How to Add Cinematic Black Bars in DaVinci Resolve

In the world of video editing, achieving a professional and cinematic look is essential. One effective technique to elevate your video’s visual appeal is by adding cinematic black bars. In this article, titled “How to Add Cinematic Black Bars in DaVinci Resolve,” we will explore the step-by-step process of incorporating these black bars into your videos using the powerful editing software, DaVinci Resolve.

Through this tutorial by Media Magnet Guide, you will gain insights into how to create a captivating and cinematic look for your videos. From the initial steps of importing your footage to the final adjustments, this article will guide you through the entire process. Join us as we dive into the world of DaVinci Resolve and learn how to add cinematic black bars to enhance the visual impact of your videos.

Understanding the Purpose of Cinematic Black Bars

The aesthetic appeal of black bars

When watching a movie or a professionally produced video, you may have noticed black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. These black bars, also known as letterboxing, are intentionally added to create a cinematic look and enhance the overall appearance of the video. They give the video a widescreen aspect ratio, similar to what you see in the cinema, and can evoke a sense of grandeur and artistry.

The black bars not only create a visually appealing frame for the video content but also help guide the viewer’s focus to the center of the screen. By eliminating distractions on the sides, the viewer’s attention is drawn to the main subject or action happening in the middle.

Technical reasons for using black bars

Apart from the aesthetic appeal, black bars also serve technical purposes. In some cases, videos are shot in different aspect ratios, such as 16:9 or 4:3. When these videos are displayed on screens with a different aspect ratio, black bars are added to preserve the original video’s intended dimensions. This prevents any distortion or cropping of the image, ensuring that the content is displayed as the filmmaker intended.

Additionally, when mixing footage from different sources or cameras, the aspect ratios may not match. By adding black bars, the editor can create a consistent visual experience throughout the video, regardless of the original aspect ratio of the footage.

Overall, cinematic black bars not only enhance the visual appeal of a video but also serve important technical purposes in maintaining the intended aspect ratio and visual consistency.

Brief Overview of DaVinci Resolve

Introduction to DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a comprehensive video editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production software. It offers a wide array of tools and features that cater to the needs of both professionals and beginners. Originally developed for high-end color grading, DaVinci Resolve has evolved into a powerful all-in-one solution for post-production.

With its user-friendly interface and extensive toolset, DaVinci Resolve has gained popularity among filmmakers, video editors, and content creators of all levels of expertise. It provides advanced editing capabilities and professional-grade color grading, allowing users to achieve the desired cinematic look in their videos.

Popular uses of DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is used in a variety of industries and for a wide range of projects. It is commonly used in the film and television industry for color grading and post-production processes. The software provides advanced color correction tools that allow professionals to achieve precise and detailed color grading.

Furthermore, DaVinci Resolve is also popular among YouTubers, videographers, and content creators who require professional editing and color grading capabilities. The software’s user-friendly interface and powerful features make it accessible to beginners while still providing the necessary tools for advanced editing techniques.

Advantages of using DaVinci Resolve

One of the main advantages of using DaVinci Resolve is its comprehensive feature set. It combines video editing, color grading, visual effects, and audio post-production into a single software, eliminating the need for multiple tools and workflows. This integration enhances the efficiency and productivity of post-production processes.

Additionally, DaVinci Resolve is known for its professional-grade color grading capabilities. It offers a wide range of color correction tools, including curves, color wheels, and power windows, allowing users to achieve precise and stunning color grading results. The software’s advanced algorithms ensure high-quality color reproduction and accuracy.

Furthermore, DaVinci Resolve supports various video formats and resolutions, making it suitable for projects of all sizes and complexities. It also provides seamless integration with other industry-standard software and hardware, allowing users to leverage their existing workflows and equipment.

Overall, DaVinci Resolve’s comprehensive feature set, professional-grade color grading capabilities, and compatibility with different formats and equipment make it a popular choice among professionals and beginners alike.

