What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 21 (differences to v20 - all these points have been available in the latest Beta version )
The following features have been added or updated.
Photo Page
New photo image editing now fully integrated within DaVinci Resolve.
Image library with tagging, favorites, ratings and album collections.
Albums let you build, manage and tweak photos at source resolution.
Native RAW support for major camera formats.
Direct image capture via Sony or Canon tethered cameras.
Import media from Apple Photos on macOS.
Import Lightroom Catalog files into the media pool.
Use Resolve multi-user collaboration and Blackmagic Cloud syncing.
Support for DaVinci color control toolset and grading panels.
Use all of Resolve’s native AI toolset including AI IntelliSearch.
Looks, LUTs, ResolveFX and OpenFX for your images.
GPU accelerated batch exports and conversions.
AI Tools
AI IntelliSearch lets you easily search for people or objects.
AI Speech Generator transforms written text to spoken voice.
AI CineFocus allows refocus with realistic bokeh and lens effects.
AI Face Age Transformer lets you age or de-age a face.
AI Face Reshaper for flexible reshape and resize of facial features.
AI Blemish Removal to repair facial and skin blemishes.
AI SlateFinder automatically detects slates and marks position.
AI SlateID to read slate and populate clip metadata.
AI UltraSharpen for high fidelity sharpening of moving images.
AI Motion Deblur enables removal of common motion blur artifacts.
Improved AI UltraNR quality for UHD and higher timelines.
Cut and Edit Page
Keyframing provides powerful retime controls with 4-point bezier.
Keyframe and add curves for multiple selected clips.
Keyframing ease options, loop, ping pong, reverse and stretch.
Keyframe Fusion effects, generators and text along with edit effects.
Subframe support for keyframing and markers.
Native support for OGraf HTML graphics.
Native support for Lottie animations.
Resolve FX Picture in Picture effect.
Font browser window for text and subtitle elements.
Preview fonts during font selection as a preference.
Spell checking for all text elements.
Emoji and color fonts for Text+ and MultiText.
Multicam angle previews in clean feed and video outputs.
Multicams can include all audio tracks for each angle.
Multicams can use full clip extents on creation and during sync.
Replay control to limit view to the last 5 minutes of recorded media.
Replay editor allows timeline selection from search dial.
Replay now allows independent start and end stingers.
Replay title palette allows up to 6 favorite titles.
Mono audio now plays on left and right channels of stereo tracks.
Improved waveforms, markers and fades for short edit tracks.
Source timelines support auto track selectors.
DRT timeline import supports link and conform options.
Compare timelines with timeline backup snapshots.
Subtitle inspector now supports search and replace.
Edit page lets you show or hide tracks from the index.
Support for editing EDL clip name in the edit index.
Affinity.af file support with group and individual layer control.
IntelliScript supports Final Draft or plain text screenplay imports.
Faster audio transcription and improved subtitle word timing.
Edit page timecode options for frames, subframes or audio samples.
Duration timecode option to show duration for clip selection.
Improved timeline view options with presets and clip name option.
View remote color versions in the source viewer.
Local color grade versions use remote grades on new clip creation.
Up to 2x faster AI Speed Warp Metal option on macOS.
Timeline menu action to select transitions in the cut and edit page.
Paste and remove attributes for clip color, markers and flags.
Paste and remove attributes to retain image position under crop.
Switch audio channels for multi-clip selections via the context menu.
Edit page source tape supports stereoscopic 3D clips.
Edit page source tape includes multicam clips.
Match frame finds source media for nested clips and multicams.
Resolve FX Video Collage with separate tile fill and border controls.
Subtitle support for fade in and out.
Media Pool and Metadata
Support for tabbed layouts.
Thumbnail, list and metadata views can be set for each bin.
Star rating support for clips.
Cut page supports smart bin views.
Export media bin thumbnails as a PDF.
Automatic smart bin and clip filter for offline clips.
Custom metadata for smart bins, filters, data burn and naming tags.
Customize your project poster frames.
Show input colorspace and gamma in metadata view.
Transcription column support in list view.
Custom keyboard shortcuts to set thumbnail, list or metadata views.
Ability to reset audio clip attributes to the original configuration.
Coluor Page
MultiMaster trim pass to grade single timeline to many deliverables.
Render Magic Mask in place as an external matte.
