DaVinci Resolve is a top-notch video editing software. Used by both pros and beginners, it offers many features. One of them is the ability to change the resolution of your project.
Sometimes you’ll have a video that doesn’t quite fill up the entire the screen. As a result, you’ll find yourself having awkward black bars on either the top, and/or sides of the video.
To fix this, we’ll need to change the video resolution. This article will show you two different yet effective methods to do that.
Import your video
Start by importing your video into DaVinci Resolve by dragging it into the media pool. To do this, right click on the media area. Choose ‘Import Media…’ or press the ‘Ctrl+I‘ keys on your keyboard.
Click on the ‘Import Media…’ option
In the subsequent ‘Import Media‘ window, choose the video you want to import and click ‘Open‘.
Click Open in the Import menu
Now, drag your video to the timeline.
Drag the video to the editor
Method 1: Changing the resolution in DaVinci Resolve
Import the video file that doesn’t fit in the DaVinci Resolve aspect ratio. You’ll notice this because of the resulting black bars on either side.
Click on the ‘Import Media…’ button
Open the Inspector in the upper right corner. Here, you can see detailed information about your video, like the current resolution.
Click on the ‘Inspector’ button at top right corner
Click on ‘File‘. Here, you can see your current video resolution.
Click on File in the Settings menu
Select your video on the timeline, then go to ‘File‘ → ‘Project Settings‘.
Click on ‘File’ in Settings
Under Master Settings, you’ll see an option for Timeline resolution. This is where you can change the resolution of your project.
You can choose from a list of preset resolutions or enter a custom resolution.
Adjust the Timeline resolution
You can also set your video’s preview window resolution for the project.
This can be useful if you’re working on a device with limited processing power. It’ll help reduce the resolution for smoother playback during editing.
Set the preview resolution
Click ‘Save‘ to apply the changes.
Method 2: Changing the resolution in DaVinci Resolve
Again, import the video file that doesn’t fit within the DaVinci Resolve aspect ratio.
Click on ‘Import Media…’
Go to the bottom right corner and click on ‘Project Settings‘.
Click on the DaVinci Resolve Project Settings
Under Master Settings, you’ll see an option for Timeline resolution. Here, you can input a custom resolution that fits your video file.
Access the DaVinci Resolve Project Settings menu
Input the height and width of your video file. You can use the drop down menu as shown above, or put a custom setting in, as shown below.
For example, if your video file is 2880 by 1800, input 2880 in the width field and 1800 in the height field.
Input the height and width of your video file
Finally, click Save to apply the changes in the DaVinci Resolve resolution. The black bars on either side of your video should now be gone.
Tips for changing the resolution in DaVinci Resolve
- Always check the resolution requirements of your final output before starting your project. This will help you avoid having to change the resolution later on.
- Keep in mind that changing the resolution can affect the quality of your video. If you’re reducing the resolution, your video might lose some detail. If you’re increasing the resolution, your video might appear pixelated.
- If your device has limited processing power, consider reducing the preview window resolution. This can help improve the performance of DaVinci Resolve during editing.
Happy editing!
Changing the resolution in DaVinci Resolve is a simple process. With these two methods, you can easily adapt your project to different formats. You’ll also be able to improve the performance of DaVinci Resolve on devices with limited processing power.
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Remember, practice makes perfect. Start exploring the features and tools DaVinci Resolve has to offer. Master every aspect of this editing software with the tutorials available on Tuts+: