Effortlessly Animate Layered Photoshop Files in DaVinci Resolve

Bring still image layers to life with these simple techniques

Learn how to prepare and animate layered Photoshop documents in DaVinci Resolve 20, using a range of Edit page effects for quick motion graphics creation.

In part 1 of this series, we’ll focus on working on the Edit page. In part 2, I’ll show you some specific tips and tricks for working with layered Photoshop files on the Fusion page, thanks to improvements in the DaVinci Resolve 20 update.

Animate PSD Layers in the Edit page

With the release of DaVinci Resolve 20, animating layered Photoshop documents has become more accessible directly within the Edit page.

The new ‘Split PSD Layers in Place‘ feature allows editors to import PSD files and automatically separate each layer into individual tracks, streamlining the animation process.

That said, you need to be aware of compatibility issues so you can prepare your files accordingly.

In this Insight, I’ll guide you through the workflow for:

While we will be starting in Photoshop, most popular image editing applications, like Affinity Photo, Coral Paintshop Pro, or GIMP, can export compatible .psd layers.

However, you may need to rasterize vector elements and apply masks, filter effects, and adjustment layers before exporting the .psd file.

Once the PSD is properly prepared and imported, I’ll show you how to:

I’ll also showcase techniques for finessing the timing of your motion graphics by quickly staggering animations and adjusting durations.

Key takeaways from this Insight

By the end of this Insight, you should understand how to:

External Links

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Questions or comments? Leave a comment!

What’s your simple motion graphics workflow in DaVinci Resolve? Are you interested in future videos on motion graphics from the Edit page or from Fusion? Let us know!

— Bernd