My Secret To Smooth Speed Ramping Transitions in Davinci Resolve 19

Introduction

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create smooth and dynamic speed ramping transitions in DaVinci Resolve 19. Speed ramping can add visual interest to your videos, making your edits feel more polished and engaging. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to achieve professional-looking speed ramps with ease.

Step 1: Prepare Your Clips

• Select Your Footage: Choose the clips you want to edit. It's best to use clips that have a natural motion or action to maximize the effect of speed ramping.
• Import Your Clips: Open DaVinci Resolve and import the selected clips into your project.
• Add Clips to the Timeline: Drag your clips onto the timeline in the order you want them to appear.

Step 2: Identify Speed Ramp Points

• Play Through Your Clips: Watch your footage to identify the moments where you want to speed up or slow down.
• Mark Key Moments: Use markers (shortcut: M) to indicate the start and end points of the speed ramping effect.

Step 3: Apply Speed Changes

• Select a Clip: Click on the clip in the timeline where you want to apply the speed ramp.
• Open the Speed Change Menu: Right-click on the clip and select "Change Clip Speed."
• Adjust Speed:
  • For speeding up, increase the speed percentage (e.g., 200%).
  • For slowing down, decrease the speed percentage (e.g., 50%).
• Create a Speed Point: Hold down the Option key (Mac) or Alt key (Windows) and click on the clip to create speed points at the marked positions.

Step 4: Smooth the Transitions

• Ease In and Ease Out: Right-click on the speed points and select “Ease In” for the starting point and “Ease Out” for the ending point. This creates a smoother transition between speeds.
• Adjust Speed Curves: Use the speed curve editor to fine-tune the acceleration and deceleration of your speed changes for a more dynamic effect.

Step 5: Add Motion Blur (Optional)

• Download Motion Blur Plugin: If you want to enhance the speed ramp effect, consider using a motion blur plugin. You can download it from the provided links in the video description.
• Apply Motion Blur: Follow the plugin instructions to add motion blur to your clips, making the transitions appear more fluid.

Step 6: Finalize Your Edits

• Review Your Edits: Play back your timeline to see how the speed ramps look in motion. Adjust as necessary.
• Color Grade Your Clips: Use LUTs or color grading tools to ensure your clips match in color and tone for a cohesive look.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can create smooth and engaging speed ramping transitions in DaVinci Resolve 19. Remember to experiment with different speed settings and motion blur to find what works best for your footage. Once you're comfortable with these techniques, you can enhance your editing skills and create more dynamic video content. Happy editing!