DaVinci Resolve Launches Photo Editing to Rival Adobe
▼ Summary
– Blackmagic Design has released DaVinci Resolve 21, a major update adding new photo editing tools to compete with Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop.
– The update introduces AI-powered features for video, such as digitally altering an actor’s apparent age, to also compete with Adobe Premiere.
– A new photo mode allows for organizing large image collections and includes an AI search function to find specific subjects or content.
– The software applies its professional color-correction and masking tools to still images and supports common formats as well as RAW files from major camera brands.
– Other new features include tethered camera control for live shooting, integration with existing photo libraries, and GPU-accelerated batch exports for faster workflow.
Blackmagic Design has significantly expanded the capabilities of its flagship software with a major update. DaVinci Resolve 21 now includes a comprehensive suite of photo editing tools, directly challenging the dominance of Adobe’s ecosystem. This move positions the platform not just as a premier video editor, but as a formidable alternative to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. The update also rolls out new features aimed at video professionals, including AI-powered tools for digitally altering an actor’s age by adjusting facial features and skin texture.
The newly integrated photo mode provides photographers with a robust environment for managing large libraries. Users can organize, rate, and label images, aided by an AI-powered search function to quickly locate specific subjects or scenes. Beyond management, the software brings its renowned color-correction and masking tools to still images. Editors can perform detailed adjustments, apply noise reduction, sharpen details, crop, and utilize Film Looks presets for a consistent aesthetic. Support extends across common formats like JPEG and HEIC, and critically, includes RAW file processing for major camera brands such as Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm. The beta version of Resolve 21 is available for free download on macOS, Windows, and Linux systems.
Enhancing its utility for professional workflows, the update facilitates seamless library migration. Photographers can import images from Apple Photos or Adobe Lightroom catalogs directly. For team-based projects, Blackmagic Cloud syncing enables real-time multi-user collaboration. To maximize hardware investment and speed up delivery, the software offers GPU accelerated batch exports, leveraging a system’s graphics card for rapid processing. Furthermore, Resolve 21 introduces tethered camera control for select Sony and Canon models, allowing photographers to adjust critical settings like ISO, exposure, and white balance while viewing a live preview within the software interface.
(Source: The Verge)
