Studio 21.1.1
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FRAMING & MOTION

How to create a speed ramp

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

A speed ramp changes playback speed within a clip. Plan the action moment first so the acceleration serves a recognizable beat rather than feeling arbitrary.

Before you begin

Select a video clip on the Edit timeline and open the Inspector.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Retime Curve editor for a clip’s changing speed
Retime Curve editor for a clip’s changing speed Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 1223. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. On Edit, right-click the clip and enable Retime Controls. Place the playhead where the first speed change should occur.
  2. Use the retime segment menu to add a speed point. Add another point to bracket the action that should play at a different speed.
  3. Set the speed of each segment and inspect how the clip duration changes. Leave enough source frames beyond the visible range.
  4. Open Retime Curve, display the speed curve, and soften the change where appropriate. Preview or cache the result, then inspect a rendered sample for interpolation errors.

Check your result

The speed transition lands on the intended action and has no accidental jump or frozen section.

If it doesn’t work as expected

Dragging a speed boundary can alter both timing and available source range. Recheck the final frame and any music cue after reshaping the ramp.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Advanced editorial workflows

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.