Isolate backgrounds with the Depth Map in DaVinci Resolve
DAVINCI RESOLVE
Natalie Barnard introduces her workflow for creating powerful colour corrections
Depth Map is a powerful tool used for isolating parts of your image based on their distance from the camera. It’s a great alternative to hand-drawn windows or Magic Masks, and is all thanks to DaVinci Resolve’s neural engine.
In this first tutorial of our twopart exercise, we’ll use Depth Map to apply colour corrections to the background of an interview shot. Make sure you check back next issue for our second workshop, when we’ll build on the work we’ve done here by using Resolve 18.5’s brand new Relight effect to add three-dimensionally accurate virtual lighting on the interviewee, which matches the new colour of the background we’re creating here.
If you would like to follow along with this exercise as we go, the media that we’re using is freely available for download at filmeditingpro.com/freefootage.
01 CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOL
Before starting off, consider whether the shot will work well with the Depth Map effect. If the scene is cluttered or the subject is moving, then other Neural Engine tools such as the Magic Mask might be more suitable.
02 FIND THE DEPTH MAP EFFECT
Add the Depth Map Open FX effect to your node tree, which you’ll find in the Effects tab. You can apply it to an existing node by double-clicking, or create a new node by dragging it into your node tree. If you drop the effect on an existing connection in your node tree, Resolve will automatically connect it.
03 DEPTH MAP PREVIEW
By default, a preview of the Depth Map is shown. Black represents elements of your scene that are further away from the camera, while the white represents elements that are closer, and grey represents any elements that sit in between. Once applied, this luma matte will control which parts of the image your colour grade affects. Where the image is white, your colour grade will appear stronger, and where the image is black they will appear weaker.
04 MAKE REFINEMENTS
Before we apply our colour correction, let’s refine the Depth Map to more precisely isolate the interviewee. Enable Adjust Map Levels in the Depth Map settings. Tweaking the Far Limit and Near Limit controls also allows us t
