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Animating images with Resolve

08.09.2024
“Breathing life” into static images with effects from DaVinci Resolve – so-called Cinemagrams – are easy to do – and in our new series “Resolve Tricks for Beginners” we’ll start with them!
Die magische Maske – hier wurde das rechte Bild, die süße Katze von Marko Blazevic, auf Pexels zur Verfügung gestellt, mit zwei Strichen maskiert (im Modus „better“). Im Node-Fenster (rechts) ist der Alpha-Ausgang zu sehen (Rechtsklick und „Add Alpha Output“), unten die Masken- und tracking-Optionen (zum Tracken eines Clips auf die Play-Buttons klicken).
Die magische Maske – hier wurde das rechte Bild, die süße Katze von Marko Blazevic, auf Pexels zur Verfügung gestellt, mit zwei Strichen maskiert (im Modus „better“). Im Node-Fenster (rechts) ist der Alpha-Ausgang zu sehen (Rechtsklick und „Add Alpha Output“), unten die Masken- und tracking-Optionen (zum Tracken eines Clips auf die Play-Buttons klicken).

Resolve, currently in version 18.6.6, is available in a slightly slimmed-down free version or for currently 329 euros as a studio version online, or as a free add-on when purchasing high-quality hardware, such as film cameras from Blackmagic Design).
It is claimed by Blackmagic, but also by many users, that the possibilities of the free version of DaVinci already completely fulfil the requirements of most users for video editing, effects, grading and sound and would “put many paid-for software applications in the shade”.
A public beta version 19 is also currently available (users must register before downloading), which replaces the current version during installation if this is not explicitly prevented (backup of the current database and renaming of the DaVinci programme folder – instructions on how users can upgrade to the new version 19 and use several versions of DaVinci at the same time can be found on YouTube – e.g. here: is.gd/resolve18_and_19

Der Projekt Manager von Davinci – erscheint zum Start des Programmes – ist eine Datenbank zur Verwaltung von DaVinci-Projekten. Hier können vorhandene Projekte aufgelistet, verwaltet, sortiert, umbenannt oder z.B. Project Settings von einem Projekt auf ein anderes übertragen werden.
The Davinci Project Manager – which appears when you start the programme – is a database for managing DaVinci projects. Here, existing projects can be listed, managed, sorted, renamed or, for example, project settings can be transferred from one project to another.

What are we talking about today?

When looking at the current version of DaVinci, we have dispensed with all the possibilities of video editing, sophisticated grading or the complex options of sound editing (Fairlight) and have instead focussed on a few (small) “delicacies” of the programme.

Dieses türkise Hintergrundbild wurde in Fusion mit dem Inspector animiert (nur ein wenig horizontal bewegt). Die Bewegungskurven wurden auf „smooth“ gestellt. „Set Loop Ping Pong“ lässt die Bewegung am Ende umkehren. Wenn die Bildqualität ausreicht, kann bei passender Clip-Länge ein animiertes GIF-Bild mit Endlosschleife exportiert werden.
This turquoise background image was animated in Fusion with the Inspector (only moved a little horizontally). The movement curves were set to “smooth”. “Set Loop Ping Pong” reverses the movement at the end. If the image quality is sufficient, an animated GIF image with an endless loop can be exported if the clip length is suitable.

Install beta

At the launch of beta version 19, which will also be available in German at the request of numerous users, an overview of the upcoming innovations is provided – including Postproductions with live replays, AI tracking with Intellitrack, Colorslice – grading with 6 vectors, improved noise reduction thanks to DaVinci Neural AI Engine, text-based timeline editing, film look creator, refined volumetric rendering of smoke and flame effects, audio-to-video panning (tracks objects in the viewer for spatial sound distribution).

DaVinci Resolve – einfache Übung: Objekte (Bilder oder Video-Clips) im Inspector bewegen mit der Transform-Node – und per Keyframes animieren.
DaVinci Resolve – simple exercise: move objects (images or video clips) in the Inspector with the Transform Node – and animate using keyframes.


And let’s go into parallax!

In “mini-projects”, in which we added some (rather suptile) effects and animations to static images – cinemagrams, parallax animations – some motion graphics for beginners, so to speak, we tried out some effects, animation options with keyframes and masking options.

Static images – moving effects

Applying animation effects to static images (photo animations/cinemagraphs) is a popular method of increasing the visual impact of digital media such as videos, animations or interactive presentations. The possibilities are almost limitless and only determined by taste.

Dynamic Zoom (im Inspector aufrufbar) erlaubt einfache Kamerafahrten und dynamische Zoom-Bewegungen. Das grüne und das rote Rechteck im Viewer kennzeichnen Position und Größe des Kamera-Ausschnitts am Anfang und Ende der Bewegung. Mit „Swap“ kann die Bewegungsrichtung umgekehrt werden.
Dynamic Zoom (can be called up in the Inspector) allows simple camera movements and dynamic zoom movements. The green and red rectangles in the viewer indicate the position and size of the camera section at the start and end of the movement. The direction of movement can be reversed with “Swap”.

