--- title: "DaVinci Resolve 21 Released: New Photo Page, AI Tools and Major Workflow Updates" description: The new version expands DaVinci Resolve beyond video post-production with the introduction of a completely new Photo page, while also adding a large collection of AI-powered tools, improvements to editing and color grading, new Fusion capabilities, Fairlight workflow enhancements, and expanded immer author: Sadjad Jahangiri --- ![DaVinci Resolve 21 Released: New Photo Page, AI Tools and Major Workflow Updates](https://cinemaengineer.com/images/news/2026/davinci-resolve21.jpg) # DaVinci Resolve 21 Released: New Photo Page, AI Tools and Major Workflow Updates [News](https://cinemaengineer.com/news) 07 June 2026 **Blackmagic Design has officially released DaVinci Resolve 21, introducing one of the software’s most feature-rich updates yet.** The new version expands DaVinci Resolve beyond video post-production with the introduction of a completely new **Photo page**, while also adding a large collection of AI-powered tools, improvements to editing and color grading, new Fusion capabilities, Fairlight workflow enhancements, and expanded immersive video support. DaVinci Resolve 21 continues Blackmagic Design’s strategy of bringing editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction, audio post-production, and now still photography into a single application. Here are some of the most important additions in DaVinci Resolve 21. ## A New Photo Page Brings DaVinci Color Tools to Photography Perhaps the biggest conceptual change in Resolve 21 is the introduction of the **Photo page**. DaVinci Resolve can now be used as a non-destructive photo management and grading application, with still images integrated directly into the Resolve workflow. Photographers can use familiar DaVinci color tools including: - Primary color correction - Curves - Qualifiers - Power Windows - Node-based grading - Resolve FX - OpenFX plug-ins - DCTLs - LUTs - AI tools The node-based workflow used for video grading is now available for still images as well, allowing complex grades to be constructed using serial and parallel nodes. Shared nodes can also be used to apply the same look across multiple photographs. Resolve 21 also introduces **Albums** for organizing photographs. Images can be grouped according to shooting days, camera models, or other criteria, while metadata and RAW adjustments can be managed across collections. A **Lightbox** view allows users to see an entire album while grades are applied in real time, making it easier to compare and manage large collections of photographs. ## AI IntelliSearch Can Search Your Media by Content One of the major AI additions is **AI IntelliSearch**. Instead of manually searching through large media libraries, users can search for people, objects, animals, scenes, and even dialogue-related content using natural-language queries. The system analyzes media and returns relevant clips directly in the Media Pool. Faces can also be identified and labeled for easier searching. For large productions containing thousands of clips, this type of semantic media search could significantly reduce the amount of time spent manually organizing footage. ## AI Speech Generator Resolve 21 also introduces an **Advanced AI Speech Generator**. The system can generate speech from written text using Blackmagic's voice models or a sample of a user's own voice. Blackmagic says the system can create a unique voice from a sample as short as **10 seconds**, with controls for speed, pitch, and inflection. This could be useful for temporary narration, voice-over development, localization, previsualization, and other situations where final recorded dialogue is not yet available. ## AI CineFocus Simulates Focus and Depth of Field A particularly interesting addition for filmmakers and VFX artists is **AI CineFocus**. The tool allows users to select the focal area of a shot and adjust parameters such as aperture and focal range to modify the apparent depth of field. It also includes controls for aperture shape and bokeh, and parameters can be keyframed to create rack-focus effects. This is an interesting example of Resolve using AI not simply for object detection, but for reconstructing and manipulating photographic characteristics of an image. ## AI Face Age Transformer and Face Reshaper Resolve 21 adds several AI tools aimed at facial manipulation. **AI Face Age Transformer** can modify the apparent age of an actor by analyzing facial characteristics and allowing the user to adjust an age offset. **AI Face Reshaper** provides controls for modifying facial features such as the eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, and overall face shape after detecting and tracking a face. These tools could have applications in VFX, beauty work, continuity fixes, flashbacks, and other post-production workflows. ## AI Blemish Removal A new **AI Blemish Removal** tool is designed to reduce superficial skin imperfections such as spots, discoloration, acne, and visible pores while attempting to retain natural skin texture. The strength of the effect can be adjusted to control how aggressive the correction is. ## AI UltraSharpen and Motion Deblur Resolve 21 also introduces **AI UltraSharpen**, which