Davinci Resolve Day 3: Color – Software Training

Objectives

The Color Tab

The color tab is Davinci’s powerhouse, you can do more here than almost any other video editor, but for the purposes of this class we will learn simple grading using curves and color wheels
Have students add clips in timeline then go to Color Tab
The color tab uses nodes similarly to fusion
- Right click> ‘add node’> ‘corrector’> connect to green
- Color edits can be made on this node to preserve the look of original clip
Presets on top left, custom setting on bottom

Curves

Color curves are located on bottom middle graph
Click on a channel you want to manipulate, either Y for exposure, R for red channel, G for green channel, or B for blue channel
Click on the line of the curve you have selected and make one point in the lower region and one in the upper region
- Manipulate that color’s prominence in the highlights and shadows
- S-shape typically creates best balanced result
The sliders on each channel adjust the mixing of the color grade between channels to reduce intensity
Have students make a grade for first clip using curves

Color Wheels

Color wheels are another way to color grade but essentially do the same thing
Change the color wheels from Lift/Gamma/Gain to Shadow/Midtone/Highlight using the three dots at the top
Drag center dot to change hue
Drag slider at the bottom to adjust intensity.
Offset wheel
- used to generally apply a grade to the whole image
- With no hue it adjusts exposure
Have students make a grade for second clip using color wheels

Masks

Masks (“Window” button in the toolbar above the bottom panel) are used to create color grading on a specific area of the image
Select shape of the power window you want to work with, use anchor points to adjust
Make adjustments to color grade
Invert using invert icon (square with circle) in power window
Have students create and edit color mask on third clip

Keyframing