How to Change the Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve: An Ultimate Guide (2024)

If you've watched "The Grand Budapest Hotel," you must have been captivated by its unique artistic approach. The director cleverly employed different aspect ratios to depict different eras.

For instance, the story set in the 1930s was shot in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, while the 1960s scenes utilized a 1.85:1 ratio, and the 1980s embraced a wider 2.35:1 ratio.

These changes in aspect ratio not only subtly convey the shift in time to the audience but also add a dynamic touch to the film's visuals.

In this beginner's guide, we'll walk you through simple steps to change the aspect ratio in DaVinci Resolve, enabling you to effortlessly transform the look and feel of your videos. Let's get started!

In this article, you will learn:

1. What Is the Aspect Ratio?
2. How to Calculate Aspect Ratio?
3. How to Change Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve?
4. How to Efficiently Change the Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve?
5. Final Thoughts About Changing Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve

What Is the Aspect Ratio?

Aspect ratio refers to the proportion between the length and width of an image or video frame, typically expressed as "X:Y." For example, a 4:3 (or 1.33:1) aspect ratio means that the width of the frame is 4 units, while the height is 3 units.

The choice of aspect ratio is crucial and depends on where your work will be displayed. For instance, in the early days of television, the standard screen size was 4:3. Consequently, most TV shows from that era were filmed using a 4:3 aspect ratio.

We will provide a brief introduction to several common aspect ratios. This will help you gain a clearer understanding of aspect ratios when it comes to changing them in DaVinci Resolve.

1. 4:3 Aspect Ratio

During the early stages of filmmaking, the standard film size was 4:3, which adhered to the principles of the "golden ratio" and offered pleasing visual aesthetics. This aspect ratio was also widely used in various art forms, including painting.

The birth of this aspect ratio is somewhat tied to Thomas Edison. In the film era, William Dickson, a cinematographer at Edison's laboratory, set a 4:3 image with a frame height of 4 perforations on 35mm film.

In 1909, the Motion Picture Patents Company, controlled by Edison, declared the 4:3 aspect ratio as the standard for all American films to be shot and screened. Subsequently, this classic ratio was adopted for television programs and early computer screens.

Similar to the 4:3 aspect ratio is the 1.37:1 ratio, also known as the Academy ratio. This slight variation came about with the invention of sound in films, requiring a portion of the film to accommodate the audio track on one side.

Classic movie still from "Casablanca" showcasing the iconic 4:3 aspect ratio.

2. 16:9 Aspect Ratio

The 16:9 aspect ratio has become the international standard for high-definition television. During the era of HD TVs and online videos, the most common resolution was 1920*1080.

This aspect ratio falls between 4:3 and 2.35:1, making it suitable for displaying almost all types of films. Consequently, it quickly became the default aspect ratio for DVD and Blu-ray releases of movies and TV shows.

Today, 16:9 is the preferred aspect ratio for streaming videos. Whether you're watching on a computer or a high-definition TV, it provides a comfortable viewing experience.

"Friends" Still in 16:9 Aspect Ratio

3. 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio

The 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio originated in the 1940s as movie theaters sought to compete with television. By introducing wider aspect ratios, they aimed to provide a broader visual field that closely resembled the natural human eye's field of view.

This aspect ratio not only offers a larger perspective but also enhances the immersive experience when viewing films in theaters.

In addition to the standard 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, some directors opt for special ratios such as 2:1 or 2.75:1 to capture a distinct visual aesthetic.

The movie "Ben-Hur" utilizes a 2.76:1 aspect ratio

4. 9:16 Aspect Ratio

The 9:16 aspect ratio has gained popularity with the rise of short video social platforms like TikTok. It is specifically designed for vertical videos.

Compared to other aspect ratios, the 9:16 ratio provides a narrow frame that makes it challenging to create visually appealing compositions with depth. As a result, it may not be suitable for serious filmmaking.

However, the vertical orientation captures viewers' attention effectively, making it ideal for content creation on short video platforms.

The aforementioned aspect ratios are just a few of the most common and representative ones. There are many other ratios frequently used, such as 1.37:1 and 1.85:1.

