Blackmagic Design today announced the release of DaVinci Resolve 11, available now for download free of charge for all existing DaVinci Resolve customers.

DaVinci Resolve 11 is a major upgrade with over 100 new editing and color grading features. This new update includes professional nonlinear video editing with context sensitive trimming tools, onset file cloning, a revolutionary new ColorMatch feature, photographer style color grading tools and an amazing new collaborative workflow that allows multiple users to work simultaneously on the same timeline.

There is also over 70 new editing features based on feedback from professional editors. With DaVinci Resolve 11, editors now have dual monitor support and familiar professional tools like dynamic JKL trimming, audio crossfades and fully customizable keyboard shortcuts for faster editing. Trimming tools are context sensitive, which means DaVinci Resolve automatically knows whether editors want to ripple, roll, slip, slide, extend or shorten edits, based on the position of the mouse. This makes editing super fast because time is not wasted switching tools and clips can be trimmed on multiple tracks simultaneously in the same direction, or asymmetrically.

Also, a new spline curve keyframe editor has been integrated into the edit timeline that positions keyframes directly under each clip and in context with the clip. Editors can now also add and animate Open FX plugins directly in the timeline as well as use plug-ins for transitions.

The new collaborative workflow tools allow an editor and multiple colorists to work on different workstations, sharing the same timeline and working in tandem as they complete shots. An example is a colorist could be color grading or tracking windows while another colorist fine tunes grades that are all immediately updated as the editor edits. Each user can see the timeline update so they are all working on the same job at the same time. Sharing the same timeline makes it much easier for creative teams to stay in sync and work faster on large complex jobs such as feature films and television programming.

One of the advantages of the enhanced editing features, is the dramatically better round trip collaboration with Final Cut Pro X. This is possible because more of the features in each application are compatible so projects can be moved back and forward easily. A powerful example of this integration is when a FCP X customer might be shooting an independent film but then wants to move their edit to a large Hollywood post production facility for color grading and finishing. This workflow makes it possible to allow independent filmmakers to integrate with the largest post production facilities, the upgrade also features support for ProRes 4444 XQ.

Color correction features have also been upgraded, including all new RAW image and color grading controls that are designed for photographers who are moving into cinematography. The new camera RAW palette features highlight and shadow recovery, mid tone detail, color boost, saturation, lift, gain and contrast. DaVinci Resolve 11 solves the single frame limitations of photo enhancement systems and gives photographers advanced control over RAW images so they can pull the maximum detail from high dynamic range footage in real time.

DaVinci Resolve 11 can now securely back up and save digital camera files. The new Clone tool copies media drives, memory cards and camera packs to multiple destinations simultaneously. All copies are checksum verified, that means users get exact bit for bit digital copies of their source media. The new Clone tool is included in the free DaVinci Resolve Lite and can be installed on a laptop for on set use.

Another feature is Color Match, an automatic color chart color balancing tool that works on all types of footage including video, RAW and even film. The new Color Match tool automatically gives a primary base grade by analyzing shots containing standard color chip charts even if they were shot in different lighting conditions with different exposure and color temperatures.

In addition, the upgrade adds optimizations to OpenCL image processing which allows improved rendering speeds on the new Apple MacPro systems. The MacPro features dual GPU’s making it the ideal “off the shelf” system for customers looking for a high performance solution that can handle the extreme image size and wide dynamic color range of Ultra HD 4K video at the deepest YRGB 32 bit floating point processing quality.

“With over 1 million DaVinci Resolve customers worldwide, we have had great feedback from editors working on high end feature film and television programming jobs and we have rolled this into DaVinci Resolve 11. DaVinci Resolve is not only the worlds most advanced color correction system but now a full featured online editing and finishing system,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “Since the first beta release, feedback from professional colorists and editors has been extremely positive and we are very thankful to have such an advanced community that relies on DaVinci Resolve for their work every day and who can provide us such high quality feedback and guidance!”

Availability and Price

DaVinci Resolve 11 is available now for US$995 (free update for previous customers). For new customers looking for advanced color correction and editing, DaVinci Resolve 11 Lite is a powerful version that can be downloaded free and supports resolutions up to Ultra HD.

Excerpts from Press Release