How To Add Text In Davinci Resolve 18
Ever feel like your video is missing that je ne sais quoi? Like it's a delicious sandwich, but all it needs is a little bit of mustard? That mustard, my friend, is often text. Adding text in DaVinci Resolve 18 doesn’t have to be scary. Think of it less as brain surgery and more like... well, like spreading that mustard. Let's dive in!
The Easiest Way: The Edit Page
Okay, so you're in Resolve, likely staring at the Edit page like it owes you money. Don't worry, it’s about to start paying up! This is where the majority of simple text additions happen.
First things first, look down at your toolbar. See that little "Effects Library" button? It usually lurks in the bottom left corner. Click it! Now, in the Effects Library, navigate to “Titles.” It's usually nestled away in a folder. Think of it as finding the hidden stash of chocolate in the back of your pantry. Glorious!
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You'll see a whole bunch of pre-made title templates. Some are fancy, some are simple. Choose the "Text" template. It's the plainest, most basic one. Think of it as the white t-shirt of title templates: reliable and goes with everything.
Now, drag that "Text" template onto your timeline, above the video clip where you want your text to appear. It’s like placing that slice of cheese perfectly on your burger.
Pro Tip: Make sure your playhead (that little red line) is positioned where you want the text to start. Otherwise, your text might appear out of nowhere, like a surprise pop quiz.
Click on the text clip you just added to your timeline. Now look up at the Inspector panel (usually in the upper right corner). This is where the magic happens. You’ll see a text box where you can type in, well, your text! “Hello World!” “Subscribe Now!” “This is a Cat!” Whatever your heart desires.
Change the font, size, color, and all sorts of other goodies in the Inspector. Experiment! Don’t be afraid to get creative. It’s like trying on different hats. Some will look great, others… not so much.
Adjust the duration of your text clip by dragging the edges of the clip on the timeline. Make it longer, shorter – whatever works for your video. Just don't make it flash by so fast people need to rewind ten times to read it. That's just cruel.
Level Up: The Fusion Page
Alright, so the Edit page is great for simple text. But what if you want animated text? Text that twirls, zooms, or does backflips? That's where the Fusion page comes in. Don't let it intimidate you! It's like learning to ride a bike – wobbly at first, but then you're flying!
Select the clip where you want the fancy text. Then, click the "Fusion" tab at the bottom of the screen. Prepare yourself… it can look a little… intense at first.
You'll see a bunch of boxes connected by lines. These are called "Nodes." Think of them as ingredients in a recipe. You'll need a "Text+" node. Add it by pressing Ctrl+Space (or Cmd+Space on a Mac) and typing "Text+" in the search box. Select it and hit Enter. Boom! You've got your text node.
Connect the output of your "MediaIn" node (your video clip) to the input of a "Merge" node. Then, connect the output of your "Text+" node to the other input of the "Merge" node. Now you should see your text on top of your video in one of the viewers.
Just like on the Edit page, the Inspector panel is your friend. Here, you can type your text, choose your font, color, size, etc. But the real power of Fusion is in the animation!
Use the "Keyframes" to animate different properties of your text. For example, you can animate the "Position" property to make your text move across the screen. Or animate the "Size" property to make it grow or shrink. The possibilities are endless! It's like being a digital puppeteer!
Don't Panic! Fusion can be overwhelming at first. There are tons of tutorials online. Search for "DaVinci Resolve Fusion Text Tutorial" and prepare to be amazed (and maybe slightly confused). It’s a learning process, so be patient with yourself. Think of each step as a mini-victory.
Adding text in DaVinci Resolve 18, whether it's simple text on the Edit page or complex animations on the Fusion page, is a vital part of video editing. With a little practice, you'll be adding text like a pro, transforming your videos from "meh" to "magnificent!" Go forth and conquer the world of text!
