DaVinci Resolve is available in two editions: a free version, and a paid version known asDaVinci Resolve Studio.[1][3] The Studio edition includes support for resolutions beyond4K (up to 32K) andframe rates up to 120 frames per second, as well as 10-bit video processing, multiple GPU acceleration,stereoscopic 3D,HDR grading,collaborative workflows, additional plug-ins and AI-driven features.
The software is structured around task-specific workspaces called "pages," each designed for a distinct stage of the post-production workflow. TheCut andEdit pages support video editing; theFusion page provides tools for visual effects and motion graphics; theColor page focuses on color grading; and theFairlight page is used for audio editing and mixing. Media management and export are handled through theMedia andDeliver pages, respectively. In othersoftware suites, these functions are typically distributed across separate applications. In some cases—such asFusion andFairlight—they were previously standalone programs that were later integrated.
Blackmagic Design, primarily a hardware manufacturer, markets DaVinci Resolve as part of a broader ecosystem of peripherals. The company offers integration with proprietary hardware such as editing keyboards, color grading panels, andaudio consoles. The Studio edition of the software is frequently bundled at no additional cost with purchases of Blackmagic Design cameras.
The initial versions of DaVinci Resolve (known then as da Vinci Resolve) were resolution-independent software tools developed by da Vinci Systems (based inCoral Springs, Florida), who had previously produced other color correction systems such as da Vinci Classic (1985), da Vinci Renaissance (1990), and da Vinci 2K (1998).[4] The system was first announced in 2003 and released in 2004.[5][6] It began with three possible configurations: the Resolve DIdigital intermediate color correction tool, the Resolve FXvisual effects tool, and the Resolve RT2K resolution processing tool.[4] These initial versions were integrated exclusively into dedicated hardware controllers.[7][4]
In 2009, Australian video processing and distribution technology company Blackmagic Design bought da Vinci Systems, retaining and expanding the engineering team for Resolve[11][12] but eliminating support-based contracts for the tool.[8] In October 2009, Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty speculated in an interview that the price of Resolve could likely be reduced to below $100,000.[13]
AtNAB 2010 inLas Vegas, in April 2010, Blackmagic Design announced three new pricing models for Resolve, with a new software-only macOS version retailing for $995, the macOS version with the Advanced Control Surface (previously branded asImpresario by da Vinci Systems[13][14]) retailing for $29,995, and licenses for the Linux version (supporting multiple-GPUs for increased performance) retailing at $19,995 (with the most advanced configuration available retailing for under $150,000).[15] Before this change, the pre-built versions of Resolve were the only available options, selling for between $200,000 and $800,000, which was common industry practice at the time.[15]
In September 2010, version 7 (restyled asDaVinci Resolve) was the first to be released by Blackmagic Design under the new pricing model, and the first release for macOS. It included a redesigneduser interface,Apple ProRes support, and support for the RED Rocket digital video decoder boards manufactured byRed Digital Cinema.[16]
The pricing model changes continued in June 2011 with the release of version 8: As part of this new version, Blackmagic Design announced a free, reduced-functionality edition of the software (known asDaVinci Resolve 8 Lite), alongside the continuing commercial options.[17] Version 8 also introducedOpenCL acceleration support andXML integration withnon-linear editor (NLE) applications.[18] Subsequently, version 8.2 (December 2011) further expanded the software's scope (which was previously available only for macOS and Linux) with the first Windows release, beginning with a public beta.[19][20]
Version 9 (2012) included redesigneduser interface elements, addedmetadata editing options, and expanded the range of supported cameras and file types.[21][22] The following year, version 10 was released, increasing the amount of information imported fromXML,AAF andEDL files, and addingOpenFX plug-in,JPEG 2000 andAVI support.[23][24] Version 10 was also the first to include basicvideo editing features alongside the color correction functionality, such as the trimming ofclips.[25][24]
Released in August 2014, version 11 addedaudio mixing, media organization features, and further video editing features, enabling the software to function as a standalonenon-linear editor (NLE) for the first time, in addition to integrating with other NLEs.[26][27][28]
Subsequently, version 12 (announced at NAB 2015) added a new audio engine (supportingVST/AUplug-ins),[29][30] and version 14 (2017) added an integrated version of audio editing software previously developed byFairlight (following Blackmagic Design's acquisition of the company during the same year[31]).[32]
The first version of Resolve for standard editions ofLinux (version 12.5.5) was made available in 2017. It was also the first version in which a free Resolve version for Linux became available. Previous versions required a custom build of Linux, use of the DaVinci Resolve Advanced hardware control panel, and a licensedongle.[33]
Released in 2018, version 15 added an integrated version of theFusioncompositing andvisual effects application, which was first developed in 1987 and was acquired by Blackmagic Design in 2014.[34][1]
Blackmagic Design officially announced DaVinci Resolve version 16 at NAB 2019, in April 2019. New features included a dedicated 'Cut' page (a streamlined alternative to the 'Edit' page),machine learning functionality (Studio edition only) to handle repetitive tasks (e.g.facial recognition to sort clips by person),3D audio within Fairlight, and new collaboration features (including Frame.io integration).[35][36][37] Version 16.0 was made available on August 8, 2019.[38]
