DaVinci Resolve 21 Beta Challenges Adobe Lightroom for Photo Editing Dominance

Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve has long been celebrated as a premier free color grading tool, tracing its origins back to the 1980s. Traditionally, it has been overshadowed by Adobe Lightroom due to its video-centric design. However, the release of DaVinci Resolve 21 in beta may shift this perception entirely.

The new Photo page allows users to import RAW images and edit them using Resolve’s robust color grading tools. Notably, it includes advanced VFX and AI features absent in Lightroom, sparking curiosity about whether users could abandon their $20/month Adobe Photography subscription (covering Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC).

Early adopters, including the author, found the transition feasible for those who prioritize video over photography. However, photographers accustomed to Lightroom’s workflow may face a steep learning curve. The beta version, while promising, remains buggy.

Testing was conducted using the $295 DaVinci Resolve Studio app, which offers lifetime free updates and additional features not available in the free version. DaVinci Resolve 21 now supports RAW files from Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Sony, with more brands to follow. Blackmagic Design has committed to supporting RAW files for new cameras shortly after release, mirroring Adobe’s approach with Lightroom. The software also handles TIFFs, JPEGs, HEIFs, and other photo formats.

File Organization and Import: A Streamlined Alternative to Lightroom

Resolve’s Projects function similarly to Lightroom’s Catalogs. Users can import photos by dragging and dropping files or folders into the media pool or using the import function. The dedicated Media file management page also supports RAW photos, and the import process is notably more intuitive than Lightroom’s, requiring fewer steps. Additionally, users can import an entire or partial Lightroom catalog into Resolve.

Once imported, photos can be organized by file name, rating, colors, favorites, and other tags. DaVinci Resolve Studio introduces AI IntelliSearch, a feature that visually identifies photos based on content—such as “cats” or “dancing”—using AI. Photos can then be grouped into Albums, comparable to Lightroom’s Collections.

Advanced Editing and Grading Capabilities

Albums unlock photo-specific features in the Color and Edit pages. In the Edit page, Albums appear as simplified, single-track timelines, with each photo represented as a two-second clip. This allows users to work with photos in the Color and Fusion pages just as they would with video. The Photo page also supports reframing and cropping images—either by inputting dimensions or dragging—and includes basic RAW-style adjustments for exposure, highlights, and shadows.

For more advanced grading, users can leverage Resolve’s Fusion page for intricate VFX work. The integration of AI and VFX tools sets Resolve apart from Lightroom, offering a unique blend of capabilities for photographers willing to explore its potential.