COLOR / TOOL GUIDE 10 / 13
Sizing.
One frame. Different scopes.
Similar Pan and Zoom controls may affect a clip, node, output or only a reference. Choose the correct scope before reframing.
reflects Transform from the Edit Inspector
Color-page clip-level transform
geometry belonging to the selected node
Values in these captures illustrate the interface, not recommended settings. Geometry depends on the shot, timeline and selected Sizing stage.
BEFORE MOVING A CONTROL
Understand what you are changing.
Scope first, amount second
Edit Sizing is associated with the clip’s editorial transform; Input Sizing provides separate Color-side controls. Node Sizing belongs to the selected node, Output Sizing to output scope and Reference Sizing to reference comparison. Similar sliders do not make them interchangeable.
Before changing Zoom, decide whether it belongs to one edit, a node operation or the whole timeline output. This prevents an adjustment intended for one shot from unexpectedly changing another.
Stacked transforms can obscure the cause
Unexpected enlargement can come from Edit Inspector, Input/Node Sizing, stabilization or output settings. Do not compensate for an unknown scale change with another inverse Zoom; locate its source first.
Cropping, blanking and output-resolution changes are different operations. Black bars do not guarantee the required file dimensions. For vertical delivery, verify timeline/output resolution, composition, safe areas and titles.
Reference Sizing serves comparison, not editing
In a wipe, reference and current clip may differ in size. Reference Sizing helps align them for color comparison; changing it does not mean the working clip’s geometry has changed.
Resolve 21 provides Use Trim blanking for MultiMaster Trim. Use it within an intentional trim workflow and verify the selected Trim Pass at delivery. Avoid adding hidden scope to an ordinary project without a reason.
FROM PURPOSE TO CONTROL
Choose deliberately, not by trial and error.
The interface images are collected in the viewer above. Here, focus on what each control changes and when to use it; values in the captures are not universal presets.
Where geometry changes
Input Sizing
Input Sizing changes image geometry before the signal passes through the Color nodes. It is a useful place for basic reframing and positioning that should belong to the clip setup rather than to a creative adjustment inside the node tree.
- Pan, Tilt, Zoom and Rotate work before the nodes
- Width / Height scale the image by axis
- Pitch / Yaw provide perspective-style transforms
Edit Sizing
Edit Sizing reflects the clip transform state used on the Edit page. Think of it as the editor-level geometry branch: it is distinct from Color-page Input Sizing even though both affect the clip rather than the whole timeline.
- Zoom X / Zoom Y scale the axes independently
- Cropping trims the clip edges
- Lens Correction helps with lens distortion
Node Sizing
Node Sizing is used when a geometry adjustment should live inside a specific node. That is the key difference from Input and Output Sizing: the transform becomes part of the node pipeline and can belong to one particular grading task.
- Works in the context of the selected node
- Key Lock can tie the transform to the key
- Useful in more complex node-based workflows
Output Sizing
Output Sizing applies to the entire timeline, not just the selected clip. That makes it the delivery-level geometry stage for global framing and blanking decisions after clip- and node-level transforms are already established.
- Works after node-based grading
- Blanking defines final image boundaries
- Useful for final framing before delivery
Reference Sizing
Reference Sizing does not change the main clip itself. It independently scales and positions a reference image for comparison, which is useful when the reference has a different aspect ratio, scale or composition.
- Does not change the graded clip
- Helps align the reference with the current shot
- Useful for precise visual matching
Framing controls
Pan / Tilt
Move the image horizontally and vertically. These are the basic controls for restoring composition after a zoom or for making a small positional correction.
Zoom / Width / Height
Zoom scales the image uniformly, while Width and Height let you scale the axes independently. Independent scaling is useful but can distort geometry, so it should be used deliberately.
Rotate / Pitch / Yaw
Rotate turns the frame in-plane, while Pitch and Yaw create a more perspective-like transform. This goes beyond simple reframing, so strong values quickly become visible.
Flip
Flips the image horizontally or vertically. It is useful for technical tasks and mirroring, but needs care when the frame contains text, logos or directional lighting.