The existence of various ratios is a reflection of the evolution of film, television, analog photography, and digital photography. If you're interested in this topic, you can explore how aspect ratios have evolved in the history of cinema.

In conclusion, wider aspect ratios provide a broader sense of light and space, allowing for larger scenes to be depicted. On the other hand, more compact aspect ratios focus the viewer's attention on a narrower field of view.

This implies that when shooting and editing videos, different composition techniques should be employed based on the aspect ratio to achieve the desired effect.

How to Calculate Aspect Ratio?

To calculate the aspect ratio of a video, you need to know the width and height of the video in advance, making the calculation easy.

Simply divide the width of the video by its height. This will result in a decimal, which can then be converted into a ratio by finding the smallest integer that has the same ratio.

For example, if a video has a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, the aspect ratio is 1920 ÷ 1080 ≈ 1.778. This value can then be represented as an integer ratio, which in this case is 16:9.

It's important to clarify that the method we're discussing for calculating video aspect ratios is based on the assumption of square pixels, which indeed results in a true 16:9 ratio on a computer display.

However, on a TV screen, pixel ratios deviate from 1:1. This variation occurs because hardware manufacturers, for certain reasons, have standard definition (technical standards for transmitting TV images).

Consequently, each horizontal pixel on a TV screen is slightly elongated, which means pixels are no longer square.

When you watch a video on TV that has a 16:9 aspect ratio on a computer, you might notice the video appearing horizontally stretched. This is because its actual dimensions are no longer 16:9 on the TV screen.

From this, we can draw three conclusions:

• The actual screen aspect ratio may not directly correspond to the resolution ratio unless pixel ratios are 1:1.
• The actual screen aspect ratio is calculated as (horizontal resolution × horizontal pixel length) : (vertical resolution × vertical pixel length).
• In most cases, given that your videos aren't primarily intended for TV audiences, you can confidently rely on video resolution for your calculations.

How to Change Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve?

If you currently have aerial footage with a resolution of 3840*2160 (16:9 aspect ratio) and want to convert it to a 9:16 aspect ratio for sharing on short video platforms like TikTok, how can you quickly achieve this aspect ratio change in DaVinci Resolve?

To get started, launch DaVinci Resolve and create a new project. You can click on the "File" menu in the top menu bar of the DaVinci Resolve main interface and select "Project Settings" to bring up the project settings panel.

In the "Project Settings" panel, under "Master Settings," you will find the default timeline resolution for this project is set to 1920*1080 HD, with a frame rate of 24 frames per second.

Method 1: Change the Aspect Ratio in the Project Settings Panel

You can easily modify the timeline resolution of your project by accessing the Project Settings panel.

Simply click on the Timeline resolution dropdown menu in the Timeline Format section under Master Settings.

From there, select the desired aspect ratio. You also have the option to customize the aspect ratio according to your specific needs. Once you've made your selection, click on the confirmation button to apply the changes.

If you create a new timeline within a project and make specific settings for that timeline, any settings you make in the Project Settings panel will be overridden by the timeline's settings.

In other words, the timeline's settings take precedence over the project settings.

Method 2: Change the Aspect Ratio in the Edit Page

Go to the "Edit Page." Click on "File" in the top menu bar, then select "New Timeline." Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Command-N (macOS) or Ctrl-N (Windows) to create a new timeline.

In the "Create New Timeline" settings panel, uncheck the "Use Project Settings" button located at the bottom left. This will allow you to use different resolution and frame rate options for this specific timeline. Now, this timeline is separate and won't affect the entire project.

Now, the "Create New Timeline" panel will redirect you to this page. Select the "Format" tab to adjust the "Timeline Resolution."

The common size for vertical short videos with a 9:16 aspect ratio is 1080*1920. You have the option to manually input these numbers to adjust the timeline resolution to your desired specifications.

Alternatively, you can simply check the box that says "Use Vertical Resolution" to automatically set the resolution to 1080*1920 with just one click.

Here, you also need to pay attention to a small detail in the "Format" tab, specifically the "Mismatched Resolution" option. By default, it is set to the third option, "Scale Entire Image to Fit." You can adjust it to the second option, "Scale Full Frame with Crop."

