DaVinci Resolve Basics Explained: EASY Level

Do you want to take the next step and learn video editing in DaVinci Resolve?

I’ve been editing videos in Resolve for quite some time now. It might look daunting at first but don’t worry.

I’m here to break down the basics in the easiest way for you.

Table Of Contents

Why give DaVinci Resolve a shot?

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful and versatile video editing and colour-grading software that has gained immense popularity in the film and video production industry.

It is well-known for its colour-grading capabilities. The software has a wide range of tools & features that allow one to create cinematic looks.

DaVinci Resolve is a favourite among colourists and cinematographers.

You can seamlessly transition between editing and colour correction, thanks to the combination of professional video editing and advanced colour grading in a single platform.

There is a huge library of high-quality effects, transitions and audio processing tools available to use.

Even the free version of DaVinci Resolve offers enough tools for aspiring filmmakers and small production houses.

Difference between Resolve & Resolve Studio

Resolve is the name of the standard free version of the software.

It has everything you might need to edit videos if you’re just starting.

I use the free version of Resolve 18 too.

Resolve Studio is the paid version of the software that has a one-time fee. You get the ability to export videos over 4k.

Beginners don’t require the Studio version to be honest.

Set the dimensions of your video & import clips

davinci resolve, editing on davinci resolve

The first step is to import the video clips to your project and set the correct dimensions.

If you haven’t installed DaVinci Resolve yet, download and install it from the official website here.

Go to File > Project Settings. In the window that pops up, change only the dimensions.

If you’re editing a horizontal video, for YouTube let’s say, leave the dimensions as it is.

If you’re editing a vertical 9:16 video for YouTube Shorts or Instagram reels, invert the dimensions and make it 1080 x 1920.

You can import your video clips in 3 ways.

3 Ways to Import Clips

Go to Files > Import and locate the files on your desktop to import them
Use the keyboard shortcut to open the import menu: Mac- Command + I, Windows- Ctrl + I
Drag and drop the video clips into the media library

How to resize/crop/rotate the clip on the timeline

Resize a Video Clip

To resize a video clip, click on the clip in the timeline to select it.
In the preview window, you’ll see “Inspector” on the right-hand side. If it’s not visible, click the “Inspector” icon on the top right.
In the Inspector panel, you can adjust the “Scale” values under the “Transform” section. Changing the scale will resize your video clip. You can adjust the X and Y values independently to change the width and height.

Rotate a Video Clip

To rotate a video clip, select the clip in the timeline.
In the Inspector panel, you’ll find the “Rotation” parameter under the “Transform” section. Simply enter the degree value to rotate the clip. A positive value will rotate it clockwise, while a negative value will rotate it counterclockwise.

Crop a Video Clip

To crop a video clip, select the clip in the timeline.
In the Inspector panel, you’ll find the “Crop” parameters under the “Sizing” section. You can crop the clip by adjusting the values for “Left,” “Top,” “Right,” and “Bottom.” These values allow you to trim the clip from the edges. Adjust them to achieve the desired cropping effect.

Spot Inspector in the top-right corner?

Alternatively, you can also click on the first icon that appears on the tab just below your video, the one that has an orange highlight over it in the screenshot above.

Using these options represented by the various icons, you can do a lot with your video.

Such as cropping the video, resizing it, changing its blend mode, stabilizing, changing the speed, adjusting the volume, etc.

How to make adjustments in highlights, shadows, i.e, basic colour light & colour adjustments

The tabs at the bottom are used for navigating around in DaVinci Resolve.

From left to right: Media, Cut, edit, Fusion, Color, Fairlight, Deliver.

Go to the Color tab to colour-grade your video clip. Here you can edit your clip using tools like RGB curves, Primary Color Wheels, etc.

Using the primary color wheel you can adjust different things like – temperature, tint, contrast, highlights, shadows, saturation, etc.

Cinematic LUTs for videos (Set of 3) | Compatible with DaVinci Resolve

Colour-grade videos in a single click!

Install the free version of DaVinci Resolve and start using these LUTs on your videos to give them a cinematic look without compromising their quality

CHECK IT OUT

How to export the final video

There are 2 ways to export video in DaVinci Resolve.

Method #1: Quick Export

Go to File > Quick Export. Select the H.264 Master settings and click on export.

That’s it!

Method #2: Using the deliver tab

Go to the navigation menu on the bottom and click on Deliver tab.
On the Deliver page, you’ll see the “Easy Setup” and “Custom” options. If you’re new to video export settings, you can start with Easy Setup and select a preset that matches your intended output format (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, ProRes, H.264, etc.). If you need more control, choose “Custom.”
Customize Export Settings (Optional): If you choose the “Custom” option, you can customize your export settings in the “Settings” tab. This includes the format, codec, resolution, frame rate, and other settings. Adjust these settings to match your project requirements. Common settings include:
- Format: Choose a video format (e.g., MP4, MOV).
- Codec: Select the video codec (e.g., H.264, H.265, ProRes).
- Resolution: Set the output resolution (e.g., 1920×1080 for Full HD).
- Frame Rate: Match the frame rate of your project.
- Bitrate: Adjust the video and audio bitrate for quality and file size.
Choose the Export Location: In the “File” tab, set the export destination by clicking the “Browse” button. Select the folder where you want to save your exported video.
Add Your Render Queue: If you have multiple projects to export, you can add them to the render queue. Click the “Add to Render Queue” button after configuring your settings.
Start the Export: Click the “Start Render” button in the bottom-right corner. DaVinci Resolve will begin rendering your video based on the specified settings.

Some Useful Keyboard Shortcuts For DaVinci Resolve

Action	Mac	Windows
New Bin	Shift + Command + N	Shift + Control + N
New Timeline	Command + N	Control + N
Save Project	Command + S	Control + S
Save Project As…	Shift + Command + S	Shift + Control + S
Import Project	Command + I	Control + I
Export Project	Command + E	Control + E