If you want finely-tuned custom control over your images in ways you can’t do quickly with Resolve’s native tools, you might consider creating your own.
DCTL is a programming language in DaVinci Resolve that allows you to create tools that can act like LUTs or Plug-ins to affect your image in any number of ways.
These tools are also referred to as DCTLs and can be easily created, shared, and edited.
Using DCTLs is only supported only in DaVinci Resolve Studio.
If you’re new to coding, this might not be easy to follow but you’ll still get a sense of what DCTLs can accomplish, even if you don’t follow everything.
In part 1 of this video series from Kaur Hendrikson, you’ll learn about:
- 00:13 DCTL meaning
- 00:45 What can/can’t DCTLs do?
- 01:35 What do I need?
- 02:46 Configuring VS Code
- 03:57 Boilerplate explained
- 06:22 Running the boilerplate
- 06:53 Red channel to the max
- 07:19 Viewing the log file
- 08:43 Our first error
- 09:49 Lift, Gamma, Gain & Offset
- 12:06 Error 2
- 12:22 _powf
- 13:06 Error 3
- 14:28 Success?
- 15:16 Success!
- 16:00 Comparison
In part 2, you’ll learn:
- 00:32 README.txt
- 01:33 Adding UI parameters
- 05:27 Debugging
- 07:56 Converting to Functions
- 10:00 More functions!
Gedaly is the Managing Editor of DVresolve.com. He is a professional editor, having cut national commercials for major companies, and does color & VFX for indie films at Mask & Feather. He’s also a filmmaker, writing and directing shorts & features. Gedaly is the co-founder of Working.Actor and former marketing strategist for large brands.