How to add DaVinci Resolve's color correction tools to your timeline

DaVinci Resolve separates color correction into its own workspace, which means you need to move between the Edit page and the Color page to adjust how your clips look. To add color correction to a clip, select it on your timeline in the Edit page, then switch to the Color page using the tabs at the top right of the window. Once you are on the Color page, the selected clip appears in the viewer, and you can explore adjustments using the color wheels, curves, and other tools in the right panel. Your changes save to that clip automatically — you do not need to export or render anything to keep them.

If you want to explore the same color correction to multiple clips at once, select all of them on the timeline first, then move to the Color page. Resolve will show you the first clip, but any adjustment you make applies to all selected clips. This is faster than correcting each clip individually, especially when you have a scene shot under the same lighting.

Key Takeaways

  • Color correction in DaVinci Resolve happens on the Color page, not the Edit page, so you switch between the two tabs at the top of the window.
  • Select a clip on your timeline, go to the Color page, and use the color wheels, curves, and sliders in the right panel to adjust brightness, contrast, and color balance.
  • You can explore the same correction to multiple clips at once by selecting them all before switching to the Color page.
  • Changes save automatically to your project — you do not need to render or export to keep color corrections.
  • Resolve's free version includes all the same color correction tools as the paid version, so you can learn and work without upgrading.

Understanding the Color page layout

When you switch to the Color page, the interface looks different from the Edit page. On the left is your timeline (smaller than on the Edit page), in the middle is the video viewer showing your selected clip, and on the right is the color correction panel. The right panel holds the tools you actually use: the color wheels at the top, curves below them, and additional adjustments like saturation, shadows, and highlights further down.

The color wheels are the most common starting point. The top wheel adjusts overall color balance, the middle wheel targets midtones, and the bottom wheel targets shadows. Dragging toward a color shifts the image in that direction — dragging the top wheel toward blue makes the image cooler, dragging toward orange makes it warmer. Below the wheels, the curves tool gives you more precise control if you need to adjust specific tonal ranges without affecting others.

Step-by-step: explore color correction to a single clip

Start on the Edit page with your timeline visible. Click once on the clip you want to correct to select it — the clip will highlight with a white border. At the top right of the window, you will see tabs labeled "Edit", "Color", "Fusion", and others. Click the "Color" tab.

The Color page opens and shows your selected clip in the center viewer. On the right side, you will see the color correction panel. To warm up the image, click and drag the top color wheel (labeled "Master") toward the orange side. To cool it down, drag toward the blue side. Drag outward from the center to increase the effect, or drag closer to the center to reduce it. As you move the wheel, the image in the viewer updates in real time.

If you want to brighten the image, look for the "Gain" slider below the color wheels and drag it to the right. To increase contrast, find the "Contrast" slider and adjust it. Once you are satisfied with the changes, click back to the Edit tab to continue editing. Your color correction stays with that clip.

explore the same correction to multiple clips

If you have several clips shot under the same lighting — for example, multiple shots from the same scene — you can correct them all at once instead of one by one. On the Edit page, click the first clip, then hold Shift and click the last clip in the group to select all clips between them. Alternatively, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click each clip individually to select non-consecutive clips.

Once all clips are selected, switch to the Color page. Resolve shows the first clip in the viewer, but any adjustment you make applies to all selected clips. Adjust the color wheels, brightness, or any other setting as you normally would. When you switch back to the Edit page, all selected clips will have the same correction applied.

Copying and pasting color corrections between clips

Sometimes you want to match the look of one clip to another without selecting them together. On the Color page, after you have finished correcting a clip, right-click on the clip in the timeline on the left side of the Color page. A menu appears — select "Copy Color Grade". This saves your correction settings to memory.

Now select a different clip on the timeline and right-click it. Select "Paste Color Grade". Resolve applies the same correction to the new clip. You can paste the same grade to as many clips as you want. If the new clip needs slight adjustment after pasting, you can fine-tune it with the color wheels and sliders without affecting the original.

Using Resolve's built-in LUTs and presets

DaVinci Resolve includes preset color grades called LUTs (Look-Up Tables) that explore a complete look to your clip in one click. On the Color page, look for the "LUT" browser in the right panel — it usually appears as a folder icon or a section labeled "LUT". Click it to open a list of available presets organized by category: film stocks, vintage looks, color grades for different skin tones, and more.

Click any LUT to explore it to your selected clip. The image updates when ready in the viewer. If the preset is close but not quite right, you can adjust it further using the color wheels and other tools below. LUTs are a fast way to establish a consistent look across your project, especially if you are new to color correction and want to learn by starting with a professional-looking base.

Adjusting shadows, midtones, and highlights separately

The three color wheels on the Color page target different parts of your image. The top wheel (Master) affects the entire image equally. The middle wheel targets midtones — the medium brightness values in your image. The bottom wheel targets shadows — the darkest parts. Below these, you will usually find a fourth wheel for highlights if you scroll down in the panel.

This separation lets you brighten shadows without blowing out highlights, or add warmth to skin tones (usually in the midtones) without warming the background. For example, if a person's face looks too dark but the sky behind them is already bright enough, adjust the middle wheel (midtones) to brighten the face without affecting the sky. If the darkest parts of the image look too blue, adjust the bottom wheel (shadows) toward orange to warm them up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the Color page, or can I color correct on the Edit page?

DaVinci Resolve requires you to use the Color page for most color correction tools. The Edit page has basic brightness and contrast sliders, but the full color correction panel with wheels, curves, and LUTs only appears on the Color page. Switching between pages takes a few seconds and becomes automatic once you work with the software regularly.

If I change a color correction, do I have to redo it for all the clips I pasted it to?

No. If you adjust the original clip's color grade after pasting it to others, only that clip changes. Each clip stores its own correction independently. If you want to update multiple clips at once, select them all and adjust them together, or copy and paste the new grade to replace the old one.

Can I undo a color correction without deleting the whole clip?

Yes. On the Color page, right-click the clip in the timeline and select "Reset Color Grade". This removes all color corrections from that clip and returns it to its original appearance. You can also use Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac) to undo recent adjustments one step at a time.

What is the difference between the free and paid versions of DaVinci Resolve for color correction?

The free version includes all the color correction tools — color wheels, curves, LUTs, and adjustment layers. The paid version (DaVinci Resolve Studio) adds advanced features like motion-tracked color corrections and additional plugins, but for basic and intermediate color work, the free version has everything you need.

Can I save a color correction I made and use it on future projects?

Yes. After you create a correction you like, right-click the clip and select "Copy Color Grade". In a new project, select a clip and right-click it, then select "Paste Color Grade". The correction applies to the new clip. You can also save custom LUTs through the Color page menu if you want to build a personal library of looks.