Gain fundamentals of visual effects and motion graphics as you learn to create composites, understand the Fusion page interface used for effects, and discover how nodes work and differ from traditional timelines.
This Davinci Resolve course for effects and motion graphics teaches techniques and best practices for title design, hidden effects, green screen compositing, and visual effects color management. This class also teaches Fusion’s 3D environment for creating broadcast design graphics, 3D particles, as well as D-tracked composites.
You can complete this course using the free DaVinci Resolve app.
Summary of DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects
Learn to use this comprehensive software tool to efficiently produce motion graphics and visual effects for film, video, multimedia, and the Web. This two-day DaVinci Resolve course will get you started using powerful tools for creating various visual effects, motion graphics, and 3D. Our classes are led by experienced motion graphics and visual effects professionals who have backgrounds in broadcast, film, and online media production.
Dates and Times of Davinci Resolve Course for Effects
This DaVinci Resolve course is two full days in length, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, with a one-hour break for lunch mid-day.
This course is available individually or as part of these certificate programs
DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects and Motion Graphics - Course Dates
All classes are led by a live instructor. Class times listed are Eastern time.
DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects and Motion Graphics
Weekdays
Wed, Jul 30 2025 to Thu, Jul 31 2025
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects and Motion Graphics
Weekdays
Mon, Sep 29 2025 to Tue, Sep 30 2025
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects and Motion Graphics
Weekdays
Mon, Nov 17 2025 to Tue, Nov 18 2025
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Topics Covered in DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects
Getting started with DaVinci Resolve effects and animation
- Exploring the fusion interface
- Combining images using nodes
- Adding effects
- Understanding node flow
- Working with masks
- Secondary color correction
- Animating with keyframes
- Adding vignettes
- Returning to the timeline
Compositing split screens in DaVinci Resolve
- Using Llayers from the Edit Page
- Tracking in the fusion Page
- Drawing a matte
- Aligning the clips using nudging
- Restoring camera motion
Replacing sky using DaVinci Resolve compositing
- Retaining clip resolution
- Controlling a composition’s resolution
- Compositing using the darken apply mode
- Adding effects from the effects library
- Fixing holes in a key
- Embedding alpha into an image
- Tracking the sky into position
- Fixing interrupted trackers
- Blending original footage
Replacing signs and screens in DaVinci Resolve
- Tracking Planar surfaces
- Painting with the clone tool
- Using Photoshop PSD layers
- Corner pinning an image
- Combining mattes and images
- Match moving with the planar transform
- Finalizing composites
Compositing green‑screen content with DaVinci Resolve
- Managing color for visual effects
- Why use linear color space?
- Pulling a green-screen key
- Refining a matte
- Rotoscoping auxiliary mattes
- Lining up the background
- Color correcting elements
- Sending a matte to the color page
Titling and motion graphics in DaVinci Resolve
- Starting with a Fusion Generator
- Adding a Text plus Node
- Aligning Text with Tabs
- Formatting a Single Line
- Inserting Logos and Graphics
- Making Credits Roll
- Converting to Pixel Values
- Setting and Looping Keyframes
Creating title templates with DaVinci Resolve
- Styling text in the Edit page
- Moving text to the Fusion page
- Creating a background banner
- Revealing text with mattes
- Animating with the follower
- Adjusting keyframe timing
- Testing versions
- Saving a template
Animating with keyframes and modifiers using DaVinci Resolve
- Identifying clip resolution
- Keyframing a motion path
- Auto-orienting objects
- Straightening out alpha channels
- Painting a motion path
- Linking parameters
- Making acceleration adjustments
- Applying random animation modifiers
- Customizing motion blur
DaVinci Resolve 3D compositing
- Setting Up 3D Scenes
- Placing Elements on 3D Shapes
- Navigating in 3D
- Using Shapes in 3D
- Entering Simple Expressions
- Creating Multiple Axes of Rotation
- Adding Lights and Cameras
Designing 3D graphics for video
- Adding 3D Text to a Scene
- Animating 3D Text
- Playing Around with 3D Shapes
- Working with Materials
- Converting 3D into a 3D Image
- Adding 3D Look Design
Exploring 3D particle systems in DaVinci Resolve
- Setting up a particle system
- Adding motion to particles
- Defining the emitter shape
- Using images for particle cells
- Optimizing performance
- Controlling the timing and look of particles
- Introducing particle forces
3D camera tracking in DaVinci Resolve
- Rotoscoping for 3D tracking
- Combining garbage mattes
- Preparing the camera tracker
- Solving for the camera
- Refining the solve
- Setting the ground plane and exporting the scene
- Positioning objects in a 3D set
- Matching color and light
Creating light wraps and rendering
- Overview of a light wrap
- Staying organized with color
- Combining mattes
- Merging the light wrap and foreground
- Creating smoke with fast noise
- Using fast noise for particle cells
- Rendering from the Fusion page
Because each course is adapted to the needs of each small group class, the topics may include additional materials not listed or may vary slightly from those listed based on the needs of each course section.
DaVinci Resolve course instructors
AGI instructors are DaVinci Resolve professionals and skilled teachers. You'll learn from a live DaVinci Resolve professional that brings years of experience that will help you learn DaVinci Resolve quickly and easily.