Blackmagic describes as its most advanced sharpening tool to date. The tool can be used to improve footage that has been upscaled or to correct mild focus problems. Another new tool, **AI Motion Deblur**, is designed to reduce motion-blur artifacts and streaking. Blackmagic specifically highlights potential applications for slow-motion and freeze-frame work. ## AI Slate ID Automates Production Metadata Another practical production feature is **AI Slate ID**. The system can detect information from a clapperboard or production slate in the image and automatically extract relevant metadata, even when the slate is dark or slightly out of focus. This can reduce the amount of manual metadata entry required when preparing footage for editorial. # Editing Gets More Flexible DaVinci Resolve 21 also brings significant improvements to the Cut and Edit pages. ## Better Keyframes and Curves The keyframe system now includes additional animation modes such as **loop, ping-pong, and relative modes**. The Curves Editor also receives a normalized zoom mode that automatically scales curves to the available vertical space. Four-point Bezier easing provides additional control for complex retiming and animation workflows. ## Fusion Effects Can Be Animated Directly from Edit One particularly useful workflow improvement is the ability to adjust **Fusion effects directly from the Keyframes and Curves Editors in the Cut and Edit pages**. This reduces the need to constantly switch between Edit and Fusion when adjusting titles, transitions, or motion graphics. For more advanced changes, users can still jump directly into Fusion. ## Native HTML Graphics and Lottie Support Resolve 21 adds native support for **OGraf HTML graphics and Lottie animations**. Users can drag `.json` and `.lottie` files directly into the Media Pool and use them as animation clips with transparency. This makes Lottie assets practical for titles, lower thirds, transitions, and other motion-graphics workflows. ## Improved Text+ and MultiText Text tools also receive several improvements. Resolve 21 adds: - Multi-language spell checking - A dedicated font browser - Emoji support - Character-level styling Different characters within the same text box can now have different font sizes, weights, and colors, providing more flexibility for title design. # Major Updates for Colorists Color remains one of DaVinci Resolve's defining strengths, and version 21 adds several workflow improvements. ## MultiMaster Trim Manager The new **MultiMaster Trim Manager** allows colorists to generate multiple HDR and SDR trim deliverables from a single timeline. Additional layers appear in the node editor for trim operations, allowing the timeline to be color-managed for different output standards and rendered in a single workflow. This is particularly useful for professional finishing workflows where the same master needs to be adapted for multiple HDR and SDR deliverables. ## Magic Mask Render in Place Magic Mask receives a new **Render in Place** option. Tracked masks can be cached as traveling matte nodes, reducing processing requirements while allowing artists to continue grading and applying effects in real time. For complex shots using multiple tracked masks, this can make a substantial difference to interactive performance. ## Layer List View for the Node Editor Colorists can now switch the node editor to a **Layer List View**. Instead of displaying all nodes exclusively as a traditional node graph, the nodes can be organized into rows. This can make large and complex node trees easier to navigate, label, lock, bypass, and manage. ## Group Color Grade Versions Resolve 21 also adds support for **multiple grade versions inside groups**. Colorists can create and manage different versions of a group's pre-clip and post-clip node graphs, with the selected version applied consistently across the clips belonging to that group. # Fusion Gets Krokodove and Better USD Support Fusion receives some particularly interesting updates for VFX and motion graphics artists. ## Krokodove Motion Graphics Library DaVinci Resolve 21 integrates **Krokodove**, a large collection of motion-graphics tools and templates. The library includes utility tools, vector and data tools, and customizable 2D and 3D graphics that can be used throughout Resolve. ## Audio-Driven Fusion Animation A new **Fairlight Animator** modifier connects Fusion with Fairlight's audio engine. Audio analysis can now drive parameters inside Fusion, opening possibilities for automatically synchronized animation and audio-reactive graphics. Blackmagic specifically highlights applications such as using audio to drive animation of eyes and lips. ## Updated USD Toolset Fusion's USD workflow has also been upgraded to **USD SDK 25.11 with the Hydra 2.0 API for the Storm renderer**. The update adds support for 3D matte objects and textures, USD Texture Projector and Catcher, as well as global in/out controls for the USD Loader. For VFX artists, this is an important development because USD is increasingly becoming a central format for exchanging scene and asset information between different applications. # Fairlight Gets Better Audio Management Fairlight receives several practical workflow improvements. ## Audio Track