DaVinci Resolve from BlackMagic Design is one of the most powerful free video editors available. Resolve 20 brings significant upgrades that directly benefit beginners and YouTube creators. Today, let’s focus on the practical, time-saving additions in the free version that will streamline your workflow and improve your videos.
Here are 7 best free and cool DaVinci Resolve 20 features:
- Optimized UI Layout for Vertical Video Editing
- Upgraded Keyframe and Curve Editor
- Automatic Cache Management
- Split Photoshop PSD layers into Individual video tracks
- New Multitext Tool – add multiple titles instantly.
- Customizable Quick Export
- Native ProRes Encoding (for Windows users!)
7 Free DaVinci Resolve 20 Features for Beginners and YouTubers
1. Optimized UI for Vertical Video
DaVinci Resolve 20 now automatically detects vertical timelines and rearranges the interface on the Cut, Edit, and Color pages to better suit the format. This is excellent for editing YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikToks.
The viewers and timelines adapt, giving you a clearer view optimized for vertical content, and making editing much more comfortable.
How to Enable Automatic Vertical Video UI?
- Go to “DaVinci Resolve” > “Preferences”.
- Click on the “User” tab.
- Click on “UI Settings”.
- Under the “Workspace Options”, enable “Use optimized UI layouts for vertical video”.
- Also, make sure, your timeline settings are enabled for vertical resolution (right-click your timeline from the “Media Pool” > “Timeline” > “Timeline Settings” > uncheck “Project Settings” > Enable “Use Vertical Resolution” under “Timeline Resolution”)
2. Upgraded Keyframe and Curve Editor
Keyframing (animating things like position, size, or opacity over time) now has its own dedicated, larger panel accessible from both the Cut and Edit pages.
This is a fundamental improvement in the Davinci Resolve User Interface. Previously, the keyframing was being cramped in the timeline or Inspector.
The upgraded keyframing provides a much clearer overview of all your animated parameters. The separate Curve Editor within this panel gives you precise graphical control over the speed and smoothness.
The easing of your animations, making zooms, pans, or title movements look far more professional than abrupt linear changes. It’s easier to see, easier to adjust, and ultimately gives you better-looking motion.
How to Access the Upgraded Keyframes in DaVinci Resolve 20?
It can be accessed via the Keyframes/Curve icon near the top-left of the timeline area under the “Edit” page.
3. Automatic Cache Management
Prevent your hard drive from filling up space unexpectedly. You can now set DaVinci Resolve to automatically delete render cache files older than a certain number of days.
To enable the automatic deleting of render cached files, go to “DaVinci Resolve” > “Preferences” from the menu tab. Then go to the “User” tab. Click on “Cache Management”. Enable the “Delete cache files older than 30 days” checkbox under “Media Cache Settings”.
4. Split Photoshop PSD Layers into Timeline Tracks in DaVinci Resolve
If you use Photoshop for graphics – like lower thirds or titles with multiple elements, you can now import the PSD file into Resolve, place it on the timeline under the “Edit” page, and then right-click to split each Photoshop layer onto its own video track.
This allows you to animate or adjust individual graphic elements directly within DaVinci Resolve without having to constantly re-export from Photoshop. It streamlines graphics workflows significantly.
5. New MultiText Tool (Titles)
An improvement over the standard Text+ tool, MultiText in DaVinci Resolve 20 makes it easier to create and manage multiple text elements within a single title effect.
Multitext tool simplifies creating more multiple titles or complex titles directly in Resolve without needing Fusion knowledge. Add layers like Point text, Text Boxes, or Circular text layouts easily.
To access the “Multitext” tool in DaVinci Resolve, under the “Edit” page, go to the “Effects” tab > “Titles”, and locate “Multitext”. Refer to the below image for more information.
6. Customizable Quick Export
The Quick Export dialog (File > Quick Export) is now more useful. You can add your own custom export presets (created on the Deliver page) to this dialog, complete with icons.
If you always export for YouTube with specific settings, save it once on the Deliver page, add it to Quick Export, and then access it with one click from almost anywhere in DaVinci Resolve (File > Quick Export)!
7. Native ProRes Encoding
You can now export videos in various Apple ProRes formats directly from the free version of DaVinci Resolve on Windows and Linux systems. ProRes is excellent for delivering final masters, uploading to YouTube (it handles compression well), or sending files to collaborators.
This brings a massive professional capability to free users on all platforms.
Previously, this high-quality, industry-standard codec was largely restricted to macOS or required workarounds/paid plugins.
To access the native ProRes encoding in DaVinci Resolve Windows system, go to the “Deliver” page, under “Render Settings”, and select “QuickTime” from the “Format” dropdown. Then select “Apple ProRes” from the “Codec” dropdown.
Upgrading to DaVinci Resolve 20
Navigate to the BlackMagic Design Support Center. Click on “DaVinci Resolve and Fusion Software” under “Select a Product Family“. Then under “Latest Downloads“, check for the latest version – 20 (Mac, Windows, or Linux).
If you’re upgrading from 19 to 20, then you must backup your project library before upgrading. For more details, refer to the below post:
Conclusion
DaVinci Resolve 20’s free version isn’t just a minor update. It brings substantial improvements that directly address common pain points for beginners and YouTubers.
The refined editing interface for vertical videos, keyframes in the “Edit” page, cache management, multitext tool, and especially the addition of ProRes export on all platforms (Windows included) make the best free editor even better. These features allow you to work faster, stay organized, and produce more professional-looking and sounding videos.
