{"id":106859,"date":"2022-02-11T10:53:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T16:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=106859"},"modified":"2022-02-11T12:45:11","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T18:45:11","slug":"create-stills-pauses-davinci-resolve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/create-stills-pauses-davinci-resolve\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick Tip: Creating Stills and Pauses in Resolve"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DaVinci Resolve to the rescue! Learn three techniques you can use for capturing a still or creating pauses in your next project.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, DaVinci Resolve<\/a> went from being the acquaintance application I barely knew to the software that I opened every day. Initially only used for color grading<\/a>, it’s since become a powerhouse for editing<\/a>, audio<\/a>, and VFX. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it’s brought several new features to the forefront, I do miss one function from my adventures with Premiere Pro\u2014the export frame<\/em> function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating stills or pauses in Resolve is slightly more involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a creator of screencast tutorials, there are moments when I need to pause while I explain something\u2014or perhaps I’ve skipped too far ahead in the video recording, but I’m still explaining something from the previous tip. I would need to pause the screencast to give my audio a moment to catch up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Premiere Pro<\/a>, it was a simple task: hit the camera icon, save the still, and if you checked Import into project<\/strong>, the still would even import into your project folder, allowing you to create an invisible pause in a matter of seconds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premiere also has a hold frame<\/strong> function, but the export frame<\/strong> function was more beneficial in many situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This process in Resolve is more tedious. Here are three methods you can use to get a still of your video footage to create a pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Freeze Frame<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, head to where you want to begin the pause, and using the blade tool<\/strong> (B<\/strong>), create a splice<\/strong>. Then move one frame forward, and make another splice. This should leave you with a clip length of one frame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right-click<\/strong> on the freeze frame and select change clip speed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With the change clip speed dialog box open, select Freeze frame, <\/strong>and you’ll now have a still that you can extend to the length you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, and if the moment calls for it, you can use the freeze frame command to freeze an entire clip. The command shortcut is Shift + R<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to select the clip so it’s outlined in red, place the playhead where you want the clip to freeze, and hit Shift + R<\/strong>. However, it’ll freeze the entire clip. This is the caveat in comparison with Premiere’s still capture function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you hit Shift + R<\/strong> in the middle of the clip, it’ll still freeze everything before it, so use sparingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Retime Controls<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We can also use the Retime<\/strong> controls. Right-click<\/strong> on your media clip<\/strong> and select retime controls<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A set of arrows will appear below the video clip with a new drop-down menu for the retime controls. They’ll open when you click the arrow next to the percentage marker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Position your playhead where you want the freeze frame to start, and open the drop-down menu. Select Freeze Frame<\/strong>. And from your playhead position, you’ll now have two-speed points, along with a region set to 0%<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 0% area is your freeze frame. You can move the second speed point to extend the duration of the freeze frame, and in a ripple edit fashion, an increase in the paused region will increase the overall length of the clip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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3. Export Still<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We can also use the color page’s gallery to export a still, and then import it into the project for a Premiere-like export frame function. The primary purpose of the gallery is to save, reference, and copy grades, but we can also use it to create a still for a pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Head to the color page<\/strong>, open the gallery<\/strong>, right-click<\/strong> on the viewer<\/strong>, and select grab still<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The still will now appear in the gallery. Right-click<\/strong> on the still and select export<\/strong>. You can now save the still under a variety of different formats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the still saved, import<\/strong> it back into your media pool<\/strong> and place it onto the timeline<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You now have a pause that’s a separate media clip from the video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These methods may not be as fluid as one would want, but they get the job done. Maybe we’ll see a dedicated export frame function on the edit page in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lewis McGregor<\/a> is a certified DaVinci Resolve trainer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looking for more Resolve tips and tricks? Check these out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n