Getting Started with DaVinci Resolve

Installing DaVinci Resolve

To begin using DaVinci Resolve, you need to install the software on your computer. DaVinci Resolve is available for both Windows and macOS operating systems and can be downloaded from the Blackmagic Design website.

Before downloading the software, make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements specified by Blackmagic Design. This will ensure smooth and efficient performance of DaVinci Resolve.

Once you have downloaded the installer, run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions. The installation process may take some time, depending on your computer’s specifications.

Navigating the interface

After installing DaVinci Resolve, you can launch the software and familiarize yourself with its interface. The interface consists of different panels and controls that allow you to navigate and interact with your project.

At the center of the interface is the timeline panel, where you can arrange and edit your video clips. To the left of the timeline is the media pool panel, which displays all the media files imported into your project. The media pool also includes folders for organizing your clips.

On the right side of the interface are various panels for performing different tasks, such as color grading, effects, and audio editing. These panels can be expanded or collapsed based on your workflow preferences.

DaVinci Resolve’s interface is highly customizable, allowing you to arrange the panels and controls according to your needs. You can create custom workspaces and save them for future use, streamlining your editing process.

Understanding the basic tools

Before diving into video editing, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with some of the basic tools available in DaVinci Resolve.

Cut tool: The cut tool allows you to split video clips at specific points. This is useful when you want to remove unwanted sections or rearrange the sequence of clips in your timeline.
Trim tool: The trim tool enables you to adjust the in and out points of a clip directly in the timeline. It allows for precise control over the duration of the clip and helps in creating seamless transitions between clips.
Transform tool: The transform tool lets you resize, position, and rotate video clips within the frame. This is useful for adjusting the size or position of a clip to achieve the desired composition.
Text tool: The text tool allows you to add titles, captions, or other textual elements to your videos. DaVinci Resolve provides various customization options for text, including font, size, color, and animation.

By familiarizing yourself with these basic tools, you’ll be ready to start editing your videos in DaVinci Resolve.

Basic Video Editing in DaVinci Resolve

Importing video files

Before you can start editing your video in DaVinci Resolve, you need to import the video files into your project. To import video files, follow these steps:

In the media pool panel, navigate to the folder where your video files are located.
Select the files you want to import and drag them into the media pool.
DaVinci Resolve will automatically create individual clips for each imported file.

Alternatively, you can use the import media button in the media pool panel to browse for and import video files from your computer.

Cutting and trimming clips

Once you have imported your video files into the media pool, you can start editing them in the timeline. One of the fundamental editing tasks is cutting and trimming clips to remove unwanted sections or adjust their duration.

To cut a clip in the timeline, follow these steps:

Position the playhead at the desired point where you want to make the cut.
Select the clip by clicking on it in the timeline.
Use the cut tool to split the clip at the playhead position.

To trim the in and out points of a clip, follow these steps:

Select the clip by clicking on it in the timeline.
Drag the edges of the clip to adjust the in and out points.
Preview the trimmed clip to ensure it fits seamlessly into your edit.

By combining cutting and trimming techniques, you can refine the timing and sequence of your video clips.

Adding transitions and effects

Transitions and effects can enhance the visual appeal and storytelling of your video. DaVinci Resolve offers a variety of transitions and effects that you can apply to your clips.

To add a transition between two clips, follow these steps:

Position the playhead at the beginning of the clip where you want to add the transition.
Right-click on the transition you want to use from the effects panel.
Select “Apply to Selected Edit Points” to add the transition to the desired location.

To add an effect to a clip, follow these steps:

Select the clip by clicking on it in the timeline.
Go to the effects panel and browse for the desired effect.
Drag and drop the effect onto the clip in the timeline.

You can customize the duration and properties of transitions and effects to achieve the desired visual impact.