Clip groups now support grade versions.
Node graphs can now be viewed as a layer list.
Node stacks now support up to 8 layers.
Film Look Creator adds Aurora preset and contrast roll-off controls.
Film Look Creator softness controls support for film gate.
Shared node support for stereoscopic 3D clips.
Customizable HDR and nit scopes ranges.
Multiple HDR Vivid improvements, including mini panel controls.
ACES AMF improvements, with transform name and custom folders.
Reset Dolby Vision and HDR analysis from the option menu.
Adobe RGB colorspace and gamma support.
OpenFX 1.5 color management APIs for colorspace aware effects.
Advanced panel controls for 2.39 and 2.4 safe area aspect ratios.
Multi-user projects can bypass color management on the color page.
Motion Blur option for Metal on macOS.
Pasting tracking data between power windows retains original shape.
Immersive and VR Workflows
Apple Immersive workflows now support foveated rendering.
Initial VR180 and VR360 standard immersive workflow support.
View VR180 and VR360 source clips as immersive or viewport.
Mix and match VR180 and VR360 in immersive timelines.
Standard immersive timelines support immersive transform controls.
VR180 and VR360 deliver presets for Meta Quest and YouTube.
LatLong patcher allows customizable field of view.
Fusion adds Panomap immersive rotation and ILPD retargeting.
Fairlight Page
Folder tracks allow a group of tracks to be folded down or expanded.
Go to mouse pointer support using the C key.
Fusion Page
Support for Krokodove motion graphics effects.
Over 100 new motion graphics effects and tools.
New Macro Editor with inspector view and publishing to edit effects.
Fusion animation can be creatively driven by Fairlight audio.
Native support for OGraf HTML graphics.
Native support for Lottie animations.
Text+ and MultiText support spell checking.
Font improvements include emoji, color fonts and more.
Improved MultiText for position, pivot, alignment and CSV import.
Support for USD SDK 25.11 with Hydra 2.0 API for Storm renderer.
USD support for 3D matte objects and textures.
Support for USD Texture Projector and Catcher.
Global in-out controls for USD Loader.
3D Renderer support for Cryptomatte.
Native support for creating Relief Maps.
Change inspector properties for multi-tool selections.
Change common inspector values in all selected multi-tool layers.
Multilayer support for stereoscopic 3D clips and deep images.
Color correction for deep images in Fusion.
User defined metadata variables in paths, expressions and scripts.
Lens Distort offers checkerboard calibration and GPU acceleration.
Vector channel support in multilayer workflows.
Guides and rulers persistence, presets and improved snapping.
MediaIn nodes show clip name.
Open keyframes and spline as a new window.
Up to 2x faster Relight tool.
Up to 6x faster Depth Map tool.
Support for remote monitoring of Fusion previews.
Codecs and I/O
Enhanced MXF growing file support for broadcast workflows.
MXF OP1A support for MPEG2 bitrate and other encode options.
Canon CR3 RAW decode support.
Panasonic Lumix RW2 RAW decode support.
Fujifilm RAF RAW decode support.
Apple ProRAW decode support.
Support for compressed ARW from Sony A7V and newer cameras.
Improved Nikon NEF RAW decode support.
HDR decode support for HEIC, JPEG, PNG and TIFF images.
HEIC encode support on macOS and Windows.
HDR encode support for HEIC, JPEG, PNG and TIFF images.
Support for Insta360 I-Log in color management.
Improved EXIF metadata support for stills formats.
HDR Vivid supplementary IMF ISXD package support.
MainConcept H.265 and MV-HEVC 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 encode support.
Support for Sony Burano V3 clips.
Intel QuickSync H.264 10-bit 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 decode support.
Intel QuickSync AVC Intra decode support.
Intel QuickSync AV1 4:4:4 decode and encode support.
MV-HEVC decode support on Nvidia systems.
Encode support for multi-output audio only ambisonic formats.
Per render job option to override RCM or ACES outputs.
General Improvements
Background renders, quick exports and proxy generation.
Background analysis for transcription and audio classification.
Powerful, expanded and flexible data burn-in window.
Preferences and project settings can now be searched.
Multi-user projects support dynamic project switching.
Support for importing and exporting Final Cut Pro 12 FCPXML.
Scripting API support to perform IntelliSearch analysis.
Scripting API support to perform Slate analysis.
