DaVinci Resolve
One app for editing, color, effects and audio post
DaVinci Resolve brings the whole post-production chain into a single window. You cut the story, grade the picture, build effects, design motion graphics and mix the sound without exporting files from one program to import them into another.
That is the real reason people pick it: fewer round trips, one project file and the same camera-original quality from the first rough cut to the final delivery. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and a capable version costs nothing.
- 7 pagesEdit, Cut, Fusion, Color, Fairlight and more
- 3 systemsWindows, macOS, Linux
- 1 projectFrom ingest to delivery
- FreeVersion available for everyone
What you can do in DaVinci Resolve
The software is organized as a set of workspaces called pages. Each page is built for one job, and all of them read the same timeline, the same media pool and the same project. Switch pages with one click and your work is already there.
Editors use the Cut and Edit pages. Colorists live in the Color page. Compositors open Fusion. Sound designers work in Fairlight. Photographers can now process stills in the Photo page. A solo creator can do all of it in an afternoon, and a facility can split the same project between specialists.
Cut page
A fast, stripped-down editor for quick turnarounds. Source tape, dual timelines and smart trimming keep you moving on news, social and documentary work.
Edit page
A full traditional timeline with multicam, nested sequences, audio tracks, titles, transitions and finishing tools for longer, more complex projects.
Color page
Node-based grading with primary wheels, curves, qualifiers, power windows and tracking. The grading toolset the software is known for.
Fusion page
Node-based compositing and motion graphics for titles, cleanups, screen replacements and full visual effects shots.
Fairlight page
A complete digital audio workstation for dialogue cleanup, ADR, Foley, music and surround mixing inside the same project.
Photo page
Bring the same color tools to still images, so photo and video can be graded with one consistent look.
Explore the workspaces
Click a tab to see how each page fits into a normal production day.
Start here when speed matters. The Cut page shows your whole clip in one source tape view, so you can scrub, mark and drop shots without opening bins.
Fast review and sync bin tools make it a good choice for interviews, event coverage and daily content.
The Edit page is where longer stories are built. Stack tracks, work with nested timelines, use keyframes, fine-tune transitions and keep an organized media pool.
Familiar keyboard shortcuts and flexible trim modes help editors coming from other programs settle in quickly.
Grade shots with lift, gamma and gain, log wheels, curves and secondary qualifiers. Build looks on nodes, then copy them to other clips or save them as stills.
Camera original files can be graded directly, so you keep the maximum range of the footage.
Fusion is a node graph for effects. Track a shot, key a green screen, add a particle element or animate 3D text without leaving the application.
Complex effects stay editable, and the result appears on your edit timeline as a regular clip.
Clean noisy dialogue, balance levels, add sound effects and mix to the format you need. Buses, automation and loudness metering are built in.
Because audio lives in the project, a change to the picture edit is always reflected in your mix.
Getting started in three minutes
Install the free version, open it and create a project. Import a folder of clips, drag a few of them onto the timeline and press play. That is already an edit. From there, press the page icons at the bottom of the window to see how the same clips look in the color, effects and audio workspaces.
You do not need to read a manual first. Learn by finishing a tiny video, then repeat the exercise with something longer. Skills add up quickly because every page uses the same timeline.
Who uses DaVinci Resolve
The audience is wider than most people expect. Students use the free version to learn the craft. YouTubers and social creators use it to speed up their weekly output. Wedding and event filmmakers use the color tools to give their films a consistent look. Independent filmmakers finish entire features with it, and large facilities use it for broadcast and cinema delivery.
If you only need to trim a clip, it is probably more than you need. If you want one tool that can grow with your skills over several years, it is a very strong choice.
- Beginners who want to learn real post-production skills
- Content creators who edit and grade their own videos
- Colorists moving from other grading systems
- Editors who want integrated effects and audio
- Small studios that need one project for the whole team
- Photographers adding motion and stills to a single workflow
Free or Studio?
Most people start with the free version, which is a complete editor and grader. DaVinci Resolve Studio is a paid upgrade for people who need extra performance, AI-assisted tools and higher resolution and frame rate limits. Read the dedicated pages for the full picture of each edition.
Frequently asked questions
What is DaVinci Resolve used for?
It is used for video editing, color correction and grading, visual effects, motion graphics, audio mixing and, in recent versions, photo editing. Many users run an entire project from import to final export inside it.
Is DaVinci Resolve good for beginners?
Yes. The Cut page is designed for fast, simple editing, and there is a large amount of free training material. The interface is more extensive than a basic editor, but you can learn it one page at a time.
Which operating systems does it run on?
It is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Can I use DaVinci Resolve for free?
Yes. There is a free version with no watermark that covers editing, color, effects and audio. A paid Studio edition adds more features.
Do I need a powerful computer?
A modern computer with a decent GPU gives the best experience. Lighter projects run on modest machines, while high-resolution footage and heavy effects need more GPU memory.
Start with DaVinci Resolve today
Install the free version, open a project and try the Cut and Color pages with your own footage.