Setting Up the Project

Creating a new project

Before you start working on your video, you need to create a new project in DaVinci Resolve to organize your files. To create a new project, follow these steps:

Open DaVinci Resolve.
In the project manager panel, click on the “Create New Project” button.
Enter a project name and select the location where you want to save the project files.
Configure the project settings, such as resolution, frame rate, and audio format.
Click “Create” to create the new project.

Once the project is created, you can begin importing your video files and organizing them within the project.

Setting up video resolution and format

When creating a new project in DaVinci Resolve, you have the option to configure the video resolution and format. The resolution and format determine the quality and compatibility of your final video output.

To set up the video resolution and format, follow these steps:

After creating a new project, go to the project settings panel.
In the format tab, choose the desired video format for your project.
In the timeline resolution tab, select the resolution that matches your source footage or desired output format.

It’s important to ensure consistency between the resolution and format of your project and the resolution and format of your video files to avoid any compatibility issues.

Importing and organizing clips

Once your project is set up, you can import your video clips into the media pool and organize them within the project.

To import video clips, follow the same steps mentioned earlier in the “Basic Video Editing in DaVinci Resolve” section.

To organize your clips within the project, follow these steps:

In the media pool panel, create folders for different categories or scenes.
Drag and drop the imported clips into the appropriate folders or subfolders.
You can also reorganize the clips within folders by dragging and dropping them to different positions.

Organizing your clips within the project helps in maintaining a structured workflow and makes it easier to locate and access specific clips during the editing process.

How to Create Black Bars in DaVinci Resolve

Creating a new adjustment layer

To add black bars to your video in DaVinci Resolve, you can create a new adjustment layer. An adjustment layer is a transparent layer that can be placed above your video clips to apply effects or modifications to the entire video.

To create a new adjustment layer, follow these steps:

In the timeline, right-click and select “New Adjustment Clip.”
A new adjustment layer will appear in the timeline above your video clips.

Applying the ‘crop’ effect

To create black bars, you can use the ‘crop’ effect in DaVinci Resolve. The crop effect allows you to adjust the size and position of the video within the frame.

To apply the ‘crop’ effect to the adjustment layer, follow these steps:

Select the adjustment layer in the timeline.
In the inspector panel, navigate to the ‘Video’ tab.
Click on the ‘OpenFX’ button to expand the effects menu.
Search for the ‘crop’ effect and drag it onto the adjustment layer.

Adjusting the top and bottom crop values

Once the ‘crop’ effect is applied to the adjustment layer, you can adjust the top and bottom crop values to create the black bars.

To adjust the top and bottom crop values, follow these steps:

Select the adjustment layer in the timeline.
In the inspector panel, navigate to the ‘OpenFX’ tab.
Locate the ‘crop’ effect and adjust the top and bottom crop values.
Increase the top crop value to create black bars at the top of the video.
Increase the bottom crop value to create black bars at the bottom of the video.

By adjusting the top and bottom crop values, you can create the desired size and position for the black bars in your video.

How to Use Black Bars Effectively

When to use black bars

Black bars can be used effectively in various situations to enhance the cinematic look of your video. Here are some instances where you might consider using black bars:

Widescreen video: If your video has a wide aspect ratio, adding black bars can accentuate the cinematic experience and give it a more immersive feel.
Vertical shots in a horizontal frame: If you have vertical shots or footage captured with a different aspect ratio from the rest of your video, adding black bars can help blend them seamlessly with the rest of the content.
Adding emphasis on the main subject: By using black bars, you can draw attention to the center of the screen, highlighting the main subject or action in your video.

Dos and don’ts of using black bars

While black bars can enhance the cinematic look of your video, it’s important to use them judiciously and consider their impact on the overall viewing experience. Here are some dos and don’ts when using black bars:

Do maintain consistency: If you decide to use black bars, ensure that they are consistent throughout the entire video. Inconsistent use of black bars can be distracting and disrupt the visual flow.
Don’t overuse black bars: Adding excessive black bars can create a distracting and claustrophobic effect. Use black bars sparingly and purposefully to enhance the visual appeal of your video, rather than overpowering it.
Do consider the aspect ratio: When adding black bars, consider the original aspect ratio of your video footage. The black bars should maintain the intended proportions and not distort the content.
Don’t add black bars for the sake of it: Adding black bars just for the sake of mimicking a cinematic look may not always be necessary. Evaluate the context and purpose of your video to determine if black bars are appropriate and beneficial.

