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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1401427
For me, there was a point where understanding nodes in Fusion Effects simply clicked. In fact, it became a much easier way to look at comps and effects than layers. I realized the transformation had come when I was watching a not-particularly-great science fiction film one night after work. Mentally, I started breaking down the action sequence I was watching into the nodes it was built from, cataloging them as sources, effects, or merges. All this being said, if you’re not doing complex compositing, virtually all the Fusion effects tools are available on the Edit page. Like the decision to move to an animation/effects application in a suite of apps, there’s a good deal of leeway in when it’s time to move to the Fusion page. Resolve Studio As we noted in the previous article, the free version of DaVinci Resolve is by no means hobbled. Especially when you’re just starting out, the missing features won’t matter a great deal. The tutorials, for the most part, assume you’re using the free version. But the $299 price tag to move up to Resolve Studio will up your game significantly. (And as of this writing, the price still includes the Speed Editor control surface.) One of the most important differences if you’re moving from another platform is that only the Studio version accepts third-party plug-ins like those from Red Giant, if you subscribe to those. As you would imagine, the effects suite on the free version isn’t as robust as Studio, though it provides a solid foundation as well as some hints what the full version can do. Another limitation of possible significance is that output is limited to Ultra HD or lower and on a Mac, though of the same high quality as the paid version. The free version can only make use of two GPUs on the new Mac Pro and lacks HDR tools, camera tracking, and some forms of noise reduction. It also lacks the necessary components to set up a multi-user, database-driven system needed for project collaboration. Even with these limitations, the free version will let you try out Resolve and get up to speed before plunging into the paid version. And frankly, at the price, the investment in Resolve Studio is likely far less than anything you’ll have plugged into it. Transitioning to Resolve not only meant dedicating a good number of my off-hours to going through the numerous tutorials, but I had to allow more time for projects that came in that I decided to try in Resolve rather than the software I originally used. I had to do some projects the “old way” simply because I had their templates already built or I hadn’t gotten quite far enough in Resolve. And as with any software like this, the time you can spend exploring and experimenting will multiply its value later. Though combined in one application, the components of Davinci Resolve Studio are built for professionals specializing in each field. Learning it takes something of a liberal arts approach to post. To best understand and use the tools it contains, it is best to discover how to think like an effects artist, colorist, or sound designer. Though you may not be able to give each element of a project the hours of work that available to a Hollywood pro, DaVinci Resolve will help make sure that the time you spend is well-rewarded. In my case, just learning the basics have opened up new horizons for creative expression. Looking back, restricting my thinking to layers for color grading and effects was frustrating. And I no longer have to decide if a track needs enough work to bounce it over to a separate audio application. Finally, one personal note from someone who is finishing up a very long post production career to anyone out there who may be starting out on one. Learning DaVinci Resolve offers an introduction to a few different fields showing you how the pros do it with the same kinds of tools that they use. It is entirely possible that you’ll find building effects, grading scenes, or mixing and designing sound to be even more appealing than cutting video. So even if you’ve been using different tools, it is well worth giving yourself a tour of DaVinci Resolve. You may just find a new focus for your artistic passions.