Ready for Burns!

In addition to fast, attention-grabbing movements, such as those often used in PowerPoint presentations or on advertising websites, subtle movements and effects are likely to attract more attention when it comes to dynamically conveying information, concepts or stories. Slight camera pans or zoom movements on still images (also known as the “Ken Burns effect” after the American documentary filmmaker) can be created in DaVinci Resolve both as keyframe animations and automatically using the “Dynamic Zoom effect”.
Animations in which cropped objects in the image move at different speeds can convey a spatial impression (parallax effect). Object movements that take place close to the viewer’s eye appear faster than those further away. If a gentle zoom or a small camera movement causes foreground objects to move in front of more distant objects, the three-dimensional impression is further emphasised.

Cinemagrams

Cinemagrams, i.e. photo animations in which static images are supplemented with mostly subtle, repetitive animations of individual, smaller parts of the image, are neither pure photos nor videos and are intended to attract attention, create atmosphere and evoke emotional effects.
DaVinci Resolve Studio promises to offer all the necessary tools and effects in one application – and should therefore be suitable. In addition to the wide range of effects, the current Studio version also advertises simple cropping with the help of AI – sounds ideal for our experiments with the aforementioned “mini projects”. Even if this is a bit of “shooting with cannons on sparrows” – let’s try out some of the functions. As mentioned, DaVinci is not only powerful, but also extensive and complex. Nevertheless, the software promises an easy introduction even for programme newcomers – at least to the basic functions.

PingPong – animation in a loop

Probably the simplest way to animate images is to move an entire image that is larger than the video in the inspector and set keyframes. It is advisable to “round” the animation curves, i.e. to make them “smooth”. With a “ping pong” effect, the image will move smoothly in one direction, then gradually stop to return to the starting point. Of course, scaling and rotation can also be incorporated. Dynamic Zoom is much faster and more effective.

Dynamic Zoom

All you have to do is select the relevant clip (an image) in the edit page and then switch on Dynamic Zoom in the Inspector. A drop-down menu can be opened below the viewer window, which uses two coloured rectangles to set the start and end values for zooming. The direction can be reversed using the “Swap” option. To change the duration of the zoom effect (normally applied to the duration of an entire clip), it is advisable to use an Adjustment Clip.

Dynamic Zoom (hier in der Endposition des Zooms) auf Adjustment-Clip – Der Adjustment-Clip ist nötig, um die Länge der Kamerafahrt zu steuern (Dynamic Zoom wirkt immer auf einen ganzen Clip). Außerdem kann er mehrmals verwendet werden (in diesem Beispiel wurde er zweimal hintereinander gesetzt, im zweiten Clip wurde die Bewegungsrichtung mit „Swap“ umgekehrt).
Dynamic Zoom (here in the end position of the zoom) on Adjustment Clip – The Adjustment Clip is necessary to control the length of the camera movement (Dynamic Zoom always affects an entire clip). It can also be used several times (in this example it was set twice in succession, in the second clip the direction of movement was reversed with “Swap”).

Splitscreens ohne Masken – der Effekt Video Collage ist einfach, schnell und ziemlich flexibel einsetzbar. Hier die Layout-Vorschau: 2 Reihen, 3 Spalten, alles ziemlich rund mit Schlagschatten – der Blur-Effekt auf dem Hintergrundbild muss „unter“ dem Video Collage-Filter liegen.
Split screens without masks – the Video Collage effect is simple, quick and quite flexible to use. Here is the layout preview: 2 rows, 3 columns, all fairly round with drop shadows – the blur effect on the background image must be “under” the Video Collage filter.

Automated collages with images or videos

The “Video Collage” effect offers an interesting way of arranging and animating several objects (moving images) in a scene. A grid, a kind of table with adjustable rows and columns, is superimposed on a clip with this effect. As with comic panels in graphics software, images or videos can be placed under the effect clip, allowing several objects to be arranged quickly and correctly. The parameters can also be animated here.

Mit dem Effekt Video Collage können tatsächlich schnell Kollagen mit mehreren Bild- und Video-Elementen erstellt werden. Die Clips unter dem Raster werden einzeln positioniert und mittels „Cropping“ so beschnitten, dass die jeweiligen Ausschnitte „passen“.
The Video Collage effect can be used to quickly create collages with several image and video elements. The clips under the grid are positioned individually and cropped using “Cropping” so that the respective sections “fit”.

Masquerade

If only parts of the image are to be animated, you need the individual parts. DaVinci offers various options for masking, editing and cropping objects. The mask tools include basic shapes such as rectangles, circles, polygon and BSpline curves, colour selections – and in the Colour Page – Magic Mask. The shape masks can be combined, inverted and the deformations animated. There is even an Onion Skin function to better control the animation of the mask curves.

Für Polgon lässt sich Onion Skin zuschalten, um Animationen besser beurteilen zu können. Das ist natürlich praktischer bei Vektor-Animationen, die wir in einer der nächsten Ausgaben dieser Serie besprechen werden.
Onion Skin can be switched on for Polgon to make it easier to judge animations. This is of course more practical for vector animations, which we will discuss in one of the next issues of this series.


