DaVinci Resolve adds new photo editing tools to take on Lightroom and Photoshop

Blackmagic Design announced an update to its powerful multipurpose post-production software today adding new tools and improved workflows for editing photos. In addition to helping position DaVinci Resolve 21 as an alternative to Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop, the latest version also introduces new features to lure users away from Adobe Premiere including AI tools that can make an actor look younger or older by adding wrinkles or changing the shape of their face.

The new photo mode in DaVinci Resolve 21 can be used to organize, rate, and label large collections of images and includes an AI-powered search feature for finding specific subjects or content. Resolve 21’s powerful color-correction and masking tools can be applied to still images in addition to cropping, noise reduction, sharpening, or applying “Film Looks” presets to streamline the editing process. Common image formats like JPEG and HEIC files are supported, but Resolve 21 can also process RAW files from Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm cameras, according to DPReview. The new version of Resolve is currently available as a free beta for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Other photo-focused features added to Resolve 21 include importing images from Apple Photos or Adobe Lightroom Catalog files and support for multi-user collaboration through Blackmagic Cloud syncing. Workflows on tight deadlines can be sped up using “GPU accelerated batch exports and conversions,” taking advantage of a graphics card you may have spent a small fortune on. Resolve 21 can also now control tethered Sony and Canon cameras with its interface providing a live preview and the ability to adjust settings like ISO, exposure, and white balance.