This guide helps you prepare your edit for further processing (conform) in DaVinci Resolve.
Recommended
Source Media Workflow
Original media is referenced – maximum flexibility for resolution and colour grading.
Alternative
Flat Quicktime Workflow
A flattened Quicktime serves as the basis – simpler, but with limitations.
Prepare sequence
01
Create a copy of your sequence and add a descriptive suffix, e.g. forColor.
02
Remove graphics, text overlays and other elements not relevant for grading.
Exception: If I am to create the final exports in Resolve, leave all elements unchanged.
03
Reduce the clips and edits to as few video tracks as possible – ideally just 1–2. When finished, there should be no clips or clip sections in the sequence that are not visible in the final cut.
04
Join all through edits, unless they serve to subdivide speed changes or reframes.
05
Replace all multi-cam clips, nested sequences or compound clips with their source clips.
06
Swap all proxies or transcoded clips for the original source clips.
Clean up
07
Delete empty video tracks.
08
Delete all audio tracks and clips. Replace with an audio mixdown.
Export & Handoff
09
Copy all original media to a working drive.
10
Export an XML or AAF of the sequence.
11
Export a Quicktime of the sequence in native resolution as ProRes LT or H.264.
Prepare sequence
01
Create a copy of your sequence and add a descriptive suffix, e.g. forColor.
02
Make sure the sequence resolution matches the desired final delivery resolution.
03
Verify that all clips fill the frame completely without black bars (pillarboxing or letterboxing).
04
Remove all dissolves or other transitions.
05
Finalise any position or zoom adjustments, as these will be baked into the colour grade.
06
Remove graphics, text overlays and other elements not relevant for grading.
Exception: If you want to create the final exports in Resolve, leave all elements unchanged and export them as a separate Quicktime with alpha (without footage!).
07
Remove filters and LUTs.
08
Swap all proxies or transcoded clips for the original source clips.
Export & Handoff
09
Export an EDL, XML or AAF of the sequence.
10
Export a Quicktime of the sequence in native resolution as ProRes 4444.
Limitations of this workflow
Dissolves or other transitions in the sequence cannot be carried over. These must be manually re-added afterwards.
The final render resolution is limited to the resolution of the delivered flat Quicktime, regardless of the original footage resolution.
All composited elements will be treated as a single flat element.