How to Copy Color Grade in DaVinci Resolve - 3 EASY Ways To Do It

How do I copy color grading settings in DaVinci Resolve?

Believe it or not, there's no need to manually adjust each clip. Here are three methods, rooted in hands-on experience, to speed up the color grading process in DaVinci Resolve. These techniques are not just tested and proven but are designed to bring efficiency and consistency to your workflow.

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Method 1: Using Adjustment Clips

Adjustment Clips - Think of these as filters you can place over multiple video tracks, like applying a single Instagram filter to multiple photos at once.

1. Drag-and-Drop: Simply drag an adjustment clip onto a track above your video clips.
2. Apply Grade: Next, color grade the adjustment clip as you would a regular video clip.
3. Extend Coverage: You can stretch the adjustment clip to cover multiple shots.

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Method 2: Using Groups

Groups - These allow you to bundle multiple clips together for collective editing

1. Create a Group: Right-click on one clip and then add other clips to this new group.
2. Grade: Perform your color grading on any one clip in the group.
3. Auto-Apply: The grade is automatically applied to all other clips in the group.

Field-Tested Tip: Groups are especially useful when you have clips that are already placed non-sequentially on your timeline but share the same lighting conditions. This is verified by real-world application in multi-scene projects.

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Method 3: Leveraging Stills for Color Grading

Creating Stills [Consider this as freezing a frame with all your color grading settings intact] is an exceptional feature in DaVinci Resolve that empowers you to effortlessly extend a particular grade across various clips.

Step 1: Capturing the Still Image

1. Action: Right-click inside the Program Viewer [this is the window that plays back the video in your timeline].
2. Select: Navigate to 'Grab Still'.
3. Result: Your still will be saved, capturing all your meticulous color grading work up to this point.

In-Depth Understanding: The 'Still' essentially acts as a blueprint for your color grading, encompassing all the adjustments and settings you've applied to a clip. It serves as a reference snapshot, enabling you to replicate your color adjustments easily.

Step 2: Accessing the Still from the Gallery

1. Open Gallery: This is where your newly-created still resides. You'll find it there, stored like a piece of art in a digital gallery.
2. Hover to Preview: When you hover your mouse over the still, a preview is triggered, showing you how that specific grade will look when applied to a different clip.

Expert Insight: The preview feature is a time-saver and allows you to visually confirm the grade before applying it. This takes the guesswork out of the equation, ensuring that you're making informed decisions rooted in practical insights.

Step 3: Applying the Grade from the Still

1. Right-click on Still: A dropdown menu appears.
2. Choose ‘Apply Grade’: Select this option to impart all the color grading settings from your still onto the new clip on your timeline.

Bonus: Post-Application Adjustments

Note: After you've applied the grade from your still, you aren't bound by those settings. Each clip to which you've applied this grade can be individually tweaked further.

The beauty of using 'Stills' is that it amalgamates efficiency with precision. It’s like cloning the laborious adjustments from one clip and instantaneously transplanting them onto another, without diluting the artistic quality of your project. This method is backed by real-world applications and is a go-to strategy for those looking to master the art of proficient color grading in DaVinci Resolve.

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