DaVinci Resolve quick tips #6

When working on repetitive projects that use a structured folder system for media, or projects where media is still being delivered during the editing process, the Automatically Resync Media Files feature is an incredibly convenient solution. After selecting a specific folder in the Media Pool and right-clicking, the context menu will display the “Automatically Resync Media Files” option. Once enabled, the software will automatically respond to any changes made in the source folder(s). However, please keep in mind that:

• this feature works for imported folders, not for files added to manually created bins inside DaVinci Resolve (to use this, you should use the “Add Folder…” option in the Media Pool or drag and drop an entire folder from your drive),
• the imported folder must contain at least one audio or video file to trigger the sync,
• subfolders can also be synchronized, provided they meet the same conditions mentioned above.

Client communication during the editing process is a broad and often challenging topic; a lack of mutual understanding frequently leads to wasted time and unnecessary stress. While there are slick solutions available (like Frame.io), Blackmagic Design offers an increasingly powerful service called Presentations. Most importantly, Presentations is free, at least to a certain extent. How does it work? First, the creator needs a Blackmagic Cloud account and must create a Presentation within it. Then, in DaVinci Resolve, you need to log into this account (Preferences > System > Internet Accounts). Finally, in the Deliver tab, select the Presentations preset and choose the specific Presentation where the file will be uploaded after rendering.

The Client Side: As of version 19.1, clients don’t even need to create a free Blackmagic Cloud account. All they need is a link shared by the creator (the link is available on the Blackmagic Cloud website, just click the “i” icon next to the Presentation name in the left-hand menu).

Key Features and limits:

• the service supports up to 30 users (including up to 10 simultaneously) and a maximum of 20 Presentations,
• feedback can be provided live during a joint session (where time can be automatically synced for all users) or at any time by adding comments that appear as markers on your Timeline,
• the free tier includes up to 2GB of data, increasing storage to 500GB costs $7.50 (net), 1TB is $15 (net), and so on.

It is also worth noting that, for obvious reasons, Presentations is not the best tool for feedback regarding color grading, but it works brilliantly for almost everything else.

One of the undeniable advantages of creating compositions in Fusion is the ability to work with the clips’ original resolution. However, it is important to remember that this isn’t always the case, as there are scenarios where clips will be downscaled to the Timeline resolution. Here are the rules:

• Opening a single clip in Fusion using the “Open in Fusion Page” command from the Edit tab: The clip will retain its original resolution in Fusion,
• Adding a clip in Fusion via a Loader node or by dragging it directly from the Media Pool (MediaIn): The clip will also maintain its original resolution.

On the other hand:

• Creating a composition from multiple clips by selecting them in the Edit tab and choosing “New Fusion Clip” or “New Compound Clip”: This will force their resolution to match the Timeline resolution,
• Using an Adjustment Clip in the Edit tab: The resulting image generated from the layers beneath the Adjustment Clip will be limited to the Timeline resolution.

In the Color page, the most obvious choice for image sharpening is the Blur – Sharpen tab. It features three main sliders: Radius, H/V Ratio, and Scaling. Quite often, likely due to how sharpening is demonstrated on many YouTube channels, users limit their sharpening process only to the Radius slider. Naturally, lowering it from the default value of 0.50 sharpens the image, while raising it above 0.50 adds a blur effect. However, it is worth combining the Radius adjustment with the Scaling slider. Frequently, a higher Radius value (e.g., 0.48) paired with an increased Scaling effect (default is 0.25) creates a more organic and pleasing result than simply pushing the Radius to a lower level (e.g., 0.47) on its own. The third slider (H/V Ratio), which is likely the least used, allows you to differentiate the sharpening effect between the horizontal and vertical axes.

When creating a new project, the most fundamental settings include resolution, frame rate, and the choice between horizontal or vertical formats. By default, any new Timeline created within that project will inherit these global settings. So, how do you create a vertical version for social media within the same project? The answer is simple: in the Media Pool, right-click the specific Timeline icon and navigate to Timelines > Timeline Settings. By unchecking the “Use Project Settings” box, you can now enter custom settings for that individual Timeline.