Scripting API support for Speech Generator.
Scripting API support to remove motion blur for media clips.
Scripting API support for media pool audio classification.
Scripting API support for speaker detection in audio transcription.
Scripting API to disable all background tasks for current session.
Up to 3x faster file sync performance to Blackmagic Cloud.
General performance and stability improvements.
There seems to have been an undocumented mini update
From 21.0.0.0047 on 3rd June to 21.0.0.0048 today.
Davinci resolve 21.0.2 update out!
Yeah .. was just looking .. only some more things addressed ..
Summary
Addressed H.264 and H.265 NVIDIA decode performance.
This one interests me the most!
From comments, I think this only puts it back to where it was .. some glitch in the earlier v21 release had slowed it down. So only getting back what you were already used to.
Also .. had they “improved” it .. I’m sure they’d have used words to imply that, rather than “addressed”.
I’ve noticed its rendering slowed down. 13 hrs last 4k render of a 10min video.
That’s nothing .. a couple of months back, one 3D fusion project took 36 hours to render just over a minute.
Not sure which impressed me most .. that my laptop kept on struggling without a crash or that DR was that patient.
What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 21.0.3
.. nothing is “new” .
The following features have been added or updated.
New legacy speed mode retime curve option.
DNG pre tone curve is enabled by default in new projects.
Addressed missing QuickSync encode options on older Intel GPUs.
Addressed issue with adding keyframe at a subframe.
Addressed issue with pasting keyframes to linked audio clips.
Added configurable keyframe ease actions.
Inspector frame display for interlaced transition durations.
Addressed interlaced generator and transition duration interpretation.
Addressed audio duration for inserted segment of interlaced media.
Addressed field dominance detection issue for some interlaced clips.
Addressed Fusion issue with importing PSDs with disabled layers.
Addressed issue with rendered Magic Mask for photos in album.
Addressed bezier window move when adjusting vertex smoothness.
Addressed issue with decoding some Sony BURANO X-OCN clips.
Addressed preview issue with HDR still exports on some browsers.
Addressed wrong audio mapping scripting results in some scenarios.
Updated DaVinci Resolve 21 reference manual.
Replay SDI output now always shows selected camera.
Scripting API support to list project attributes in a project bin.
Scripting API support for user preferences presets.
Scripting API support for listing UI layout presets.
Scripting API support for listing and deleting data burn in presets.
Addressed installation issues on some Windows systems.
Custom install location for Windows ARM encode SDK plugins.
General performance and stability improvements.
What’s new in DaVinci Resolve 21.0.4
The following features have been added or updated.
Relink clips can now relink proxies with different formats.
DRT imports automatically relink to existing nested clips if present.
Selected clip stays in view with clip filter changes in the Color page.
Support for importing Affinity legacy file formats.
Support for Sony FX-5 X-OCN clips.
Scripting API to get timeline clip selection.
Scripting API to get timeline object from media pool timeline entry.
SetRenderSettings API options for handles, extents and data burn.
Addressed realtime playback issues on large cached timelines.
Addressed power bin navigation bar issue in media pool windows.
Addressed segment clip suffixes in media management.
Addressed issue with edit index ordering.
Addressed source viewer audio issue when pasting timecode.
Addressed multiple retime speed curve editing issues.
Addressed path length issues for Fusion templates on Windows.
Addressed missing marker notes tag for data burn in.
Addressed issue with decoding some DPX files.
Addressed issue with decoding some CR2 stills.
General performance and stability improvements.
Was just testing to see if the bug I’m detecting (and have reported) has been sorted .. trouble is, it’s about an hour of AI grinding away in background before I’ll know.
What’s the bug, Dave? Not updated yet!
Nope - a bug that’s been around since 21.0.1 .. and wasn’t there in 21.0.0.
As I say - it’s only in a seriously heavy AI task .. face identification in a 1 hour clip .. so I’m probably the only one here that’s seeing it. Actually .. so far .. the only one in the whole world! .. but I can repeat it without fail. (.. or should that be “with fail”?
So - no issues to really worry about.
I’ve been using 21.0.3 for everything else and no issues.
I’ve had to take one (old) laptop back to 21.0.0 to continue working on a project for someone.
The “old” bit may be the issue. BM are trying to find an old laptop.
Even though not mentioned in all the “addressed” notes .. my issue seems to have gone.
