4 Easy Steps to Add Motion Blur in DaVinci Resolve Free Version

Unleash cinematic flair to your videos with motion blur, a captivating effect that emulates the natural blurring that occurs when an object moves. Davinci Resolve, renowned for its professional video editing capabilities, offers this effect even in its free version, empowering you to add dynamism and realism to your footage. Embark on a simple, step-by-step journey to master this technique and elevate your video storytelling.

To commence, locate the “Inspector” panel in Davinci Resolve. Within this panel, navigate to the “Effects Library” tab, where a treasure trove of visual effects awaits your exploration. Scroll down until you find the “Blur” category, then select “Motion Blur.” Simply drag and drop this effect onto your video clip, and witness the transformation as the frames begin to blur, creating a sense of movement that mimics real-life motion.

Adjust the intensity of the motion blur using the “Blur Amount” slider. A higher value results in a more pronounced blur, while a lower value imparts a subtle, realistic effect. Additionally, you can alter the “Blur Angle” to control the direction of the blur, tailoring it to match the movement of the object in your footage. Experiment with these settings to achieve the desired cinematic effect that complements your video’s narrative.

Utilizing the Time Remapping Feature

The Time Remapping feature in DaVinci Resolve allows for precise control over the speed and duration of your footage, enabling you to create realistic motion blur effects. To access this feature, follow these steps:

Import your footage: Add your video clip to the timeline.
Select the clip: Click on the clip in the timeline to select it.
Open the Speed Editor: Right-click on the clip and select "Speed Editor" from the context menu.
Change the speed: In the "Speed" section of the Speed Editor, adjust the percentage value to slow down or speed up the footage. Lower values slow down the footage, while higher values speed it up.
Apply motion blur: Enable the "Motion Blur" checkbox to add motion blur to the footage. You can adjust the "Blur Amount" slider to control the intensity of the blur effect.
Preview the effect: Click on the "Play" button in the Speed Editor to preview the motion blur effect.
Apply the changes: Once you’re satisfied with the effect, click on the "Apply" button to save the changes.

Fine-Tuning the Motion Blur

For greater control over the motion blur effect, you can adjust the following settings in the "Advanced Options" section of the Speed Editor:

Experiment with these settings to achieve the desired motion blur effect.

Controlling the Intensity of Motion Blur

The intensity of motion blur can be controlled through the following parameters:

Offset Distance

This parameter specifies the distance over which the motion blur is applied. A higher offset distance will result in a more pronounced motion blur effect. Conversely, a lower offset distance will reduce the blur effect.

Shutter Angle

The shutter angle parameter simulates the exposure time of a camera. A smaller shutter angle will result in a sharper image with less motion blur, while a larger shutter angle will introduce more motion blur. The values range from 0 to 360 degrees, where 0 degrees represents a very short exposure time with minimal motion blur, and 360 degrees represents a very long exposure time with significant motion blur.

Quality

The quality setting determines the sampling rate used to calculate the motion blur. Higher quality settings will result in smoother motion blur, but they will also increase the rendering time. The available quality options are:

Quality Setting	Description
Low	Fast and noisy
Medium	Balanced between speed and quality
High	Slow but produces the best quality

Adjusting the Shutter Angle for Realistic Effects

The shutter angle plays a crucial role in creating realistic motion blur. It determines the amount of motion captured during each frame, influencing the perceived smoothness and realism of the effect.

1. Shutter Angle and Motion Speed

The optimal shutter angle depends on the speed of the motion being captured. For slow-moving objects, a wider shutter angle (e.g., 180°) can capture more motion, resulting in a smoother, more cinematic effect.

2. Inverse Relationship

There is an inverse relationship between the shutter angle and the perceived frame rate. A wider shutter angle reduces the perceived frame rate, while a narrower angle increases it.

3. Shutter Angle Range

Generally, shutter angles between 120° and 180° are suitable for realistic motion blur. However, depending on the desired effect, you may experiment with narrower or wider angles.

4. Motion Direction

The direction of motion also affects the shutter angle selection. For horizontal or vertical motion, a narrower shutter angle (e.g., 120°) can capture sharp details in the foreground while blurring the background. For diagonal motion, a wider angle (e.g., 180°) can create a smoother, more flowing effect.

