DAVINCI RESOLVE

Software specialist Lewis McGregor shares the basics to get you started with Resolve’s powerful masking process

Long gone are the days of meticulously rotoscoping and using qualifiers to mask subjects. In 2020, DaVinci Resolve introduced the Magic Mask, a tool that uses the DaVinci Neural Engine to create detailed masks automatically. This allows users to isolate objects or humans, either whole or in part, for secondary adjustments in the software. Before we get started, it’s also important to highlight that the Magic Mask tool is only available within the Studio version of DaVinci Resolve.

Although the Magic Mask is not the ultimate masking solution, it excels at producing precise masks that conform to the contours of human features, especially in cases where a traditional keyer might face difficulties. For instance, Magic Mask can effectively distinguish exposed skin in shots where the subject is positioned against a backdrop with comparable colour ranges to their skin tone.