For now!
Might interest some .. 6 free 90 minute online seminars on Resolve Studio v21.
Registration currently open.
Last two Fridays of the month - starting 2pm Fri 18th September, ending 27th November.
Whilst it’s designed for Studio users, there is so much commonality with the free version I can’t believe it wouldn’t have relevance for those with the free version.
Obviously, because it’s what they are all about, it WILL be biased toward professionals in the field rather than those wanting to edit drone footage for their entertainment.
What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 21.1
The following features have been added or updated.
Media Page
Media pool list view text and checkbox fields can now be edited.
Search includes sub bins and supports exact text matching.
AI tools preference to use proxy media if originals are offline.
Original aspect ratio in source viewer with no external monitoring.
Source viewer supports interlaced media previews.
Preview geometry assets from media pool and media storage.
Rename faces in the IntelliSearch Manage Faces window.
Ability to change starting timecode for multiple selected clips.
Ability to delete selected markers in media pool list view.
Created/modified dates for multicams, compound clips and timelines.
Delete multiple audio tracks in clip attributes using mouse drag.
Import Canon EOS VR clips in VR180 workflows.
Stereoscopic 3D clip attributes support swapping eyes.
Side by side clip attribute for BRAW, JPEG, PNG and TIFF.
Assign custom Apple Immersive ILPDs to OpenEXR sequences.
Assign key shortcuts to show or hide media pool bin view.
Photo Page
Camera control support for Fujifilm cameras.
Camera control support for Leica cameras.
Camera control support for Sony Alpha 7R VI.
Change image settings in inspector using color panels.
Improved post decode sharpening for RAW images.
Improved sidebar with flexible height and stacked panels.
Inspector reset controls for each RAW parameter.
DNG file support for lens distortion, aberration and shading.
Resolve FX Sky Replacement support for album photos.
Assign key shortcuts to toggle capture live view.
Cut and Edit Pages
Support for inspector presets.
Multicam editing mode is now a timeline viewer property.
Option to split multicams at gaps when using timecode sync.
Switching multicam grid size retains page with selected angle.
Multicam key shortcuts now work with timeline or source focus.
Assign key shortcuts to decompose multicams.
Assign key shortcuts to switch or cut up to 25 multicam angles.
Assign key shortcuts for source and auto select for up to 32 tracks.
Edit Fusion properties for multiple selected clips in inspector.
All new compare timeline workflow with greater control.
Data Burn can show clip metadata from a specified video track.
Presentation markers support annotations, replies and status.
Marker annotation support for drawing ellipses.
Zoom audio waveform actions in the edit timeline.
Playhead indicator for current clip in inspector and viewer.
Clip selections are now cleared when setting timeline in or out.
Improved edit page trim editor with mouse drag and nudge.
Refine dynamic trim edit point selections with auto select.
Switching to dynamic trim enables trim mode by default.
Dynamic trim editor loop playback continues when editing.
Ability to cut, copy and paste gaps on the edit timeline.
Timeline view option to automatically scale audio waveforms.
Timeline view option to display clip durations.
Two Cut page timer options for source tape and multiview.
Ability to apply transitions to adjustment clips.
Export marker list from edit index as a PDF.
Option shift dragging clips preserves existing transitions.
Restored timeline backups retain backup history.
Preference option to stop playback when scrubbing.
Preference option to always play audio on playhead move.
Preference option to select clip after playhead on blade.
Inspector now honors auto track selection for displayed clip.
Improved shift-click clip selection across tracks in edit page.
Clear solo and restore solo support in the edit page.
Fusion color picker support in edit and cut page viewers.
Font browser option to display text preview from title.
AI music editor retains more content, avoids repetition.
AI music editor offers better mix choices on analysis.
Select gap space after last clip on track for trim edits.
Replay ability to enter input view directly from run mode.
Fusion Page
New Krokodove based shape and 3D tools.
Support for OpenPBR material shaders.
Improved MultiText layer align behavior.
Calibrate lens distort from user drawn lines on viewer.
Animation action support for OGraf clips on timeline.
Support for frame, ease and scale controls in OgrafLoader.
Macro Editor supports load and save of multi-template DRFX files.
Improved Macro Editor batch select, grouping and organization.
Macro Editor update macro action adds tools from node selection.
Fairlight Animator now has adjustable low and high pass filters.