5. Shutter Angle Table

The following table provides approximate shutter angle recommendations for different motion speeds:

Motion Speed	Shutter Angle
Slow	180°
Medium	150°
Fast	120°

Employing Optical Flow for Seamless Blending

Motion Blur Characteristics

Motion blur is a visual effect that imitates the natural blurring of objects in motion as captured by a camera with a slow shutter speed. To achieve optimal motion blur in DaVinci Resolve’s free version, the Optical Flow setting plays a crucial role.

Enabling Optical Flow

1. Select the clip or adjustment layer on the timeline.

2. Open the “Effects Library” panel.

3. Search for the “Motion Blur” effect and drag it onto the clip.

4. In the “Inspector” panel, locate the “Motion Blur” section.

5. Under “Motion Estimation,” enable the “Optical Flow” checkbox.

Customizing Optical Flow Parameters

The Optical Flow settings allow for further customization of the motion blur effect:

Flow Accuracy: Controls the accuracy of the motion estimation algorithm. A higher value results in smoother, but potentially slower rendering.
Search Area: Defines the pixel neighborhood in which the motion estimation algorithm searches for correspondences. A larger value increases the smoothness of the motion blur at the expense of accuracy for fast-moving objects.
Temporal Search Radius: Determines the frame range in which the motion estimation algorithm searches for matches. A larger value results in longer streaks of motion blur, but may cause flickering in complex scenes.

Refining the Motion Blur Effect

After enabling Optical Flow, additional parameters in the “Motion Blur” section allow for further refinement:

Parameter	Description
Angle	Orientation of the motion blur streak.
Distance	Length of the motion blur streak.
Shutter Speed	Controls the apparent shutter speed of the motion blur.

Integrating Motion Blur with Other Transitions

When utilizing motion blur in Davinci Resolve, it’s possible to seamlessly integrate it with other transitions to enhance the visual flow and storytelling within your project.

Creating a DVE Zoom Transition with Motion Blur

To add motion blur to a DVE Zoom transition:

Select both clips and apply the DVE Zoom transition.
Click on the “Effects” tab in the Inspector panel.
Under the “Blur” category, enable “Motion Blur.”
1. Adjust the “Blur Amount” and “Blur Radius” settings to create the desired blur effect.
2. Set the “Blur Type” to “Linear” for a subtle blur or “Cubic” for a more pronounced effect.
Click on the “Motion” tab and adjust the “Zoom” settings to control the movement of the transition.

Adding Motion Blur to a Wipe Transition

To apply motion blur to a Wipe transition:

Select both clips and apply the Wipe transition.
Click on the “Effects” tab in the Inspector panel.
Under the “Blur” category, enable “Motion Blur.”
1. Adjust the “Blur Amount” and “Blur Radius” settings to create the desired blur effect.
2. Set the “Blur Type” to “Linear” for a subtle blur or “Cubic” for a more pronounced effect.
Click on the “Motion” tab and adjust the “Wipe” settings to control the movement and direction of the transition.

Combining Motion Blur with Cross Dissolve

To merge motion blur with a Cross Dissolve transition:

Select both clips and apply the Cross Dissolve transition.
Click on the “Effects” tab in the Inspector panel.
Enable “Motion Blur” in both the “Video 1” and “Video 2” Effect controls.
Adjust the “Blur Amount” and “Blur Radius” settings independently for each video clip to create a custom blur effect.
Set the “Blur Type” to “Linear” or “Cubic” as desired.

Adding Motion Blur in Davinci Resolve Free Version

To add motion blur in Davinci Resolve Free Version, follow these steps:
1. Select the clip or footage you want to apply motion blur to.
2. Right-click and select “Add Blur” from the drop-down menu.
3. In the “Blur” panel, choose “Motion Blur” from the “Type” drop-down menu.
4. Adjust the “Blur Amount” slider to control the amount of blur.
5. Adjust the “Shutter Angle” slider to control the duration of the blur. A smaller angle will result in a shorter blur, while a larger angle will result in a longer blur.
6. Check the “Enable Motion Estimation” box to have Resolve automatically track the movement in the clip and apply motion blur accordingly.
7. Click “OK” to apply the motion blur.
8. Preview the clip to ensure the motion blur is applied as desired.

Troubleshooting Common Motion Blur Issues

1. The motion blur is not smooth.

– Ensure that the “Motion Estimation” option is enabled.
– Increase the “Motion Blur Quality” setting in the Project Settings.

2. The motion blur is too strong or weak.

– Adjust the “Blur Amount” and “Shutter Angle” sliders to achieve the desired blur strength.

