5 new features in DaVinci Resolve 19 that make my favorite video editor even better

After using Final Cut Pro for years, I switched to Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve as my video editor about six months ago. I’ve used Resolve for several video projects and it’s much better than Apple’s product — and I’m just skimming the surface. 

After a few months of using the software, I discovered Blackmagic Design has something special in version 19 of DaVinci Resolve. I’m here to tell you that this new release is incredible. Blackmagic Design knows what its customers want.

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Let me tell you about five features that stand out for me. Of course, the list of improvements is lengthy, so if you’re not a fan of the features I’m about to highlight, I’m certain there will be something else in the latest version that whets your appetite.

Let’s get to the features.

1. Film Look Creator

This is, by far, my favorite new feature in DaVinci Resolve 19. With this new feature (found in the Open FX sub-menu in the Effects tab of the Edit window), you can adjust your clips (in a single location) to give them a film-like look. With this feature, you can select from presets, such as 65mm, 35mm, Cinematic, Bleach Bypass, Nostalgic, No Effects, Clean Slate, or Custom. 

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You can also adjust things like Color Blend, Effects Blend, Color Space Overrides, Skin Bias, Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Fade, White Balance, Noise, Halation, and more. The Film Look Creator makes it easy to get the classic film look from clips without spending hours tweaking everything manually. The results I’ve managed so far have been impressive, all thanks to the Film Look Creator.

2. Built-in Dialogue Leveler

You’ll sometimes need to edit something with multiple actors or clips taken from different times, locations, or events. When that happens, the dialogue may not be level. One clip or person might be louder than another. If that happens in one of your videos, you’ll be glad you have DaVinci Resolve 19 because of the built-in dialogue leveler. 

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Instead of going into the Fairlight engine and working with tedious level adjustments, you can use this new feature to level dialogue to perfection. When combining this feature with the noise reduction effect, you can seriously improve the quality of your audio.

3. ColorSlice Six Vector Grading

One of the hardest things in video color grading is getting skin tones right. You can work all day and get the colors of your location perfect but still find skin tone causes you problems. With the new ColorSlice Six Vector Grading tool, you can produce rich, film-like tones and correct skin color. With this new tool, you can adjust six different colors, as well as skin. 

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You also have control of density, density depth, saturation, saturation depth, and hue. When you find skin tones are giving you issues, open this tool and adjust the skin tone mixer to achieve the look you want. Because my skin has an olive tone, I’ve struggled to get it to look natural — until now.

4. Face Refinement

Along the same vein as skin tone, have you ever wondered why so many actors on TV and film often look flawless? A big element is makeup artists. However, with any industry-standard editor, there will be tools to help refine skin and faces. 

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With Resolve 19, there’s the new Face Refinement tool, a filter for the face that can automatically detect and track issues. You get parameters like skin smoothing, which can help you make corrections, such as dealing with unflattering color casts and retouching eyes, lips, and cheeks. 

5. Patch Replacer

Have you ever filmed something, only to find an object in the frame you want removed (but don’t have the time or resources to re-film)? If that’s happened to you, you’ll be pleased to know DaVinci Resolve now has the Patch Replacer. This feature allows the removal of elements (such as boom mics, facial blemishes, and more) and blends the removed area with auto-grading. The Patch Replacer works even if the scene is active or there are changes in lighting. 

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The Patch Replacer works as a clone brush-type tool that allows you to replace an area in a clip with another part of an image. Imagine there’s a car in a clip you want to get rid of. With the Patch Replacer, you can do that. This tool isn’t the most intuitive technology and doesn’t work in every instance. But when it works, it’s impressive.

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