Cropping / Blanking
Cropping trims the image edges in Edit Sizing, while Blanking defines visible boundaries in the relevant Sizing modes. They belong to different stages and should not be treated as one universal control.
Lens Correction
Edit Sizing includes a dedicated Lens Correction section with Analyze and Distortion. It is meant for correcting lens geometry rather than for color grading itself.
TECHNICAL REFERENCE
The five Sizing modes look similar but live at different processing levels
Input, Edit, Node, Output and Reference Sizing should not be chosen just because their Pan/Zoom controls look familiar. Blackmagic's Colorist Guide distinguishes them by processing scope: Edit Sizing reflects Edit Inspector transforms, Input Sizing provides a separate Color-page transform at the same clip level, Node Sizing belongs to the selected node, Output Sizing acts at timeline output level, and Reference Sizing affects only the reference still/movie in wipe mode. That determines what is inherited, what belongs to a node/still, and where geometry sits relative to the grade.
Where each Sizing mode lives
| Mode | Scope | What it changes | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edit Sizing | clip / Edit page | reflects/edits the transform associated with the Edit Inspector | editorial reframing that should remain part of the edit |
| Input Sizing | clip / Color page | a separate set of clip-level geometry from the Edit transform | colourist reframing without changing the editor's Transform |
| Node Sizing | selected node | geometry only within the selected node context | an effect/isolation/branch where the transform must belong to the node tree |
| Output Sizing | timeline | final geometry of the whole timeline output | global framing, blanking and delivery/aspect-ratio adaptation |
| Reference Sizing | Viewer reference | only the active still/reference movie in wipe mode | align the reference and current shot for matching |
| Cropping / Lens Correction | Edit Sizing toolset | frame edges and geometric distortion | technical correction before creative reframing |
FROM KNOWLEDGE TO A REPEATABLE RESULT
One exercise. A result you can check.
Make a test timeline copy containing two clips and a saved still. Use a small visible transform to identify its scope, restoring each mode after the test.
- 01
First identify the pipeline stage
The first question is not which slider to use, but where the transform should live: before the nodes, inside a node, after the nodes or only on a reference. That decision determines the Sizing mode.
- 02
Do not duplicate the same transform in several places
If the same zoom is applied in Edit, Input and Node Sizing, the project becomes difficult to reason about. Keep each geometry task in one logical place.
- 03
Rebuild composition with Pan / Tilt after zooming
Scaling almost always changes composition. After a zoom, re-check the face, horizon, product or other visual center instead of leaving the frame accidentally shifted.
- 04
Judge the final result in the delivery context
Output Sizing and Blanking should be checked at the final resolution and aspect ratio. Something that looks fine in the viewer can still create an unexpected edge or crop at delivery.
Self-check in Resolve; the site does not evaluate your work. Progress is not saved after reloading.
An editorial exercise for your own footage, not an automated check of a Resolve project. Work on a copy or separate version and evaluate the complete shot.
WHEN THE RESULT IS NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT
Find the cause, not a compensating slider.
01The shot is zoomed more than expected+
Possible cause. Zoom is stacked across Edit + Input/Node/Output Sizing
What to check. reset/bypass each level in sequence plus the Inspector Transform
02A Power Window/Qualifier behaves differently after changing timeline resolution+
Possible cause. part of the secondary analysis depends on the working raster/resolution
What to check. return to final timeline resolution and re-check edges, track and key
03Reference wipe framing does not match, but the clip must not change+
Possible cause. clip/output sizing was used instead of Reference Sizing
What to check. switch to Reference Sizing and adjust only the reference
04The render has different crop/blanking than expected+
Possible cause. Output Sizing/blanking is acting at timeline or trim/output context
What to check. Output Sizing, project/output resolution, trim-specific blanking and Deliver settings
A SITUATION TO THINK THROUGHThe export did not change after adjusting Reference Sizing. Why?Compare your reasoning ↓
That mode adjusts the comparison reference rather than the delivered working clip. Choose the appropriate clip, node or output scope for reframing instead of repeating the reference adjustment.
Sources and version notes
Checked against Blackmagic Design’s Color documentation and the relevant new-feature guides. Screenshots are from the site’s own supplied library; controls and layout can differ between versions. Examples are instructional, not universal production settings.