“Color! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams.”
-Paul Gauguin
What is the process of sending a project to Davinci Resolve for color grading?
There are 2 methods for transferring an edit from an NLE to Davinci Resolve for color grading and mastering:
1. Relink to original media via XML, EDL, AAF.
This method uses a metadata file to relink the original camera files and media to rebuild the cuts and clips from the NLE edit. This has the advantage of color grading the full quality and resolution of the original media. The method usually requires transferring physical drives due to the larger file sizes.
2. Grade a single high quality video file exported from the NLE edit.
This method uses Davinci Resolve's automatic scene cut detection to separate a single file into individual shots that can be graded. This has the advantage of transferring files over the internet, since access to large camera files is not needed, and is helpful when projects contain a large number of effects and transitions.
Click on the links at the bottom of the page for specific instructions to prepare your project.
What will be delivered to me at the end of the color grade?
Davinci Resolve has the ability to export a variety of high quality media, and in most situations, a single high quality file will be delivered that can then be inserted back into the edit, above the video clips, with color corrections applied.
Davinci resolve also has the ability to export the portions of the used clips as individual files with handles, that can be reintroduced into the edit, if there is anticipation of needing to add additional transitions or swap sections of the timeline.
What is Onlining?
Onlining is the process of assembling the creative edit (The Offline Edit) for mastering and final delivery.
In some projects, this can be done in one step, if color grading and audio are all done in the same application.
If projects are sent out for color correction, the color graded files need to be "onlined" and combined with audio, titles, etc.
Many people choose to do this in the NLE the project was edited on, in which case the color graded files will be sent back to the editor for this step.
Alternatively, this step can also be done in Davinci Resolve, where the the audio mix and titles can be sent to the colorist to export the final deliverable.