Studio 21.1.1
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COLOR FOUNDATIONS

How to copy a grade to another clip

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

Copying a grade accelerates a scene, but matching conditions still matter. A correction made for one exposure or lighting setup may need adjustment on the next shot.

Before you begin

Open Color, select the intended clip, and confirm the project color pipeline.

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Color node graph used when copying grade information
Color node graph used when copying grade information Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 3366. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. On Color, identify a well-balanced source shot and a destination that uses a compatible color pipeline.
  2. Select the destination clip, then apply the source grade using the clip-thumbnail middle-click method or the appropriate copy-and-paste command.
  3. Inspect the destination node tree and confirm whether you copied the whole grade or only selected nodes.
  4. Compare the destination to the source with a still or split-screen view. Adjust exposure, balance, windows, and tracking for the new shot.

Check your result

The intended grade structure is present and the destination visually fits the scene.

If it doesn’t work as expected

Copying a tracked window can carry tracking that belongs to the old shot. Reposition and track the destination instead of assuming the mask will follow its new subject.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Color: train your eye

Go deeper with the course’s explanations, exercises, and knowledge checks.

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Technical reference: DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual, Blackmagic Design, September 2026. Screenshot page numbers refer to that manual. Independently written guidance; specific controls may vary by platform and build. Authorship & image credits.