3. The motion blur is not applied to the entire clip.

– Ensure that the clip is fully selected before applying the motion blur.
– If the clip is masked, the motion blur will only be applied to the unmasked area.

4. The motion blur is causing artifacts or flickering.

– Reduce the “Blur Amount” and “Shutter Angle” values.
– Increase the “Anti-Aliasing” setting in the Project Settings.

5. The motion blur is not visible in the exported video.

– Ensure that the “Motion Blur” option is enabled in the Export Settings.

6. The motion blur is only visible in certain areas of the clip.

– If the clip is masked, the motion blur will only be applied to the unmasked area.
– Check for any other effects or filters that may be interfering with the motion blur.

7. The motion blur is not applied correctly to 3D footage.

– Ensure that the “3D Motion Blur” option is enabled in the Project Settings.

8. The motion blur is not applied to footage with a high frame rate.

– Reduce the “Blur Amount” and “Shutter Angle” values for faster frame rate footage.

9. The motion blur is causing performance issues.

– Decrease the “Blur Amount” and “Shutter Angle” values to reduce processing time.
– Disable the “Enable Motion Estimation” option to use a faster but less accurate motion blur algorithm.
– Render the clip with a lower resolution or frame rate to improve performance.

Motion Blur Types

There are three main types of motion blur in Davinci Resolve: Shutter, Frame Blending, and Pixel Motion.

Shutter: This type of motion blur simulates the effect of a slow shutter speed on a camera. It creates a horizontal blur that increases as the shutter speed decreases.

Frame Blending: This type of motion blur blends consecutive frames together, creating a smooth blur that resembles the effect of a high frame rate camera.

Pixel Motion: This type of motion blur analyzes the movement of individual pixels in the image and creates a blur that follows that movement.

Refining the Motion Blur for Professional Results

Here are some additional tips for refining the motion blur in Davinci Resolve Free Version:

Adjust the Duration of the Blur

The Duration property controls the length of time over which the motion blur is applied. A longer duration will create a more pronounced blur.

Control the Intensity of the Blur

The Intensity property controls the amount of blur that is applied. A higher intensity will create a more intense blur.

Vary the Motion Direction

The Angle property controls the direction of the motion blur. You can use this to create blurs that move in different directions.

Apply Selective Motion Blur

Davinci Resolve allows you to apply motion blur to specific areas of the image using the Power Mask tool.

Use Keyframes to Control Motion Blur over Time

You can use keyframes to adjust the motion blur settings over the course of the clip. This allows you to create more complex and realistic motion blur effects.

Experiment with Different Types of Motion Blur

The different types of motion blur in Davinci Resolve offer different looks. Experiment with them to find the best option for your project.

Use Motion Blur to Create Realistic Effects

Motion blur can be used to create realistic effects, such as the blur created by a moving camera or the blur created by a fast-moving object.

Use Motion Blur to Create Stylized Effects

Motion blur can also be used to create stylized effects, such as the blur created by a slow shutter speed or the blur created by a lens filter.

Use Motion Blur to Improve the Visual Quality of Your Videos

Motion blur can be used to improve the visual quality of your videos by reducing the appearance of judder and making the video appear smoother.

How to Add Motion Blur to Your Videos in DaVinci Resolve’s Free Version

Motion blur is an essential technique used to simulate the effect of moving objects, creating a more realistic and cinematic look to your videos. DaVinci Resolve, the professional-grade video editing software, offers powerful features for adding motion blur to your footage, even in its free version. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Import Your Footage:

Start by importing the video clip you want to add motion blur to into DaVinci Resolve’s timeline.
Open the Inspector Panel:

Locate the Inspector panel on the right-hand side of the Resolve interface. It provides various settings and options for your clip.
Enable Motion Blur:

In the Inspector panel, scroll down to the “Motion Blur” section. Check the box next to “Enable Motion Blur” to activate this feature.
Adjust Motion Blur Settings:

Once motion blur is enabled, you can adjust several parameters to control the blur effect:
- Blur Radius: Determines the amount of blur applied to the moving objects. A higher value creates a more pronounced blur.
- Shutter Angle: Controls the sensitivity to motion. A higher shutter angle results in less motion blur, while a lower angle increases it.
- Shutter Offset: Specifies the point in time where motion blur is applied within a single frame.
Preview and Render:

Preview your changes in the viewer window to see the effects of motion blur. When satisfied, click on the “Render” button to export the final video with applied motion blur.