Vertical videos are used on nearly every social media platform, most commonly TikTok and Instagram. Many times, this style of video will be edited on a phone with an app or within the platform itself—however, trying to edit on such a small screen can become frustrating.
DaVinci Resolve 18.5 has made it incredibly easy to edit vertical videos. Even better, the Studio version has integrated Smart Reframe to help with tracking, so there’s less time spent making adjustments.
Keep reading to learn how DaVinci Resolve will have you efficiently editing vertical videos in no time.
Why Use DaVinci Resolve 18.5 to Edit Vertical Videos?
There are manyvideo editing apps for iPhoneand Android that you may use to create vertical videos. However, it can become exhausting using your finger on a small screen to cut down videos and align them to music properly.
Using advanced video editing software like DaVinci Resolve will help alleviate the stress of creating a video. You can use a cursor andDaVinci Resolve’s keyboard shortcutsto get specific cuts. Even more, if you already shot your video in landscape, DaVinci Resolve 18.5 uses mismatched resolution which crops the frame to a perfect fit.
Additionally, if you don’t have any other choice but to use an app,DaVinci Resolve is available on iPadand is just as easy to use as the desktop version.
Where Can You Edit Vertical Videos in DaVinci Resolve?
There are two pages on DaVinci Resolve that support vertical video editing: theCutpage and theEditpage.
There areseveral ways to take advantage of DaVinci Resolve’s Cut page. It’s great if you only need to do simple cuts or want to cut your media down to a usable size. Also, the titles and effects are right at the top, so you can easily add them to your videos.
DaVinci Resolve’s Edit page is the most widely used out of all the pages. There are more options for editing and the full timeline allows you to view all your tracks easily.There are many ways to make use of the Edit pagewhen editing your vertical videos for social media like TikTok and Instagram.
Whether you’re starting on the Cut page or the Edit page, creating a vertical video on DaVinci Resolve is simple. Follow the steps below, and you’ll have your next YouTube Short or Instagram Reel ready to go.
1. Modify the Timeline Settings
Modifying your timeline settings is different on the Cut page and the Edit page.
Screenshot by Sam Wolfe; no attribution
If you’re on theCutpage, simply click on theTimeline Resolutionicon in the right-hand corner of the upper toolbar and choosePortrait. You’ll notice your view change and the mismatch resolution will automatically take place.
If you’re on theEditpage, right-click on the timeline thumbnail in the Media Pool, then head toTimelines>Timeline Settings. Make sureUse Project Settingsis unchecked, so you can make changes. SelectUse Vertical Resolutionand make sure theMismatched Resolutionis set toScale Full Frame With Crop. ClickOkay.
Whichever page you start on, the changes will transfer to each page, so you may switch back and forth between Cut, Edit, Color, and any other page you wish to use.
After you’ve set your resolution, you’ll need to load your video to the Media Pool. You can either drag and drop your videos from a computer file or right-click in the Media Pool, selectInsert Media, and find your videos.
3. Edit Your Videos in the Timeline
Here is when you’ll start adding and editing your videos to the timeline. All you’ll need to do is drag and drop your content in the timeline and cut them down to your liking.
The most important thing to look out for here is making sure your subject fits the frame. Sometimes the subject is at the perfect distance for a landscape shot but may end up being too close for a vertical video.
Additionally, keep an eye on your time if your plan is to upload the video to a social media platform. For example, YouTube Shorts will only accept a video under one minute long—in that case, every second counts.
4. Make Adjustments
If your subject isn’t perfectly centered the whole time, you have the option of adjusting the video as it plays.
you may either select theTransformicon in the bottom left-hand corner of thePreview Windowand move the image around with your cursor. Or you can open theInspectorand play with theXandYPositions underTransform.
If you have to make an adjustment in a specific area within a single video, you’ll need to cut it, so your adjustments don’t alter the whole strip.
5. Export Your Video
To export your video, you can go to theDeliverpage, choose your settings, selectAdd to Render Queue, and then clickRender All.
However, if you are going to upload your video to YouTube or TikTok, there is a shortcut. From any page on DaVinci Resolve, go to the top toolbar and selectFile>Quick Export.
From there, select which platform you want your video uploaded to, and it’ll ask you to add your information to log into your account. After your information has been added, make sureUpload Directlyis checked and clickExport.
How to Use Smart Reframe in DaVinci Resolve Studio 18.5
DaVinci Resolve has added a cool feature that makes adjustments to center your subject a thing of the past. That feature is calledSmart Reframe. However, the perk only comes with the paidStudio versionwhich is priced at a one-time fee of $295.
To use Smart Reframe, go to theInspector>Smart Frame. You’ll see two options available to use here:AutoandReference Point.
Autowill find the subject for you and automatically keep it in the frame at all times. To use Auto Smart Frame, all you have to do is selectAuto>Reframeand the software will take care of the rest.
Reference Pointgives you control over where the center of the video needs to be. For example, if you have a curvy road that needs to stay centered, you may selectReferencePointand verify the target box is where you want the center in thePreview Window. Then clickReframe.
Use DaVinci Resolve to Edit Your Next Vertical Video
DaVinci Resolve is a great tool to use for all types of video editing and for all levels of video editors. It utilizes AI to help make jobs that used to be time-consuming go by quicker. It also has a lot of effects to choose from to spice up your projects.
Among all that, it can also help you create vertical videos more easily. Next time you’re editing a TikTok or Instagram Reel, try using DaVinci Resolve 18.5.
