In nuce: Exciting new features were announced at the DaVinci Resolve Cloud Update event, hosted by Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty. Petty spoke about hardware, software and cloud computing news, with the most notable announcements being the DaVinci Resolve 18 open beta and working in the cloud.
What new features can you expect with DaVinci Resolve 18? Deliberate innovations are mainly behind the “Colour”, “Edit”, “Fusion” and “Fairlight” tabs within the user interface of DaVinci Resolve 18 – including new functions that address artificial intelligence, tracking for the purpose of deforming surfaces, new video effects or improved audio processing. We have summarised some of the most sensational core features in bullet point form below:
- Blackmagic Cloud: For hosting and managing your cloud-based project libraries
- Blackmagic ID: This is designed to ensure secure collaboration via the cloud
- Support for intelligent path mapping: This will automatically relink files
- The project library has been optimised for workflows in networks – should also be more performant in this respect
- Higher-performance projects: even for larger projects
- New proxy generator app: This creates proxies automatically
- Prioritisation: Choose what is more important: proxies or the original recordings from the cameras
- Proxy files from subfolders are automatically assignedin the media pool
New features for “Colour”: Below are the four main new features of “Colour” – as an introduction to what will be possible with DaVinci Resolve 18.
- Intuitive object mask: The new object mask in the “Magic Mask” palette recognises the movements of thousands of different lenses. DaVinci Neural Engine takes care of the cropping of animals, vehicles, people and other image components
- Automatic Depth Map: With the new Depth Map effect, you can quickly create the 3D depth map of a scene and then edit the foreground and background of the image separately. This allows you to direct your viewers’ eyes to where the action is taking place within your film frames
- Tracking moving or distorted surfaces: An example would be a T-shirt with a logo printed on it
- Improved Beauty Resolve FX: This allows you to get the coveted beauty shots of your actors even faster. The “Ultra Beauty” tool smoothes your actors’ skin
Find out all about the new features: The core features and new functions for “Colour” presented above only provide a brief overview of the range of features in DaVinci Resolve 18. If you want to find out which feature friends are behind the “Edit”, “Fusion”, “Fairlight” – and of course Cloud Collaboration! – click through the detailed product description at blackmagicdesign.com.
What is behind Blackmagic Cloud? This allows artists worldwide to work together online on creative projects. All artists – no matter where they are in the world – can access the same linked project files in the cloud. At the same time, the artists involved in a project are able to see what their team colleagues are currently working on. Blackmagic Cloud therefore allows you to work on a project with your colleagues at the same time. Aestheticians will be interested: Blackmagic has announced that the Cloud interface will be revised again before the final release.
Precautionary measure before upgrading: But be careful: Blackmagic communicates an important note on the corresponding wiki regarding upgrading to the new programme version. It says: “If you upgrade to Resolve 18, you must also update the project database. This step cannot be undone – it is not possible to revert to Resolve 17 or an earlier version. It is therefore advisable to create a backup beforehand.”
As DaVinci Resolve 18 is currently still in the beta phase, users are advised to exercise caution. Anyone who relies on a stable DaVinci Resolve, for example for professional contract work, should continue to work with version 17 for the time being.
Try it out for yourself: The open beta of DaVinci Resolve 18 is available for free download . We have linked the full-length video of the “DaVinci Resolve Cloud Update” event below.
- 01:02:12: The new features of DaVinci Resolve 18 are explained to you here
DaVinci Resolve Cloud Update
