Blackmagic Design today announced that DaVinci Resolve 11 public beta is available for customers to download now.

This new update includes over 100 new editing and color grading features, including major improvements in online editing, plus dual monitor support, context sensitive trimming, onset file cloning, photographer style color grading tools and an new collaborative workflow that allows multiple users to work simultaneously on the same timeline.

There are over 70 new editing features based on feedback from professional editors. Including context sensitive trimming, 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. Clips can be trimmed on multiple tracks simultaneously in the same direction, or asymmetrically.

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 allows editors 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.

There is better round trip collaboration with Final Cut Pro X due to increased compatibility between applications. This is a great update to the workflow and makes it possible to allow independent filmmakers to integrate with the largest post production facilities.

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.

There’s a new clone tool which copies media drives, memory cards and camera packs to multiple destinations simultaneously. All copies are checksum verified, which 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.

There’s also 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.

DaVinci Resolve 11 also adds optimizations to OpenCL image processing which allows improved rendering speeds on the new Apple MacPro systems.

“This is a massive update and we are really excited about DaVinci Resolve 11,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “Since we added the new editing tools into DaVinci Resolve we have had some great feedback from editors working on high end feature film and television programming jobs. We have rolled this great advice into DaVinci Resolve and now it’s a fantastic full featured online editor. Of course we continue to add wonderful color correction and on set tools into this release as well. This is the best version of DaVinci Resolve we have ever released and we are going to provide this update to all DaVinci Resolve customers free of charge. This means the cost of switching to the worlds most exciting online editor will be zero!”

Availability and Price

DaVinci Resolve 11 public beta is available now for download from the Blackmagic Design web site free of charge.

Blackmagic Camera Update 1.8

The Blackmagic Camera Update 1.8 is available now for download, free of charge for all existing Blackmagic Camera customers, for Mac & Windows.

The new update features a completely new code base for all Blackmagic digital film cameras and supports the original wide dynamic range 2.5K Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K.

This all new code base also improves performance and includes a new modern user interface similar in design to the new URSA camera announced at NAB. This new user interface is included in all models of cameras available from Blackmagic Design.

The update adds compressed RAW DNG support for the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K model, and this allows RAW recording in real time so all sensor data can be captured allowing more range. There is also enhanced lens control support for EF lens mount cameras, improved focus peaking display allowing accurate and super sharp manual focus. The focus peaking is now green in color so it’s much easer to see, and the filters generating the edge peaking have been optimized allowing for better detection and display for maximum sharpness. In addition, the iris control has been changed, due to customer request, to hold its setting between record and playback.

There are major improvements for the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera models including improved audio performance and a completely rewritten new higher quality de-bayer processor. This new de-bayer means when customers record to normal video files such as ProRes or DNxHD they will get sharper and cleaner looking images. This new de-bayer processing features algorithms that have been incorporated from DaVinci Resolve.

Other benefits for the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera includes enhancements to the camera’s dynamic range when shooting at 1600 ISO.

Improvements for the Pocket Cinema Camera including the updated interface, new focus peaking and improved de-bayer quality, plus additional active MFT lens support for lenses including Sigma and Lumix.

“We have been working very hard to incorporate camera feature requests that customers have been sending us,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “There are major changes and improvements in this update and we are very excited to see the wonderful creative work done with the benefit of this software. Of course, we are working very hard on more features we want to add into our cameras and you will see more and more of what we have been working on in updates that will be release over the upcoming months.”

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

Updated user interface

Losslessly compressed RAW DNG recording support

Addresses an issue where pixel artefacts are seen in edges with strong highlights while shooting in 1080 mode

Adds autofocus support for compatible EF lenses

Blackmagic Cinema Camera

Updated user interface

Adds autofocus support for compatible EF lenses

Improved debayering when shooting to ProRes or DNxHD

Improved focus peaking display

Improved ISO handling when shooting at ISO 1600

Improved general audio performance

Iris setting is retained when switching between camera recording and clip playback

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera

Updated user interface

Improved performance when recording using internal microphones

Improved instances where a grid-like pattern may occur in some flare highlights

General improvements in autofocus with active MFT lenses

Adds supports for stabilization in MFT lenses without physical O.I.S switches

Improved support for Sigma MFT lenses

Improved support for Lumix 12-42mm PZ lens

Improved support for Olympus 60mm f/2.8 MFT lens

Iris setting is retained when switching between camera and clip playback

Blackmagic Studio Camera

Improved phantom power compatibility

Addresses an issue with interlace video being output as progressive video

Excerpts from Press Releases