Changing the timeline resolution

This is one of the biggest weaknesses in Resolve. If it wasn't for this, we would consider switching edit projects to Resolve, and wouldn't have to go to flame, but since the resolution is project based, it becomes very difficult to work on modern projects with multiple deliverables....

I agree. A REAL Pain in.. ..
PLEASE Allow Timelines to be altered and outputted to whatever we feel like. 16:9, 9:16, 1:1... Why start a new separate project?

I think seanross67 said it best below "This is one of the biggest weaknesses in Resolve. If it wasn't for this, we would consider switching edit projects to Resolve, and wouldn't have to go to flame, but since the resolution is project based, it becomes very difficult to work on modern projects with multiple deliverables...."

I've posted a feature request / fix to BM support, not sure how receptive they are to these things.

this is now a v16 feature, since mid 2019.

.... how/where? ...I believe what he means is a 16:9 project being able to EDIT on a timeline as 9:16 or 1:1 AND export that.

I think seanross67 said it best below "This is one of the biggest weaknesses in Resolve. If it wasn't for this, we would consider switching edit projects to Resolve, and wouldn't have to go to flame, but since the resolution is project based, it becomes very difficult to work on modern projects with multiple deliverables...."

I've posted a feature request / fix to BM support, not sure how receptive they are to these things.

this is now a v16 feature, since mid 2019.

.... how/where? ...I believe what he means is a 16:9 project being able to EDIT on a timeline as 9:16 or 1:1 AND export that.

I don't know what he meant (that seanross67 post is from 2017), but every timeline has a provision for custom resolution settings, whatever the project settings may be. That's "how/where". Next time you create a timeline, look for the options available to you.

how/where:

media pool
right click on a timeline
[timeline -> timeline settings]
[use custom settings]

if you need more details, they are in the manual.

AND, if you need a different frame rate in the new timeline, follow the Shirinivas method:

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=91398

how/where:

media pool
right click on a timeline
[timeline -> timeline settings]
[use custom settings]

if you need more details, they are in the manual.

Very interesting! I will check it out ASAP! THANKS!

I show how to render to different resolutions in this video.

You zoomed 3x which means your video will be soft as for 1080x1920 resolution. You basically created crop from 1920x1080 x3 zoomed video.
You really need to shoot vertically otherwise you are against math

I never shoot vertically, I created this video for those who don't want to shoot in multiple orientations like lansdscape and portrait. Many people have posted questions on this forum and other places on how to take the video they shot in 16:9 and post it to Instagram, Facebook, and other places that ask for other vertical formats. I created the Youtube video to show them the steps on how to do it since some thought it impossible or highly difficult. Of course it is better to shoot vertically if that is your target format, some people want to change it after they already have the footage.

Eric, I understand what you are trying to demonstrate but this is teaching the wrong way of doing things. Zooming by 3x to achieve a vertical format is wrong. Post is an extension to the shot itself from the camera and not the other way around. I think we agree if you want to deliver a vertical aspect ratio, shoot vertical first - do it right, or just do this...

Vertical video on Instagram is 480x600. No need to scale up at all, simply crop it in.

BMD have not charged for a version upgrade in 9 years.
While we won’t say never, we also don’t have plans to charge for the next ones.. so many users will have 1000’s of added features and years of updates at no additional cost.

Subscription is not the answer to everything or for everyone.

AMEN! This is why BMD rocks! People, you just need to have patience. Good things comes with age.

So this is sustainable, BUY BMD HARDWARE!!!

Eric, I understand what you are trying to demonstrate but this is teaching the wrong way of doing things. Zooming by 3x to achieve a vertical format is wrong. Post is an extension to the shot itself from the camera and not the other way around. I think we agree if you want to deliver a vertical aspect ratio, shoot vertical first - do it right, or just do this...

Vertical video on Instagram is 480x600. No need to scale up at all, simply crop it in.

I agree, the way I show in the video works, but it is far from the best method. I would use center crop with no resizing as a better method, then reframe the shot. I will post an updated video and replace the link in this thread to point to the new video, in case anyone finds it in this thread.

Eric, I understand what you are trying to demonstrate but this is teaching the wrong way of doing things. Zooming by 3x to achieve a vertical format is wrong. Post is an extension to the shot itself from the camera and not the other way around. I think we agree if you want to deliver a vertical aspect ratio, shoot vertical first - do it right, or just do this...

Vertical video on Instagram is 480x600. No need to scale up at all, simply crop it in.

I agree, the way I show in the video works, but it is far from the best method. I would use center crop with no resizing as a better method, then reframe the shot. I will post an updated video and replace the link in this thread to point to the new video, in case anyone finds it in this thread.

In advertising, vertical delivery spec is 1080x1920, and the source is most often 1920x1080, and within that, when dealing with films, they are mostly 2.39 or 2.40:1, i.e. around 1920x804, so you don't really have a choice but to zoom in a load (this can be alleviated by using gutters (or the odd split screen) but the point stands). Not that this matters really, because most people will only see it on their phone screens, and those that see it on digital billboards will mostly be moving at the time.