The Mismatched Resolution setting refers to how DaVinci Resolve scales and adjusts the image when the clip resolution does not match the timeline resolution. Here are the descriptions of the four options for Mismatched Resolution:

• Center Crop with No Resizing: This option maintains the original clip size without scaling. If the clip resolution is larger than the timeline resolution (frame size), the excess parts will be cropped.
• Scale Full Frame with Crop: This option scales the clip proportionally based on the shorter edge, aligning it with the project resolution's shorter edge. Some parts of the longer edge may be cropped, but it is useful when dealing with multiple clips, eliminating the need to individually adjust the frame size.
• Scale Entire Image to Fit: This is the default option. It scales the clip proportionally based on the longer edge, aligning it with the timeline resolution's longer edge. There may be empty space along the shorter edge.
• Stretch Frame to All Corners: This option non-proportionally stretches the clip size to fit the timeline resolution entirely. Generally, this results in distorted images due to stretching.

DaVinci Resolve will add this new "timeline" to the media pool. To add video clips to the timeline, simply double-click on the newly created timeline in the media pool and then drag and drop the media clips into the timeline panel below.

Additionally, you can fine-tune the positioning, scaling, rotation, and other attributes of your video composition in the "Inspector" located on the right side of the Viewer, ensuring that your video composition is visually appealing and meets your specific requirements.

Is there a smarter way to do it? Absolutely. Building upon the groundwork laid out in Method 1, Method 2 offers a more direct and efficient approach, allowing you to quickly change the aspect ratio in DaVinci Resolve with just one click.

Method 3: Change the Aspect Ratio in the Cut Page

Switch to the Cut Page in DaVinci Resolve. Underneath the "Fullscreen" button in the top right corner of the Cut Page, there is a small icon surrounded by four triangles.

Click on the arrow next to it to reveal a dropdown menu with four presets: 3840*2160, 1920*1080, 1080*1920, and 1080*1080. Simply click on "Portrait 1080*1920," and a new timeline with a 9:16 aspect ratio will be created.

Now, you can go back to the Edit Page and unleash your creativity by importing your media files!

How to Efficiently Change the Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve?

In the previous section, we shared three methods for changing the aspect ratio in DaVinci Resolve.

Among them, the easiest method is to change the aspect ratio in the Cut page. However, this method has its limitations as it offers only limited adjustments.

The other two methods provide more customization options, but they often require manually inputting the resolution for the desired aspect ratio, such as entering numbers like 1920x1080 (16:9), 1080x1080 (1:1), 1080x1920 (9:16), and so on.

Frequent modifications like these in complex projects with multiple timelines can distract you from focusing on creativity and the content itself.

That's why we'd like to introduce you to an outstanding tool, TourBox, which greatly enhances your video editing and content creation experience.

TourBox is a versatile and intuitive controller designed for creative professionals. It seamlessly integrates with popular editing software like DaVinci Resolve, offering a more efficient and effortless editing workflow.

You can utilize TourBox's macro function to avoid the hassle of manually entering numbers, allowing you to create and modify aspect ratios with a single click. Once you set it up in the TourBox Console, you can reuse it in any future editing projects.

According to your preferences and needs, create multiple macros to simulate the manual aspect ratio changes you make in DaVinci Resolve. You will create mouse macros and numeric macros, but don't worry, the process of creating macros is easy.

Then, create a TourMenu and assign these macros with corresponding resolution names for easy identification. Assign a button on TourBox to configure this TourMenu, so you can change the video aspect ratio anytime using the TourMenu.

Now, back to your DaVinci Resolve project, you can easily change the aspect ratio of your videos with just one hand using TourBox. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as TourBox has many more powerful features waiting for you to explore.

Final Thoughts About Changing Aspect Ratio in DaVinci Resolve

In this tutorial, we explored the concept of aspect ratio and demonstrated how to change it in DaVinci Resolve using practical examples.

Additionally, we introduced TourBox, a creative tool loved by digital artists, content creators, and editors. If you're interested in TourBox, you might want to check out our cost-effective option, TourBox Lite.

That concludes our tutorial on how to change the aspect ratio in DaVinci Resolve. We hope this guide has been helpful on your creative journey.