How to Use DaVinci Resolve for Video Editing

Master DaVinci Resolve video editing with this step-by-step guide. Learn project setup, timeline editing, color correction, and export workflow.

1. Create a new project and set up your workspace. Launch DaVinci Resolve and click New Project on the project manager screen. Name your project and click Create. Switch to the Edit page by clicking the Edit tab at the bottom of the interface. The workspace displays your media pool (top left), viewer (top right), timeline (bottom), and inspector panel (right).
2. Import your video files and organize media. Right-click in the Media Pool and select Import Media, or drag files directly from Finder or Explorer into the media pool. Create bins by right-clicking and selecting New Bin to organize different types of media like video clips, audio files, and graphics. Double-click clips in the media pool to preview them in the source viewer.
3. Edit clips on the timeline. Drag clips from the media pool directly onto the timeline, or use the source viewer to mark in and out points with I and O keys, then press F9 to insert or F10 to overwrite. Use the blade tool (B key) to cut clips, and drag clip edges to trim. Press V to disable video tracks or A to disable audio tracks when moving clips.
4. Add transitions and effects. Access the Effects Library in the top left panel and browse Video Transitions or Video Effects. Drag transitions between clips on the timeline or drag effects directly onto clips. Adjust effect parameters in the Inspector panel on the right. Use Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac) to add a default cross dissolve transition.
5. Adjust audio levels and add music. Expand audio tracks by clicking the triangle next to the track number to see waveforms. Drag the horizontal line in audio clips to adjust volume levels, or use the Inspector panel for precise control. Add background music by dragging audio files to empty audio tracks below your main clips.
6. Apply color correction and grading. Switch to the Color page by clicking the Color tab at the bottom. Select a clip on the timeline to see its image in the viewer. Use the Lift, Gamma, and Gain color wheels to adjust shadows, midtones, and highlights. The Offset wheel controls overall brightness and color balance. Apply changes and move to the next clip.
7. Export your finished video. Switch to the Deliver page by clicking the Deliver tab. Choose a preset format like YouTube, Vimeo, or H.264 Master from the render settings panel. Set your filename and destination folder in the File tab. Click Add to Render Queue, then Start Render to begin exporting. Monitor progress in the render queue panel.