Folders Audio tracks can now be organized into **folders** and collapsed into a single composite view. This can make large Fairlight timelines significantly easier to navigate, particularly when projects contain large numbers of dialogue, music, ambience, Foley, and effects tracks. ## Six-Band Clip EQ Clip-level EQ now provides **six bands**, matching the track EQ available in the mixer. This gives users more precise tonal control at the clip level and makes it easier to copy settings between clip, track, and EQ plug-in workflows. ## EQ and Level Matcher Two new tools, **EQ Match** and **Level Matcher**, are designed to match audio clips to reference material. EQ Match dynamically adjusts the tonal spectrum of a clip, while Level Matcher helps bring different sections to a consistent perceived level. For dialogue editing and multi-camera production, these tools can reduce repetitive manual audio correction. ## Chain FX Fairlight now allows users to create **Chain FX** presets containing multiple effects. Up to six effects can be stored in a chain, with customized settings, and chains can also be combined for more complex processing workflows. # Expanded Immersive and VR Workflows Resolve 21 significantly expands support for immersive content. The new workflow supports **VR180 and VR360** formats, with project settings designed for immersive delivery to platforms such as Meta Quest and YouTube VR. Resolve also introduces spherical **Panomap rotation**, providing more intuitive controls for pitch, tilt, pan, yaw, and roll. Fusion can additionally work with **ILPD retargeting data**, providing more advanced options for stereoscopic and immersive compositing. # Better Tools for Content Creators Resolve 21 also includes several features aimed at YouTubers, social-media creators, and independent filmmakers. Users can now create square and vertical resolutions directly from project and timeline settings for platforms including **TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube Shorts, and Snapchat**. Resolve can also upload directly to **YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, and X**, with platform-specific compression settings designed around quality and playback requirements. Another useful addition is **Final Draft support for IntelliScript**. Users can import Final Draft or plain-text scripts, allowing Resolve to compare script text against transcribed audio and automatically assemble a preliminary scene edit. # MainConcept H.265 and MV-HEVC Encoding Resolve 21 adds a **MainConcept** encoding option for H.265 and MV-HEVC in 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 configurations on supported systems. This provides additional encoding options for 2D and 3D video workflows, including hardware capable of 3D video playback. # Apple Immersive Foveated Rendering For Apple Immersive workflows, Resolve 21 adds support for **foveated rendering**. The technology prioritizes high-resolution rendering in the area where the viewer is looking while reducing rendering workload in peripheral vision. This can improve playback efficiency and the viewing experience for immersive content. # Why DaVinci Resolve 21 Matters DaVinci Resolve 21 is interesting because Blackmagic isn't simply adding more editing or color-grading features. The software is increasingly becoming a **complete post-production environment**. The new Photo page extends Resolve into still photography. AI tools are moving deeper into editorial, VFX, image manipulation, and audio workflows. Fusion is becoming more connected to Fairlight and USD. Color management is becoming more sophisticated for multi-delivery workflows. And immersive video is receiving significantly more attention. For VFX artists, the combination of **AI CineFocus, Face Age Transformer, Face Reshaper, Magic Mask improvements, Fusion's updated USD toolset, and audio-driven Fusion animation** is particularly interesting. For colorists, **MultiMaster Trim Manager, Magic Mask Render in Place, Layer List View, and Group Color Grade Versions** are among the most meaningful additions. For editors, improved keyframing, Fusion integration, Lottie support, IntelliScript, and smarter media organization make Resolve more flexible. And for sound professionals, Fairlight's new track folders, EQ matching, level matching, and Chain FX improve the management and processing of complex projects. ## The Bigger Picture Perhaps the most important aspect of DaVinci Resolve 21 is the increasing convergence of different post-production disciplines. Editing, color, VFX, motion graphics, photography, and audio are no longer being treated as completely separate environments. Blackmagic is pushing Resolve toward a workflow where more of the creative process can happen inside one application. That makes Resolve 21 more than just another annual update. **It is another step toward DaVinci Resolve becoming an increasingly unified post-production platform — from the first cut and still image to VFX, color grading, sound, and final delivery.** ###   ### Source [**Blackmagic Design — DaVinci Resolve 21: What's New**](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/whatsnew) Official information about the new features and workflows introduced in DaVinci Resolve 21.