How to Match Colors Between Video Clips Using DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful and free video editor. It packs an array of features that let you make refined adjustments to any video that you work with. The app stands out for color matching features. You can make one video clip visually look like another, with just a few clicks.

You’ll learn how to use DaVinci Resolve’s color matching tools in this tutorial.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use color matching in DaVinci Resolve. Thanks to its built-in tools, you can match one clip to another automatically. Gone are the days of wasting hours color matching by hand. Now, you can blend two visual styles together in mere seconds.

Let’s get started!

Why Use DaVinci Resolve Color Match Features?

DaVinci Resolve’s color matching features are easy to use. But why should you use them? Why is it really helpful to match the colors between two video clips?

As a video editor, color matching is a top skill to produce visually stunning work. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

In short, color matching builds consistency. Think of your favorite movies or TV shows. Odds are, they have a certain visual aesthetic. It may be characteristic of a certain series, director, and more. Color matching is a key part of this.

Consider these advantages:

You can film with more flexibility. Having matched colors in a finished video is essential, but it’s nearly impossible to film every scene in identical lighting conditions. With DaVinci Resolve, the color match tools let you do the matching in post-production. Thanks to that, you don’t have to chase the perfect conditions out in the field.
You’ll create a distinctive visual “vibe.” Color matching in DaVinci Resolve introduces a certain aesthetic. If you make each clip look similar, your style of video will become recognizable to your growing audience.
Your videos will look more professional. Maintaining a steady visual style helps your videos look their best. Wild swings from color profile to color profile can seem amateurish, and matching colors in DaVinci Resolve is an elegant solution. You can adopt the style techniques of professional editors.

As you can see, using color matching tools in DaVinci Resolve opens up a world of new possibilities. Let’s now explore how to use them, step by step.

How to Use DaVinci Resolve Match Color Tools (Step by Step)

Now, it’s time to learn how to use DaVinci Resolve’s color match tools. They work by matching the color profile of one clip to another clip.

For our tutorial, we’ll use two stock video clips from Envato Elements. Want to follow along? Download them here:

Let’s get started!

1. Add Footage to Your Timeline

To do a color match in DaVinci Resolve, begin by opening the app. You’ll find yourself on the Project Manager tab. Here, you can open an existing project to edit or create a new one.

Start a new project by clicking on New Project on the Project Manager panel.

Let’s create a new project. In the lower right corner of the Project Manager panel, click New Project. Type in a name, and then click Create.

DaVinci Resolve will open a new project. By default, you’ll be working on the Cut tab. On the top left corner, you’ll see the Media Pool panel. This is where you can import video footage to your project.

Think of a new project as a blank canvas. We’ll use it to learn how to use DaVinci Resolve color match tools.

Browse to the stored video files on your computer. Then, drag and drop them over the Media Pool panel. In a few moments, DaVinci Resolve will import the videos. You’ll see their thumbnails appear.

We’ll match these two very different clips together using DaVinci Resolve color match.

Next, drag these thumbnails onto the Timeline at the bottom of the screen. You’ll see them appear, end to end.

2. Open the Color Page

The options to color match in DaVinci Resolve are found on the Color editing page. You’ll need to have this open to access the right features. To open the Color page, find the Workspace dropdown menu. It’s across the top of your DaVinci Resolve window.

Color matching in DaVinci Resolve is handled on the Color page.

Click Workspace, and then go to Switch to Page > Color. You’re now working on the Color settings.

3. Select Clips to Match

On the left side of the Color page, you’ll see thumbnails for both of your video clips. Notice that one shows a sports car in a desert scene. The color and lighting in this scene are very distinctive. Our goal here is to match the color of the cityscape in the other clip to this desert clip.

Begin by clicking on the first thumbnail. This will be the clip that will be edited or matched to the other. Here, this is the cityscape.

Select both thumbnails of the videos that you want to color match in DaVinci Resolve.

With the first clip selected, hold down Shift on your keyboard. Then, click on the thumbnail of the second clip. This is the one that the other clip will be matched to. It’s the desert scene in our example.

4. Apply the Color Match in DaVinci Resolve

With both clips selected, it’s time to run color matching in DaVinci Resolve. Right-click on the thumbnail of the clip that you want to color match to. Again, this is the desert.

From the list of options that appear, click on Shot Match to this Clip. DaVinci Resolve will get to work!

Click Shot Match to this Clip to match colors in DaVinci Resolve.

Watch what happens in the Preview window, back on the Cut panel. The urban cityscape takes on the burnt, orange hues of the desert scene.

Your clips are now perfectly color matched. Notice how the skyline has adopted the orange hues of the desert clip.

This would have been nearly impossible to capture with your camera. But in mere seconds, you’ve matched both clips.

More Top DaVinci Resolve Tips and Tricks

You just learned how to do color matching in DaVinci Resolve. It’s one of countless cool edits you can make using the app.

Want to grow your skills even more? Below are several top tutorials from Envato Tuts+. Use them to expand your knowledge and edit better than ever:

Use Color Match in DaVinci Resolve Today

In this tutorial, you learned how to use DaVinci Resolve to match color between videos. Thanks to automatic features, no manual work is required. In seconds, you can make one clip’s color profile look like another’s. It’s an incredible way to make your videos look more consistent.

Don’t hesitate to use color matching in DaVinci Resolve. It’s an effortless edit that radically elevates the quality of your productions.

Post date August 1, 2017

This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Andrew Childress

DaVinci Resolve color matching — You’ll learn how to use DaVinci Resolve's color matching tools in this tutorial.

Let’s get started!

Why Use DaVinci Resolve Color Match Features?

DaVinci Resolve's color matching features are easy to use. But why should you use them? Why is it really helpful to match the colors between two video clips?

Video editor at work — As a video editor, color matching is a top skill to produce visually stunning work. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

Consider these advantages:

You can film with more flexibility. Having matched colors in a finished video is essential, but it’s nearly impossible to film every scene in identical lighting conditions. With DaVinci Resolve, the color match tools let you do the matching in post-production. Thanks to that, you don’t have to chase the perfect conditions out in the field.
You’ll create a distinctive visual “vibe.” Color matching in DaVinci Resolve introduces a certain aesthetic. If you make each clip look similar, your style of video will become recognizable to your growing audience.
Your videos will look more professional. Maintaining a steady visual style helps your videos look their best. Wild swings from color profile to color profile can seem amateurish, and matching colors in DaVinci Resolve is an elegant solution. You can adopt the style techniques of professional editors.

As you can see, using color matching tools in DaVinci Resolve opens up a world of new possibilities. Let’s now explore how to use them, step by step.