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Does editing videos with professional quality without spending anything sound impossible? With DaVinci Resolve, this is completely real. Used by Hollywood editors, film production companies and content creators all over the world, DaVinci Resolve is considered the most complete and powerful free video editor available on the market.
In this complete guide, you will learn what DaVinci Resolve is, how to install it, how to use its main features and how to take your first steps in professional video editing.
DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software developed by the Australian company Blackmagic Design. Originally launched as a color correction tool, the program has evolved over the years and become a complete solution that brings together video editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio editing all in one place.
The program is available in two versions: the free version, which already offers more than enough features for most projects, and the paid version DaVinci Resolve Studio, aimed at high-level professional productions.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | DaVinci Resolve |
| Developer | Blackmagic Design |
| Release Year | 2004 |
| Current Version | 19 |
| License | Free (Free version) |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Languages | English and many others |
| Official Website | blackmagicdesign.com |
The free version of DaVinci Resolve offers an impressive amount of features without charging anything. There is no watermark on exported videos, no time limit on usage and no subscription required.
Movies such as La La Land, Deadpool, Joker and dozens of other film productions were edited and finished with DaVinci Resolve. That alone says a lot about the quality of the program.
Unlike other software that requires separate programs for each stage of production, DaVinci Resolve brings together in a single tool:
Blackmagic Design releases frequent and free updates, always adding new features and improvements to the program.
DaVinci Resolve is one of the few professional editors available for the three most widely used operating systems in the world.
Before installing DaVinci Resolve, make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements:
| Requirement | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 or higher | macOS 12.4 or higher |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 | Apple Silicon or Intel Core i7 |
| RAM Memory | 16 GB (32 GB recommended) | 16 GB (32 GB recommended) |
| Graphics Card | 2 GB VRAM (4 GB recommended) | 2 GB VRAM |
| Storage | 10 GB free for installation | 10 GB free for installation |
Step 1 — Access the official website
Open your browser and go to blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve. Never download the program from third-party websites.
Step 2 — Click on “Download Free”
On the DaVinci Resolve page, click the “Download Free” button for the free version of the program.
Step 3 — Fill out the form
The website will ask for some basic information such as name, email and country. Fill it in and click “Register and Download”.
Step 4 — Download the installer
Choose the version corresponding to your operating system and wait for the file to download, which is approximately 3 GB in size.
Step 5 — Run the installer
Open the Downloads folder, double-click the downloaded file and wait for the files to be extracted.
Step 6 — Follow the instructions
An installation window will open. Click “Install” and wait for the process to complete.
Step 7 — Complete the installation
After installation, click “Finish”. DaVinci Resolve will now be available on your computer.
Step 1 — Access the official website
Go to blackmagicdesign.com and click on “Download Free”.
Step 2 — Fill out the form
Enter your name, email and country to unlock the download.
Step 3 — Download the file
Select the Mac version and wait for the .dmg file to download.
Step 4 — Install the program
Open the downloaded .dmg file, drag the DaVinci Resolve icon to the Applications folder and wait for the files to be copied.
Step 5 — Open the program
Go to the Applications folder and double-click the DaVinci Resolve icon to open it.
The DaVinci Resolve interface is divided into pages, each dedicated to a specific stage of production. At the bottom of the screen, you will find the navigation icons to switch between pages:
| Page | Icon | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Media | Clapperboard | Import and organize media files |
| Cut | Scissors | Quick and simplified editing |
| Edit | Timeline | Complete and detailed editing |
| Fusion | Star | Visual effects and motion graphics |
| Color | Color wheel | Color correction and grading |
| Fairlight | Waveform | Audio editing and mixing |
| Deliver | Arrow | Final video export |
Step 1 — Open DaVinci Resolve
When you open the program, you will see the Project Manager.
Step 2 — Create a new project
Click on “New Project”, set a name for the project and click “Create”.
Step 3 — Configure the project
Go to File > Project Settings and configure:
Step 4 — Confirm the settings
Click “Save” to save the project settings.
