
Scroll Copy Grades Using the DaVinciControlPanel 759
Rippling Changes Using the DaVinciControlPanel 760
Using Groups 763
Exporting Grades and LUTs 769
29 Color Page Effects 771
Motion Effects Palette 773
OpenFX 780
The Blur Palette 791
Transforms and the Sizing Palette 795
Image Stabilization in the Tracker Palette 805
Data Burn 813
Dust Removal 817
Black Sun Highlight Correction 819
30 Working in the Node Editor 820
Node Editor Basics 823
Grading Order of Operations 834
Copying Nodes and Node Settings 835
Serial, Parallel, and Layer Node Tree Structures 836
Applying a LUT Within a Node 843
Using Compound Nodes 844
RED HDRx Input Support 845
15Contents
Clip vs. Timeline Grading 849
Manipulating and Combining Keys 850
Using External Mattes 856
Using the Key Mixer 863
Using the Key Palette 867
Isolating, Splitting, and Converting Color Channels 871
Putting Nodes into HDR Mode 875
Compositing Using the Alpha Output 875
31 Keyframing in the Color Page 883
Introduction to Keyframing 885
The Keyframe Editor Interface 886
All/Color/Sizing 887
Keyframing Methods 888
Using Specific Keyframing Tracks 891
Automatic Keyframing 893
Modifying Keyframes 893
Copying Keyframes 896
Keyframes and Saved Stills 897
Adding EDL Marks 897
32 Copying Grades Between Timelines Using ColorTrace 898
Copying Grades Using ColorTrace 900
Using ColorTrace in Automatic Mode 902
Using ColorTrace in Manual Mode 905
Importing CDL Data Using ColorTrace 907
16Contents
33 Using the Deliver Page 909
The Deliver Page 911
The Interface Toolbar 911
Rendering Files vs. Outputting to Tape 912
The Render Settings 912
The Deliver Page Timeline 913
The Viewer 914
The Render Queue 915
34 Delivery Effects Processing 916
Delivery Effects Processing 918
35 Rendering Media 922
Using Presets for Fast Rendering 924
Choosing a Location To Render 926
Single Clip vs. Individual Clips 926
All Other Render Settings for Output 927
Additional Outputs 934
How to Avoid Overwriting Clips When RenderingOutput Media 935
Defining a Range of Clips and Versionsto Render 935
Using the Render Queue 937
Rendering Jobs from Multiple Projects at Once 939
Remote Rendering 940
36 Delivering Using EasyDCP 942
Licensing EasyDCP 944
EasyDCP Color Management 945
EasyDCP Output in the Deliver Page 945
KDM Generation and Management 947
Publishing Your Encrypted Digital Cinema Package 947
17Contents
37 Delivering to Tape 948
The Tape Output Interface 950
Setting Up for Tape Output 952
Edit to Tape Queue Option Menu Settings 954
Tape Output Procedures 955
38 Exporting Timelines to Other Applications 957
Exporting to AAF/XML 959
More About Exporting to AAF 960
Exporting an EDL 960
Exporting a Missing Clips EDL 961
Exporting Timeline Markers to EDL 961
Exporting to CDL 961
Exporting the Edit Index as a CSV or TXT File 962
Exporting to ALE 963
Exporting to ALE with CDL 965
Exporting Timeline Markers to EDL 966
Exporting and Importing Media Pool Metadata 966
39 Resolve Live 968
More About Resolve Live 970
Configuring Your System for Resolve Live 970
Grading Live 971
Using Resolve Live Grades Later 973
Using LUTs in Resolve Live Workflows 974
18Contents
40 Stereoscopic Workflows 975
Stereoscopic Workflows 977
Hardware Requirements for Working in Stereo 3D 977
Supported Stereo 3D Media 978
Creating Stereo 3D Clips 979
Converting Clips Between Stereo and Mono 981
Attaching Mattes to Stereo 3D Clips 982
Organizing and Grading Stereo 3D Dailies 982
Conforming Projects to Stereo 3D Media 984
Adjusting Clips Using the Stereo 3D Palette 985
Outputting Stereo 3D Media in the Deliver Page 995
41 Managing Databases and Database Servers 996
Using Databases 998
Switching to a PostgreSQL Database 998
Switching to a Disk Database 1000
Working With the Database Manager 1001
Configuring and Using a Remote Database Server 1003
Setting Up a DaVinci Resolve Project Server 1004
Connecting to Projects on a Server 1005
Troubleshooting Tips When Setting up aProjectServer 1006
42 Collaborative Workflow 1009
Setting Up to Collaborate 1011
Opening Projects to Collaborate Upon 1011
Using Collaborative Workflow 1012
19Contents
43 Remote Grading 1015
Introduction to Remote Grading 1017
Requirements for Remote Grading 1017
Setting Up for Remote Grading 1018
Remote Grading Restrictions 1018
44 Using Variables and Keywords 1019
Using Metadata Variables 1021
Using Keywords 1024
45 Creating DCTL LUTs 1025
About DCTL 1027
DCTL Syntax 1027
A Simple DCTL LUT Example 1029
A Matrix DCTL LUT Example 1029
A More Complex DCTL LUT Example 1030
46 TCP Protocol for Resolve Transport Control 1031
About the TCP Protocol Version 1.2 1033
TCP Protocol Stream 1034
47 Control Panel 1035
DaVinci Resolve Control Panels 1037
DaVinci Resolve Micro Control Panel 1038
DaVinci Resolve Mini Control Panel 1042
DaVinci Resolve Advanced Control Panel 1045
Copying Grades Using the Advanced Control Panel 1056
Rippling Changes Using the AdvancedControlPanel 1058
1
Introduction to Resolve
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