By following these dos and don’ts, you can effectively utilize black bars to enhance the cinematic look of your video without compromising the overall viewing experience.

Customizing Black Bars in DaVinci Resolve

Adjusting the size of black bars

DaVinci Resolve provides the flexibility to customize the size of the black bars according to your preference. By adjusting the top and bottom crop values, as mentioned earlier, you can create black bars of varying sizes.

To customize the size of the black bars, follow these steps:

Select the adjustment layer in the timeline.
In the inspector panel, navigate to the ‘OpenFX’ tab.
Locate the ‘crop’ effect and adjust the top and bottom crop values to increase or decrease the size of the black bars.

Experiment with different sizes to find the one that best complements your video and achieves the desired cinematic effect.

Animating the appearance of black bars

In addition to customizing the size of the black bars, DaVinci Resolve allows you to animate their appearance. By animating the black bars, you can introduce them gradually or create dynamic transitions in your video.

To animate the appearance of black bars, you can utilize keyframes in DaVinci Resolve. Keyframes allow you to set and control specific points in the timeline where changes occur.

To animate the appearance of black bars using keyframes, follow these steps:

Select the adjustment layer in the timeline.
In the inspector panel, navigate to the ‘Keyframes’ tab.
Enable keyframing for the top and bottom crop values.
Set keyframes at different points in the timeline to control when and how the black bars appear or disappear.
Adjust the values of each keyframe to determine the speed and smoothness of the animation.

By animating the appearance of black bars, you can add an extra layer of visual interest and creativity to your video.

Optional Tools to Create Cinematic Look

Using color grading tools

While black bars can enhance the cinematic look of your video, color grading is another crucial aspect that contributes to the overall visual aesthetics. DaVinci Resolve offers powerful color grading tools that allow you to adjust and enhance the colors, contrast, and saturation of your video.

To utilize the color grading tools in DaVinci Resolve, follow these steps:

Select a video clip in the timeline or the color page.
Go to the color grading panel and explore the various grading controls, such as color wheels, curves, and sliders.
Experiment with different adjustments to achieve the desired color grading for your video.
Use the scopes, such as waveform and vectorscope, to ensure accurate color reproduction.

Color grading can greatly elevate the cinematographic qualities of your video and create a more visually captivating experience.

Adding grain or filmic noise

Another optional tool to consider when creating a cinematic look is adding grain or filmic noise to your video. These effects mimic the texture and characteristics of traditional film, giving your video a more organic and nostalgic feel.

To add grain or filmic noise in DaVinci Resolve, follow these steps:

Select a video clip in the timeline or the effects panel.
Go to the effects library and search for grain or filmic noise effects.
Drag and drop the desired effect onto the clip in the timeline.
Adjust the settings of the effect to achieve the desired intensity and appearance of the grain or filmic noise.

Adding grain or filmic noise can add depth and richness to your video while evoking a sense of nostalgia and cinematic authenticity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding cinematic black bars to your video can greatly enhance its visual appeal and create a professional, cinematic look. DaVinci Resolve provides a comprehensive set of tools and features that allow you to easily add black bars and customize them according to your preferences.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively add cinematic black bars to your videos using DaVinci Resolve. Remember to consider the aesthetic and technical reasons for using black bars, use them judiciously, and experiment with other optional tools like color grading and adding grain or filmic noise.

As you become more familiar with DaVinci Resolve and its advanced features, don’t hesitate to explore and experiment with different techniques to achieve your desired cinematic look. With practice and creativity, you can elevate the visual quality of your videos and captivate your audience with a professional, cinematic experience.