Step 1 — Go to the Media page
Click the Media icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2 — Locate your files
In the left panel, navigate to the folder where your videos, photos and audio files are stored.
Step 3 — Import the files
Drag the desired files to the Media Pool (center panel) or right-click and select “Add to Media Pool”.
Step 4 — Organize the files
Create folders inside the Media Pool by right-clicking and selecting “Add Bin” to organize your files by category.
Step 1 — Go to the Edit page
Click the Edit icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2 — Add clips to the timeline
Drag videos from the Media Pool to the Timeline at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3 — Arrange the clips
Drag the clips to rearrange them in the desired order.
Selection Tool (A)
Used to select and move clips on the timeline.
Blade Tool (B)
Click on a clip at the desired point to split it into two parts.
Trimming
Drag the edges of a clip to shorten or extend it.
Deleting a section
Select the unwanted part and press Delete to remove it.
Color correction is one of the strongest points of DaVinci Resolve. Here is how to do a basic adjustment:
Step 1 — Go to the Color page
Click the Color icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2 — Select the clip
Click on the clip you want to correct in the filmstrip at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3 — Adjust the color wheels
DaVinci Resolve offers three main color wheels:
Step 4 — Use the curves
Go to Curves for more precise adjustments of brightness, contrast and individual colors.
Step 5 — Apply LUTs
LUTs are color presets that give your video a cinematic look with just one click:
Step 1 — Go to the Deliver page
Click the Deliver icon at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2 — Choose the export format
DaVinci Resolve offers ready-made presets for the most common destinations:
| Preset | Recommended Use |
|---|---|
| YouTube | Videos for YouTube |
| Vimeo | Videos for Vimeo |
| Videos for social media | |
| Custom Export | Custom settings |
Step 3 — Configure the format and quality
Under Export Video, choose the format (H.264, H.265, ProRes, etc.) and the desired quality.
Step 4 — Set the destination folder
Click “Browse” and choose the folder where the video will be saved.
Step 5 — Add to the render queue
Click “Add to Render Queue” in the right side panel.
Step 6 — Start the export
Click “Render All” and wait for the process to complete.
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Space | Play/Pause |
| I | Mark in point |
| O | Mark out point |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + S | Save project |
| B | Blade tool |
| A | Selection tool |
| Ctrl + D | Disable/Enable clip |
| Shift + Z | Fit timeline to screen |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Export video |
| Feature | Free | Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Video editing | Yes | Yes |
| Color correction | Yes | Yes |
| Fusion effects | Yes | Yes |
| Fairlight audio editing | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum resolution | Ultra HD | Above 4K |
| Multiple GPU processing | No | Yes |
| Noise Reduction | Limited | Full |
| Magic Mask | No | Yes |
| Team collaboration | No | Yes |
| Price | Free | $295 (one-time payment) |
Is DaVinci Resolve really free?
Yes. The free version is complete for most projects and does not add a watermark to exported videos.
Is DaVinci Resolve difficult to learn?
The learning curve is moderate. For basic editing, any beginner can learn in a few days. For advanced features such as color correction and visual effects, more practice and study are required.
Does DaVinci Resolve work on low-end computers?
The program requires a reasonable hardware configuration, especially in terms of RAM and graphics card. On very old computers or those with little RAM, performance may be affected.
Is DaVinci Resolve available in languages other than English?
Yes. The program supports multiple languages. You can change the language in the program settings.
Can DaVinci Resolve be used to edit YouTube videos?
Yes. The program has a specific preset for exporting videos optimized for YouTube.
Does DaVinci Resolve replace Adobe Premiere?
For most users, yes. DaVinci Resolve offers features comparable to or better than Adobe Premiere, with the advantage of being free.
DaVinci Resolve is, without a doubt, the best free video editor available today. With features that rival high-cost paid software, the program is the ideal choice for both those who are just starting out in video editing and experienced professionals looking for a complete and reliable solution.
If you want to edit videos with professional quality without spending anything, there is no better option than DaVinci Resolve. Download it now from the official Blackmagic Design website and start creating your projects today.