The first details for DaVinci Resolve version 17 were announced on November 9, 2020, including improved Fairlight audio and HDR color correction tools.[39] Version 17.0 final was officially released on February 25, 2021.[40] Version 17.1 was released on March 10, 2021, and was the first Mac release to run natively onApple silicon.[41] Version 17.2 was released on May 12, 2021, and addedAV1 hardware decoding support.[42] Version 17.4 was released on October 22, 2021.[43] Version 17.4.6 added AV1 hardware encoding support.[44]
DaVinci Resolve 18 was officially announced on April 18, 2022, with introduction of real-time collaborative video editing, using Blackmagic Cloud devices as host servers;[45] it was officially released on July 21, 2022.[46] DaVinci Resolve 18.1, released on November 11, 2022, added Nvidia NVENC AV1 hardware encoding support.[47]
On October 20, 2022, Blackmagic Design announced that DaVinci Resolve was also coming toiPadOS for the first time, stated that DaVinci Resolve foriPad would take advantage of 12.9-inch screen of theiPad Pro, and would be "a true professional editor that’s focused on introducing new innovations in speed". Unlike the desktop application, the iPad application provides only editing and color-related functionalities, while maintaining compatibility with DaVinci Resolve 18 project files and real-time collaboration via Blackmagic Cloud. DaVinci Resolve for iPad was released as a free app on Apple'sApp Store in December 2022, with the option to upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio via a $95 in-app purchase.[48][49]
The logo of DaVinci Resolve 19
DaVinci Resolve 19 was officially announced on April 12, 2024.[50] It added new AI tools, over 100 feature upgrades such as IntelliTrack AI, Ultra NR noise reduction, ColorSlice six vector grading, film look creator FX, multi source editing, new multipoly rotoscoping tools, new Fairlight AI audio panning to video, ducker track FX and ambisonic surround sound plus new features in Blackmagic Cloud for large customers.
DaVinci Resolve 20 was announced on April 4, 2025[51] with over 100 new features and AI tools such as AI IntelliScript, AI Animated Subtitles, AI Multicam SmartSwitch and AI Audio Assistant, as well as keyframe editing, voice over palettes, multi layer compositing tools, new optical flow vector tools and major updates to Magic Mask and depth map. It was released on May 28, 2025.[52]
For content delivery to services such asNetflix, Resolve provides functionality to create and validate IMF (Interoperable Master Format, standardized bySMPTE[60]) packages, known as IMPs[61] (which comprise multiple components, such asMXF content, a composition playlist (CPL), andXML package data[62]), without the use of separate DCP software.[63]
Since version 15 (2018), DaVinci Resolve also includes an integrated version of the Fusion application forcompositing andvisual effects, also developed by Blackmagic Design. Fusion's core functionality is based on a modular,node-based interface, with each node forming one specific aspect of the effects being implemented. Nodes are particularly helpful for visualizing the connection each layer has within a Fusion Composition. The same interface style is used in the Resolve-integrated version.[82]Fusion is often used as a primary choice in a majority of Motion Graphics/VFX work for large scale productions as well.
The free version of DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Studio are available from themacOS App Store. However, some functionality, such asCUDA support is not available andVST orOpenFX plugins may have limited compatibility.[87] This is due to restrictions imposed byApple.[88]
The DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel (previously known asImpresario)
Since introducing software-only options for Resolve, Blackmagic Design have also released hardware control panels that integrate with the software and provide users with a tactile interface and access to additional shortcuts. They include the DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel, the DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel (both released in 2017), and the DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel (previously known asImpresario when manufactured by da Vinci Systems).[14][90]
In addition to the full control panels, Blackmagic Design also announced the Editor Keyboard for Resolve in April 2019. It includes a standardcomputer keyboard and specialized components (such as a transport control for altering timeline position) to support two-handed editing.[91] Before the release of the Editor Keyboard, the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, which integrates the advanced functionalities of the relatively new Cut page, was introduced.
Resolve also integrates with other hardware produced by Blackmagic Design, such as their Cintelfilm scanner.[92]
In July 2018, Blackmagic Design released an external, portable graphics processing unit, the eGPU, developed in association withApple to leverage theMetalAPI for professional video and graphics (such as those used by DaVinci Resolve).[93]
Davinci Resolve only had 100 users in 2009; however, since being acquired by Blackmagic Design, the software had a user base of more than 2 million using the free version alone as of January 2019.[94] This is a comparable user base toApple'sFinal Cut Pro X, which also had 2 million users as of April 2017.[95]
In 2011, DaVinci Resolve received aRed Dot award for highest rated 'Motion Picture Colour Grading System'.[96] The software continues to play an industry-leading role in colour representation within Film.
Version 14 received an additional Red Dot award in 2017 for 'User Interface Design, Post-Production Software',[97] and in the same year, the software's newly released control panels, the Micro Panel and Mini Panel, also received Red Dot awards for 'Motion Picture Colour Grading System'.[98][99]
In 2018, the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) named DaVinci Resolve (version 15) as a recipient of their 2018 Engineering Excellence Awards.[102]
^Willis, David Alexander (September 6, 2018)."Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 15".The American Society of Cinematographers.Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 7, 2019.
^Elwyn, Jonny (October 25, 2015)."The Making of The Martian".Jonny Elwyn – Film Editor.Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 21, 2019.
