Welcome to Designers Choice, a place where creative professionals find the tools and knowledge to bring their ideas to life. In the world of video editing, a simple zoom effect can make a big difference.
Knowing how to zoom in DaVinci Resolve helps you guide your viewer’s attention and add excitement to your video projects.
This guide will show you several easy ways to master the zoom in DaVinci Resolve. We’ll start with the basics using the Inspector Panel, explore the smooth Dynamic Zoom, and even get into detailed animations.
Let’s make your videos look even better.
How to Zoom in DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve provides multiple pathways to achieve a zoom effect, each suited for different needs and levels of complexity.
For a quick adjustment, the Inspector Panel is your go-to tool. For an automated, smooth transition, Dynamic Zoom offers a simple solution.
For ultimate control over the timing and feel of your zoom, keyframing is the most powerful method. Let’s break down each of these approaches.
Method 1: The Inspector Panel For Quick and Easy Zooms
The most straightforward way to apply a zoom is through the Transform controls in the Inspector Panel. This is the first way many new users learn and is perfect for applying a simple, static zoom to a clip.
Step-by-Step Guide to A Simple Static Zoom
- Select Your Clip: Start by clicking on the video clip in your DaVinci Resolve timeline that you want to zoom into. The selected clip will be highlighted.
- Open the Inspector: With the clip selected, navigate to the top-right corner of the interface and click on “Inspector” to open the Inspector Panel. If it’s already open, you’ll see its controls.
- Adjust the Zoom: Under the “Transform” section, you will find sliders for Zoom X and Y. By default, they are linked, so changing one will change the other, maintaining the aspect ratio. Increase the value to zoom in and get a closer look at your subject.
Adjusting Zoom, Position, and Rotation Properties
Once you’ve zoomed in, you may need to reposition the frame to focus on the most important part of the image.
- Position: Use the “Position” X and Y sliders to move the zoomed-in frame horizontally or vertically. This is important for reframing your shot after applying a zoom.
- Rotation: The “Rotation Angle” slider lets you rotate the clip. This can be used for creative effects or to correct a slightly skewed horizon line.
Making these precise adjustments ensures your composition remains strong even after cropping into the original footage.
Resetting Your Zoom Settings
If you’re not happy with the adjustments or want to start over, you can easily reset the Transform properties.
To the right of each setting (Zoom, Position, etc.), there is a reset icon. Clicking this will return the specific property to its default value. To reset all Transform settings at once, click the reset icon at the top of the Transform section.
Method 2: Using Dynamic Zoom For Automated Effects
For a more cinematic feel, DaVinci Resolve offers a feature called Dynamic Zoom. This tool automatically creates a smooth zoom effect over the duration of a clip without the need for manual keyframing. It’s a quick way to add motion and energy to static shots.
How to Enable and Customize Dynamic Zoom in the Inspector?
- Select the Clip: Click on the desired clip in your timeline.
- Enable Dynamic Zoom: In the Inspector Panel, scroll down until you see the Dynamic Zoom section. Toggle the switch to turn it on; it will turn red to indicate it’s active.
- On-Screen Controls: Once enabled, you’ll see two colored rectangles overlaid on your video in the viewer window: a green one and a red one. The green box represents the start of the zoom, and the red box represents the end. By default, DaVinci creates a zoom-in effect, starting wide (green box covers the whole frame) and moving to a tighter shot (red box is smaller).
Swapping Start and End Positions For A “Zoom Out” Effect
If you want to zoom out instead of in, it’s a simple fix. In the Dynamic Zoom section of the Inspector, there’s a “Swap” button. Clicking this will reverse the start and end positions, making the green box smaller and the red box larger, resulting in a smooth zoom-out effect.
On-Screen Controls For Visual Dynamic Zoom Adjustments
The on-screen controls offer a very intuitive way to set up your Dynamic Zoom.
- Resize: You can click and drag the corners of the green and red boxes to change their size. A smaller box means a greater zoom.
- Reposition: Click inside a box and drag it to change its position on the screen. This allows you to control where the zoom starts and ends. For example, you can start with a wide shot and have the Dynamic Zoom end on a person’s face.
Method 3: Keyframing For Full Manual Control Over Your Zoom
For the most control over your Zoom effect, you’ll want to use keyframes.
Keyframing allows you to animate changes to almost any property over time, including zoom, position, and rotation. This method is perfect for creating custom zoom speeds, combining zooms with pans, and synchronizing effects with audio or on-screen action.
Adding Start and End Keyframes For Precise Animation
- Position the Playhead: Move the playhead on your timeline to the exact frame where you want the zoom to begin.
- Add the First Keyframe: In the Inspector Panel, under “Transform,” click the gray diamond icon next to the “Zoom” property. The diamond will turn red, indicating that a keyframe has been set at that point in time with the current value. You should also add keyframes for “Position” if you plan to pan or tilt during the zoom.
- Position and Set the End Keyframe: Move the playhead further down the timeline to where you want the zoom to end. Now, change the “Zoom” value to your desired level. DaVinci Resolve will automatically add a new keyframe with the new value. You have now created a basic zoom animation between these two points.
Modifying Keyframe Curves For Smooth Ease In and Ease Out
By default, the animation between keyframes is linear, which can sometimes feel robotic. To make the movement more natural, you can adjust the easing.