Für Polgon lässt sich Onion Skin zuschalten, um Animationen besser beurteilen zu können. Das ist natürlich praktischer bei Vektor-Animationen, die wir in einer der nächsten Ausgaben dieser Serie besprechen werden.
Onion Skin can be switched on for Polgon to make it easier to judge animations. This is of course more practical for vector animations, which we will discuss in one of the next instalments of this series.

There are several tutorials on YouTube in which users demonstrate how to create dynamic masks and even cartoons with the shape tools (to fill the shapes with colour or image content, a suitable background must be created each time, which then becomes visible within the overlying mask).
You can also use these masks to make objects “disappear” – like with Photoshop’s copy stamp. This is also possible with the Paint tool, e.g. in clone mode. If masks are applied to moving videos, you can try using DaVinci’s intelligent tracking. But: Since we are only working with single images this time and not with moving images, this does not apply. Next time!
Ideally, masks no longer have to be adapted to movements frame by frame, but “only” tracked – DaVinci tries to track the selected object and adjust the mask so that the masking is retained even when there is movement. One of the sensations of the new version is the “Magic Mask”, which now has a person and an object mode. With just a few strokes and a few adjustable parameters, DaVinci generates amazingly good masks of objects or backgrounds surprisingly quickly.

Object Removal – DaVinci versucht, störende Bildinhalte zu entfernen. Eine Maske wurde um das Objekt gezeichnet, getrackt und auf die Kopie der Node der Effekt Object Removal angewendet. Wenn das Objekt nicht zu groß war und die Hintergrundstruktur „passte“, dann funktionierte das ganz gut.
vObject Removal – DaVinci attempts to remove distracting image content. A mask was drawn around the object, tracked and the Object Removal effect was applied to the copy of the node. If the object was not too large and the background structure “matched”, this worked quite well.


With the Magic Mask in particular, it is possible to quickly select objects in order to apply effects to them or, in conjunction with “Add Alpha Output” in the Node window of the Colour Page, to cut them out completely. This allows you to quickly place text in front of or behind (cropped) parts of the image, for example.
Convincing effects can be achieved with a little effort using DaVinci’s 3D tools. Real parallax effects can be created here due to the spatial depth. The depth of field of a camera can also be simulated.

Object Removal – DaVinci versucht, störende Bildinhalte zu entfernen. Eine Maske wurde um das Objekt gezeichnet, getrackt und auf die Kopie der Node der Effekt Object Removal angewendet. Wenn das Objekt nicht zu groß war und die Hintergrundstruktur „passte“, dann funktionierte das ganz gut.
Object Removal – DaVinci attempts to remove distracting image content. A mask was drawn around the object, tracked and the Object Removal effect was applied to the copy of the node. If the object was not too large and the background structure “matched”, this worked quite well.
Die magische Maske – hier wurde das rechte Bild, die süße Katze von Marko Blazevic, auf Pexels zur Verfügung gestellt, mit zwei Strichen maskiert (im Modus „better“). Im Node-Fenster (rechts) ist der Alpha-Ausgang zu sehen (Rechtsklick und „Add Alpha Output“), unten die Masken- und tracking-Optionen (zum Tracken eines Clips auf die Play-Buttons klicken).
The magic mask – here the image on the right, the cute cat by Marko Blazevic, was made available on Pexels and masked with two strokes (in “better” mode). In the node window (right) you can see the alpha output (right-click and “Add Alpha Output”), below the mask and tracking options (click on the play buttons to track a clip).
Lensflare und Text mit Drop Shadow vor Hintergrund
Lens flare and text with drop shadow against background
Depth of Field in DaVincis Renderer – es ist möglich, mit der Schärfentiefe einer Kamera zu arbeiten. Schneller geht es mit einem Blur-Filter. DaVinci bietet viele Filter für Unschärfe-Effekte – u.a.: Gaussian Blur – die „normale“ Unschärfe; Box Blur – Unschärfe basierend auf der durchschnittlichen Farbe benachbarter Pixel – bei hohen Radiuswerten entstehen deutliche Rechtecke im Bild – wirkt weniger künstlich als „Gaussian Blur“. Defocus – Tiefenunschärfe mit Bokeh-Effekten; Lens Blur – noch realistischere Effekte, aber längere Renderzeiten
Depth of Field in DaVinci’s renderer – it is possible to work with the depth of field of a camera. It is faster with a blur filter. DaVinci offers many filters for blur effects – including Gaussian Blur – the “normal” blur; Box Blur – blur based on the average colour of adjacent pixels – high radius values create distinct rectangles in the image – looks less artificial than “Gaussian Blur”. Defocus – depth of field blur with bokeh effects; Lens Blur – even more realistic effects, but longer render times
Ralf Gliffe Author
Ralf Gliffe has been designing multimedia has been designing multimedia content for 2O years. He is not only fascinated by creative creative commissions, but also software that allows you to expand your own can be expanded.