DaVinci Resolve gives you nearly unlimited ways to create stunning video projects. Long-loved by professionals as a color-correction platform, it has evolved into an all-in-one video editing platform that allows you to take a video project from start to finish. 

In this guide, we’ll cover what happens after you’ve completed your masterpiece and you want to get it into the world. This is a step-by-step checklist on exporting a video from DaVinci Resolve.

How to export a video from DaVinci Resolve

There are a couple of methods you can use to export your video or video project from DaVinci Resolve. First, we’ll start with the fastest:

Method #1: quick export

Quick export is great if you want to export directly to YouTube, Vimeo, or Twitter, or if you just want a standard H.264 video file without any additional compression or other export customizations. This is perfect for vloggers or social media creators that want to edit on the go and get their work online as fast as possible.

Step 1: Navigate to the “File” menu in the top left of the screen.

Step 2: Open the “File” dropdown and select “Quick Export.”

You’ll need to import your footage containing the green screen, as well as whatever elements you want to replace the greenscreen with, such as a digital background or other elements.

Step 3: In the Quick Export settings window, select which format you’d like to export your video in.

The default Quick Export options are H.264, YouTube, Vimeo, and Twitter. The social export options have settings optimized for each of these platforms. 

If you want to publish to that platform specifically, select its option. If you want a video in a format that’s online-friendly but don’t know where it’s going yet, choose H.264. 

Step 4: Click the export button.

Step 5: Select where you’d like to save your exported file in the “Save” popup menu, then click “Save.”

Now your video will be saved to the destination you selected after it finishes rendering. 

Now, if you want to have more control over the format of your exported video, you’ll want to use its more traditional export features. 

These are a little more complex, but they give you nearly limitless control over the final format of your video. So, whether you’re premiering your video clip on TikTok or in Tinseltown, you’re covered.

Method #2: Using the “Deliver” export tool

Step 1: Click on the rocket ship icon at the bottom of the screen labeled “Deliver.”

Step 2: In the Deliver export window, navigate to “Render Settings.”

Step 3: Enter your video export preferences.

This is where things get a little complex. In Render Settings, you’ll see similar icons to what appear in Quick Export. However, you’ll see an additional option labeled “Custom.” If you want to control your export settings, make sure this option is selected. 

Now, you can create a custom export setting for your video. For our example, we’ll be exporting a video in MP4 format with its original codec as H.264. Here are our example settings:

1. First, enter your desired file name in the “File Name” text field.
2. Click the “Browse” button next to the “Location” field and select the location to save your exported video.
3. Select “Single Clip” to create one export file from all your edited clips.
4. Make sure the “Export Video” box is checked.
5. Click on the “Format” dropdown menu and select “Quicktime” or “MP4” as your exported video format.
6. Set your Codec as H.264.
7. Make sure your resolution and frame rate match your project settings.
8. Leave the render quality on “Automatic.”
   

You can use these settings or input your own based on your specific video export needs. 

Step 4: Click “Add to Render Queue.” 

Step 5: Click on “Start Render” at the bottom of the render queue. 

And that’s it. Now you’re able to export video tracks from DaVinci Resolve in whatever format you choose. 

Final thoughts

Now that you know how to export a video from DaVinci Resolve, we recommend doing some research and finding out which export formats work best for the kind of video projects you’re creating. 

Do you want a smaller file size that’s easier to upload online? Or do you want to preserve every tiny detail for projection on a big screen? No matter what you want to do with your projects in the end, DaVinci Resolve has you covered, with plenty of shortcuts to speed up your workflow. 

And if you’re looking for a better way to bring your remote video production team closer together and collaborate more efficiently from a distance, check out Evercast. Evercast allows you to stream your DaVinci Resolve edit sessions in HD while video chatting and exchanging notes with your team - in one platform. Learn more about plans and pricing.