To straighten a clip in DaVinci Resolve, you typically adjust the rotation of the clip within its properties or attributes. This is a common technique for fixing a wonky horizon or simply leveling your footage.
Adjusting Clip Rotation
The primary method for straightening a clip involves modifying its rotation parameter. This allows you to tilt the clip until the elements within it, such as a horizon line, appear straight and level.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Select the Clip: In the Edit page timeline, click on the specific clip you want to straighten. This highlights the clip and makes its properties available for adjustment.
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Access Properties/Attributes: With the clip selected, navigate to the Inspector panel. This panel is usually located in the top right corner of the DaVinci Resolve interface. If it's not visible, click the "Inspector" button (often looks like an adjustable wrench or cogwheel) in the top right area.
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Find Rotation: Within the Inspector panel, you will find various transformation properties for the selected clip. Look for the "Rotation" parameter, often under the "Transform" section.
- Reference Point: The reference specifically mentions accessing the "properties. Attributes for that particular clip" and changing the "rotation of the clip by a few degrees until the Horizon starts to look level." This confirms that adjusting the rotation within the clip's attributes/properties is the key step.
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Adjust the Rotation Value: You can adjust the rotation by:
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Clicking and dragging the numerical value next to the rotation parameter.
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Typing in a specific degree value.
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Using the rotation dial or control if available in the interface.
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Tip: Make small adjustments (e.g., a few tenths of a degree or a degree at a time) and observe the result in the viewer. You can also use guides or the built-in horizon level tools (if available in your Resolve version and panel settings) to help align your footage.
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Fine-Tune: Continue adjusting the rotation until the horizon or desired line in your clip appears perfectly straight.
Practical Insights
- Crop: Rotating a clip can sometimes introduce black edges around the frame. To avoid this, you might need to slightly zoom in on the clip using the "Zoom" parameter in the Inspector or use the "Crop" controls to remove the edges.
- Dynamic Adjustments: While adjusting rotation, pay attention to the composition and what happens to the edges of your frame.
- Keyframes: For dynamic straightening (e.g., if the camera tilt changes over time), you can use keyframes on the rotation parameter to animate the adjustment.
In summary, straightening a clip in DaVinci Resolve is primarily achieved by selecting the clip and modifying its rotation property in the Inspector panel.
