Studio 21.1.1
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FRAMING & MOTION

How to zoom and reposition a clip

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

Transform controls change a clip’s size and placement in the frame. A linked X/Y zoom preserves proportions; independent scaling can distort the picture.

Before you begin

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

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Video Inspector: Transform controls
Video Inspector: Transform controls Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 919. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Select the timeline clip and open Inspector > Video > Transform. Confirm the chain between Zoom X and Y is enabled for proportional scaling.
  2. Increase Zoom slightly, then adjust Position X and Y to frame the subject. Use the viewer transform overlay if you prefer dragging.
  3. Inspect the shot at normal viewing size and at full resolution. Avoid enlarging low-resolution material more than the delivery can tolerate.
  4. Play the clip to check moving subjects and remove accidental transform keyframes if you wanted a static composition.

Check your result

The framing is consistent and circles or faces are not stretched.

If it doesn’t work as expected

If the picture unexpectedly moves, inspect the keyframe diamonds and reset only the affected transform values. A selected diamond can create animation on later adjustments.

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.