Blurring a specific area in DaVinci Resolve typically involves adding a blur effect, defining the area using a mask (or "window"), and then tracking that area if it moves within your shot.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
Step-by-Step Guide to Blurring an Area
To effectively blur a chosen section of your video in DaVinci Resolve, follow these steps. This guide assumes you have your clip in the timeline on the Edit page.
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Apply a Blur Effect:
- Go to the Effects Library (usually in the top left corner).
- Search for a blur effect like "Gaussian Blur," "Lens Blur," or "Mosaic Blur."
- Drag the chosen blur effect directly onto your video clip in the timeline.
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Define the Area with a Window (Mask):
- With the clip selected in the timeline, open the OpenFX inspector panel (usually on the right).
- Find the blur effect you just applied.
- Look for the "OpenFX Overlay" button (often a square icon with a dot). Clicking this will reveal on-screen controls for the effect.
- Within the blur effect's controls in the inspector, locate the section for Shapes or Windows.
- Click on the icon for the shape you want to use (e.g., a circle, square, or polygon). A window will appear on your viewer screen.
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Position and Shape the Mask:
- On the viewer screen, drag and resize the shape (window) to cover the specific area you want to blur.
- Use the controls in the inspector to adjust the blur strength, softness (feathering) of the edges, and other parameters until the blur looks right.
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Track the Mask (If the Area Moves):
- If the area you are blurring moves within the frame (like a face or a moving object), you need to track the mask to it.
- In the inspector, within the controls for the blur effect's window/shape, find the Tracker section.
- Set up the tracker. Based on common workflow and the reference:
- Ensure the playhead is at the beginning of the clip or where you want tracking to start.
- You may need to select a tracking method or source depending on the specific effect and version of DaVinci Resolve.
- According to the provided reference, you would navigate to the appropriate tracking settings, potentially involving selecting a "tracker path" and specifying tracking based on "position."
Essential Tracking Steps from the Reference
The reference specifically highlights how to engage the tracking function once your mask and blur are set up:
- Navigate to the tracking options related to your window/mask.
- The reference mentions, "...go to connect two. And here we're gonna select the one that says tracker path and then click on position." (Note: The exact location and naming might vary slightly between DaVinci Resolve versions, but the concept of selecting the path and tracking property remains consistent).
- Once tracking is configured, "Now press play and your blurred section will be tracked over the whole clip."
By pressing play (or clicking the forward arrow in the tracker controls), DaVinci Resolve analyzes the movement of the pixels under the mask and makes the mask follow that movement throughout the duration you track.
- Refine Tracking (If Needed):
- Watch the clip after tracking. If the mask drifts, you may need to go back and adjust track points, change tracking settings, or manually correct keyframes on the mask's position.
This combination of applying a blur, creating a mask for the specific area, and then tracking that mask ensures your blur stays precisely where you need it, even if the video content is dynamic.