Ability to import externally tracked results to Camera Tracker.
Tracker controls to trim tracks, view and change reference frame.
Support for flipbook previews for Fusion deep image toolset.
Support for hard mix blend mode for Fusion tools and PSD import.
Support for matte objects for Renderer3D in deep mode.
Pre-divide and post-multiply alpha handling in log conversion tools.
Support for deep motion blur for Renderer3D.
Up to 8x faster hardware accelerated 3D deep renders.
Improved Desktop Video monitoring performance.
Enhanced variable syntax for use in evaluations or substitutions.
Color Page
Individual MultiMaster trim for Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HDR Vivid.
Option to override output sizing for each MultiMaster trim.
Per-trim color output cache and timeline cache.
Support for Resolve FX Panomap.
Retain playhead position when navigating between tracks.
Ability to relink missing LUTs and DCTLs from the LUT Manager.
Missing DCTLs shown as viewer overlay and in LUT Manager.
Support for DJI D-Gamut2 and D-Log2.
Support for GoPro Log.
Support for Leica L-Log IDT and LUT.
Support for Vivo Wide Gamut and Vivo Log.
Toggle node cache status from advanced panels.
Navigate power windows from tracking menu in advanced panels.
Resolve FX CineFocus options for natural effect and high precision.
Improved effect scaling for Resolve FX with Gaussian blur.
Softness controls for Resolve FX Beauty, CineFocus and Film Grain.
Apple Immersive workflow option for linear edge blending.
Assign key shortcuts for viewer video output actions.
Scripting API
Advanced scripting now requires DaVinci Resolve Studio.
Built in Python support for console scripting.
Python 2 is no longer supported.
Manage keyboard customization presets.
Update render presets.
Add render preset to quick export.
Query codecs, get and set formats for audio renders.
Get media pool clip transcriptions with speaker and timing data.
Create and flatten multicam clips.
Trigger multicam SmartSwitch.
Auto align timeline clips.
Add transitions.
Get and set more timeline clip inspector properties.
Query and set timeline item fades.
Query and set timeline item speed change.
Normalize audio for timeline clips.
Create, update and delete project setting presets.
Import or export project setting presets.
Clone media files.
Set source audio mapping for media clips.
Query and set output blanking.
Validate and encrypt DCTL files.
General Improvements
Native MCP server for interacting with AI assistants.
Create package for offline install using Extras download manager.
Native support for NVIDIA RTX Spark systems on Windows.
Support for haptic feedback on Windows.
Hardware accelerated HEIC decode on Apple Silicon.
GPU accelerated JPEG 2000 decodes on NVIDIA GPUs.
GPU accelerated HTJ2K decodes using Kakadu on NVIDIA GPUs.
Support for rendering to EXR with HTJ2K compression.
Support for USAC audio decode on macOS.
Improved iXML metadata support from WAV audio.
Support for reading embedded Canon PL lens metadata.
Presentation export option to include subtitles.
QuickTime and MXF renders support multiple embedded captions.
Growing file improvements for TS, QuickTime and MXF formats.
Improved media management error handling and reporting.
Project level media management now includes a.drp export.
Project archive options for stills, LUTs and used media.
Improved supplemental IMF workflow for HDR Vivid.
Vision Pro Review options for faster and better renders.
Ability to cancel opening a cloud project.
PostgreSQL 18 is now bundled with Project Server.
New user keyboard presets will inherit updates to factory defaults.
Assign key shortcuts for render queue menu actions.
General performance and stability improvements.
Nothing “new and exciting” .. unless you’re into Fusion 3D rendering, where this may be interesting. Will look at this one soon and report.
Up to 8x faster hardware accelerated 3D deep renders.
gaamuk
8 September 2026 11:45
18
OzoneVibe:
DNG file support for lens distortion, aberration and shading.
Maybe this will help with the vignetting on my Mini4Pro raw files?
The colour page support for d-log2 will probably be useful for osmo pocket users.
It’s certainly there in the CST ..
Or you need to have the project colour management set to “DaVinci YRGB Colour Managed” to be able to set clip “Input Colour Space” ..
gaamuk
8 September 2026 12:46
20
I wonder if we’ll ever get such support for d-logM? I wish DJI would bin that one but they seem more determined to get rid of HLG.
.. just things have been “addressed”.
