How to match shots in DaVinci Resolve

Shots from different angles, times of day or cameras rarely match out of the box. Consistency is what makes an edit feel professional. Here are three ways to match your clips in DaVinci Resolve, from manual to automatic.

Grade a hero shot first

Pick your best, most representative shot and grade it fully. Every other clip in the scene gets matched to this one, so it becomes your reference.

Match manually with the Parade

Put your hero shot and the clip you are matching side by side (use stills in the Gallery). Compare them on the RGB Parade and match the black point, white point and mid balance until the traces line up. This is the most reliable method.

Use the Shot Match tool

Select the clips you want to match, right-click your reference clip, and choose Shot Match to this Clip. Resolve analyzes and auto-matches them. Treat the result as a strong starting point, then clean it up by eye.

Copy a grade between clips

To copy a finished grade, select the target clip and middle-click the source clip's thumbnail — that applies its whole node tree. Or save the look as a PowerGrade and apply it across the project.

Frequently asked

How does the Shot Match tool work in DaVinci Resolve?

Select the clips to correct, right-click the clip you want them to match, and choose "Shot Match to this Clip". Resolve analyzes both and automatically adjusts color and exposure to match. It is a great starting point but usually needs a little manual cleanup.

How do I copy a grade from one clip to another?

Select the clip you want to grade, then middle-click the thumbnail of the already-graded clip. This copies its entire node tree. You can also save it as a PowerGrade in the Gallery.

Why do my shots still not match after Shot Match?

Auto-matching struggles with very different exposures, mixed color temperatures or strong existing grades. Match the black and white points manually on the Parade scope first, then fine-tune.