- Open the Spline Editor: Right-click on the red diamond icon of a keyframe you’ve set, and you will see options to add “Ease In” or “Ease Out.”
- Adjust the Curves: For even more control, open the spline editor by clicking the curve icon next to the keyframe diamond in the Inspector. This opens a graph where you can manually manipulate the curves of your animation. By changing the shape of the curve, you can make the zoom start slowly, speed up in the middle, and then slow down again as it ends, creating a much smoother and more professional-looking effect.
Combining Zoom Keyframes With Pan and Tilt Movements
The true power of keyframing is unlocked when you combine animations.
By setting keyframes for both “Zoom” and “Position” at the same start and end points, you can create a move that zooms in while also panning across the screen. For example, you could start with a wide shot, then zoom in and pan from one person to another in a single, fluid motion.
These precise adjustments give you complete creative control over your camera movements in post-production.
Pro-Level Zoom Techniques In DaVinci Resolve
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to more advanced techniques that can save you time and open up new creative possibilities.
Using Adjustment Clips to Zoom Multiple Clips Simultaneously
If you have a sequence of several clips that all need the same zoom effect applied, doing it one by one is tedious. An Adjustment Clip is the solution.
- Add an Adjustment Clip: Go to the Effects Library, find “Adjustment Clip” under “Effects,” and drag it onto a new video track above the clips you want to affect.
- Apply the Zoom to the Adjustment Clip: Select the Adjustment Clip in the timeline. Now, go to the Inspector Panel and apply your zoom (either static, Dynamic Zoom, or keyframed) to the Adjustment Clip itself.
- The Effect is Applied to All Clips Below: Any effect you apply to the Adjustment Clip will automatically affect all the clips on the tracks beneath it. This is a huge time-saver for applying a consistent look or reframing a whole scene.
Creating Advanced Zooms in the Fusion Page
For full control, you can use the Fusion page in DaVinci Resolve. Fusion is built into Resolve and uses nodes. It is harder to learn than other parts of Resolve, but it gives you great power.
In Fusion, you can make zooms with many points. You can also add blur to your Zoom for a more realistic look.
The zoom effect can be used with other cool tricks, too. Learning Fusion takes time and is a big topic by itself.
Still, it is good to know that Fusion is there when you need very fine control in your videos.
Tips to Maintain Video Quality When Zooming In
A common concern when zooming in is the loss of image quality. When you zoom in digitally, you are essentially enlarging the pixels, which can lead to a soft or pixelated image.
Here are some tips to minimize quality loss:
- Shoot in a Higher Resolution: If you know you’ll be zooming in post-production, shoot your footage in a higher resolution than your final delivery format. For example, shoot in 4K if your final video will be 1080p. This gives you extra pixels to work with, allowing you to zoom in without a noticeable drop in image quality.
- Use High-Quality Codecs: The quality of your source footage matters. Recording in a high-bitrate codec will give you a cleaner image to start with.
- Don’t Overdo It: There’s a limit to how much you can zoom before the image degrades. A small zoom of 10-20% is often fine, but pushing it to 200% on 1080p footage will likely look bad. Use your judgment and pay close attention to the viewer to see how the image quality holds up.
FAQ’s:
How Do I Quickly Zoom In and Out For Faster Editing?
For editing the timeline itself, not the video image, you can use the slider bar located above the timeline tracks. It has “+” and “–” buttons to zoom in and out of the scale of the timeline. You can also drag the slider for a more dynamic adjustment.
This allows you to get a broad overview of your project or zoom in to make frame-by-frame edits.
Can I Use Pinch Gestures Or Keyboard Shortcuts to Zoom on the Timeline?
Yes, there are several keyboard shortcut options for timeline navigation.
- Windows: Hold CTRL and use the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in and out of the Davinci Resolve timeline. You can also use CTRL + = to zoom in and CTRL + – to zoom out.
- Mac: On a Mac, the shortcut is Command + scroll wheel or Command + = and Command + -. These shortcuts are invaluable for a fast and efficient workflow.
What Is Gang Zoom, and How Does It Work In DaVinci Resolve?
Gang Zoom is a feature that links the zoom level of the source viewer and the timeline viewer.
When enabled, zooming in on one will also zoom in on the other by the same amount. This can be useful for comparing shots or doing color correction work where you need to see details in both viewers simultaneously.
How Can I Zoom and Move Around the Viewer Window?
To zoom into the viewer window itself (not the video content), you can use your mouse scroll wheel.
To pan around the zoomed-in viewer, hold down the middle mouse button and drag. This is helpful for closely inspecting a part of the frame without actually applying a zoom effect to your video.
Conclusion
Mastering the various methods of how to zoom in DaVinci Resolve is a significant step toward becoming a more proficient video editor.
From the simplicity of the Inspector Panel for quick fixes to the automated elegance of Dynamic Zoom and the granular control of keyframing, DaVinci Resolve provides a tool for every scenario.
Learning these methods allows you to enhance your video projects with a professional touch, direct the viewer’s attention effectively, and infuse your storytelling with energy and dynamism.
Remember to consider the impact on image quality and choose the method that best suits your creative intent. With practice, these tools will become second nature, allowing you to edit with greater speed and precision.
The name Jim Simon may not be his real name, but the techniques he and others demonstrate are very real and effective.