RJ
BA, Dual degrees
Certificate, Film making
Extensive professional experience

Sean
Art Institute of Philadelphia, Video Production
Author, Premiere Pro Digital Classroom
Author, After Effects Digital Classroom
Adobe Certified Instructor

Alex
BA, Film & Communications
Video producer
Animator

Drake
BFA
MFA
Professor, Keystone College
Custom and private DaVinci Resolve classes
This DaVinci Resolve course is available as a private class. Curriculum can be customized for your specific needs. DaVinci Resolve classes can be delivered at your location, online, or in our classrooms. For more information, call 781-376-6044 to speak with a training consultant or contact us.
DaVinci Resolve class prerequisites
We recommend you have the DaVinci Resolve application before starting the class. You can download a no-cost version of the app at the Black Magic Design website. If attending this class online, the app should be installed before the start of class. If you attend in our classrooms, the app will be loaded for you on a computer supplied for the class.
DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects: Materials
You receive detailed curriculum and lesson files for the course, which will be used for reference and can be kept after class. The instructor will fill gaps in the materials and provide live demonstrations, answers to questions, and have you work on projects that supplement the curriculum.
DaVinci Resolve Course for Effects: How you will learn
Learn using hands-on exercises and real-world projects that teach techniques used in compositing and broadcast design jobs, including credit rolls, split screens, sky replacement, sign replacement, 3D graphics, and 3D set extension workflow.
In addition to visual effects and motion graphics, you’ll also learn the process behind techniques you use, including compositing in linear light, managing premultiplied alpha channels, and maintaining resolution independence.
This class includes many practical tips used by professional visual effects artists and motion designers that enhance the projects. You will work on practice exercises and get answers to questions from a live instructor.
After completing this class, you will receive a certificate of completion from American Graphics Institute and be qualified to take the online proficiency exam from Blackmagic Design.
In this course, you’ll work with multiple real-world projects and timelines while learning techniques that apply to a wide range of visual effects and motion graphics. You’ll gain real-world visual effects and motion graphics skills that you can apply to your projects using DaVinci Resolve.
You’ll start by getting familiar with the user interface and workflow through a project that has you create a composite. As part of the initial project, you’ll gain familiarity with the essential tools that you will use in most projects.
Once you are familiar with the DaVinci Resolve interface, you’ll learn the most commonly used 3D visual effects techniques that apply to a wide variety of projects. You’ll learn techniques using Fusion’s point and planar tracking tools, allowing you to integrate objects into shots realistically. You’ll learn to use the vector-based Paint tool and remove objects to create hidden effects that are imperceivable to viewers. You’ll also learn how to create and apply green-screen compositing.
You will also take a deep dive into titling and 3D motion design as you learn to create highly customizable credit rolls and learn creative title animations using Fusion’s Follower modifier, as well as create motion paths that can be published and shared between multiple elements. The lessons in this DaVinci Resolve course include various aspects of animation, including Fusion’s keyframe Spline Editor, procedural modifier-based animations, and expressions that can create incredibly natural movement.
This DaVinci Resolve class also teaches 3D compositing and motion graphics as you configure and navigate in a 3D compositing workflow. You will learn to incorporate 3D objects as you design graphics with extruded 3D text, brushed-metal materials, animated cameras, and multiple light sources. You will also have the option of creating additional effects, such as smoke, using particle tools. The course also includes configuring and using the integrated 3D camera tracking tool for simple set extensions.
DaVinci Resolve Course for After Effects users
If you are transitioning to DaVinci Resolve from After Effects, this training class will be helpful as you migrate from the timeline in After Effects to nodes. While working with nodes can be as easy as editing video clips on a timeline, it is a unique paradigm that can take some explaining and learning, provided as part of this DaVinci Resolve course.