AND, if you need a different frame rate in the new timeline, follow the Shirinivas method:

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=91398

But warned that the Shirinvias method will not always work, when copying clips from one timeline to another, with a different fps setting. For example, after copying 23.976 clips from a 23.976 timeline to a 24fps timeline, the clips will read as media offline (at least they do on my system). Copying the same clips to a 29.97 timeline does work, however.

Another question about this approach is the function or influence of the playback frame rate in project preferences, a setting which can't be changed with custom timeline settings.

I'm here in August of 2020 and one of my complaints of Resolve is to work comfortably for social media with different resolution delivery. I really will appreciate it if the timelines can work like nested sequences in Premier. Sometimes I just finish editing a 16:9 HD video and want to put that timeline in a vertical format 9:16 with some graphics but all the text and graphics inside my first timeline just mess up.

I've been a Premier user for years and I'm trying to completely make the switch, but some basic minor things just keep me frustrated with resolve, like the resolution problem that I mentioned before and the uncomfortable graph for edit keyframes on the edit page. That position easing is a pain in the butt and rendering OFX still not working in some cases resulting in a choppy playback. Anyway, I am very confident in the future of Davinci Resolve. I hope it can be my only preferred video editor. I think it is a very powerful software and I'm in love with my color grading there. I just said goodbye to Lumetri

I'm trying to change the resolution of an existing timeline. I have multiple in my project. I can change the project resolution, but that does not change the resolution of my existing timeline. I can change the deliver resolution, but processing is still done at timeline resolution... .
Is there any way to do this? From what I read here, there is no way to do this.

So what's the best workflow to deal with this? Set project at highest resolution possible for your hardware, and deliver different formats from there? Start different projects for each timeline? ... ? How is this done in other similar software? Better? Worse?

I'm here in August of 2020 and one of my complaints of Resolve is to work comfortably for social media with different resolution delivery. I really will appreciate it if the timelines can work like nested sequences in Premier. Sometimes I just finish editing a 16:9 HD video and want to put that timeline in a vertical format 9:16 with some graphics but all the text and graphics inside my first timeline just mess up.

You do clean sequence and any overlays go to different timelines, so then you can re-use same main timeline. Not ideal, but some solution.
Other way in latest Resolve. Mute overlays in main timeline and use it in new timeline as nested, which allows you to add new overlays.
16x9 to 9x16 is never going to be easy. It's always a lot of work (as you are doing opposite aspects) and nothing going to change it.

I'm trying to change the resolution of an existing timeline. I have multiple in my project. I can change the project resolution, but that does not change the resolution of my existing timeline. I can change the deliver resolution, but processing is still done at timeline resolution... .
Is there any way to do this? From what I read here, there is no way to do this.

So what's the best workflow to deal with this? Set project at highest resolution possible for your hardware, and deliver different formats from there? Start different projects for each timeline? ... ? How is this done in other similar software? Better? Worse?

In R17 (I'm sure 16 as well) you can change exiting timeline settings. In timeline setting untick at the bottom "Use project settings" and change it to whatever you want.
It has been mentioned in earlier posts here as well.

Is there any way to do this?

From the bin, Right click>Timeline Settings...

Hi, i have to edit a video with the following size:
4936 x 920 pixel (5:1)
In the timeline it's impossible to set this size, any ideas how to do?

Hi, i have to edit a video with the following size:
4936 x 920 pixel (5:1)
In the timeline it's impossible to set this size, any ideas how to do?

I can do that. Maybe you don't have Studio version of DaVinci.

Hi, i have to edit a video with the following size:
4936 x 920 pixel (5:1)
In the timeline it's impossible to set this size, any ideas how to do?

you need davinci studio version

BMD have not charged for a version upgrade in 9 years.
While we won’t say never, we also don’t have plans to charge for the next ones.. so many users will have 1000’s of added features and years of updates at no additional cost.

Subscription is not the answer to everything or for everyone.

THIS !!!


Da Vinci Resolve has so many great features and for 75% of online content producers and 100% of narrative film makers, it is the right product. I'm with the 100% so I'm happy with what it delivers. Of course, don't hide behind the curtains but we love Resolve because of the realistic affordable and "greedless" pricing and no subscription that other NLE is. The same thing goes with their cameras and other hardware - great quality, affordable products.

For those who keeps on saying that DR is buggy and limited, that's because you're still using Resolve 9. Time to upgrade folks and see the light.

Yet, 13/15 UHD masters (which I worked on recently) coming from USA independent producers were finished in Premiere. I was surprised specially when all content was from companies where 1 person does most work.

Can one have timelines of different aspect ratios? When I change tl dimensions from the gear icon it changes it for all timelines.
I need to have some vertical timelines and some horizontal ones. Is this not possible? Always in studio version.

Right-click your Timeline in the Media Pool and choose Timelines>Timeline Settings. Make sure you uncheck Use Project Settings if you want the Timeline to have different dimensions.