DaVinci Resolve 21 launches Photo page with RAW editing and AI tools to challenge Adobe Lightroom

DaVinci Resolve 21 Introduces Dedicated Photo Editing Capabilities

Blackmagic Design has released DaVinci Resolve 21 in public beta at the NAB 2026 broadcast convention, marking a significant expansion beyond video editing software into photo editing territory. The Australian company introduced a brand-new Photo page designed to challenge established players like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, bringing its industry-leading color grading tools to still images1

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. This update positions DaVinci Resolve 21 as a comprehensive solution for photographers and content creators who work with both stills and video.

The new Photo page sits between the Media and Cut pages, allowing users to import and manage photographs, including RAW files, directly within the interface2

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. Users can reframe and crop images at their original source resolution and aspect ratio, with every adjustment preserving the full quality of the original file through non-destructive editing3

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Node-Based Workflow Powers Advanced RAW Editing

The real strength of DaVinci Resolve 21 lies in its node-based workflow, which now extends to still images. Photographers can add nodes in series or parallel to build complex grades, applying different corrections to different parts of an image simultaneously1

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. The Color page includes primary color correction, curves, qualifiers, and power windows, along with noise reduction and sharpening capabilities that rival or exceed what's available in Adobe Lightroom alternative solutions.

Shared nodes enable users to apply the same look across an entire album of photos at once, streamlining workflow for photographers processing large batches of images2

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. The LightBox view displays an entire album with grades applied, allowing users to select any image and grade it live while seeing results update across the whole collection in real time. Filters for graded, ungraded, star rating, flag, and clip color help organize and manage photo libraries efficiently1

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Camera Tethering and Professional Capture Features

For professional photographers, the Color page includes camera controls that enable tethering of Sony and Canon cameras directly to Resolve for live image capture3

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. Users can adjust settings like ISO, exposure, and white balance, monitor with live view, and save capture presets to lock in a consistent look before shooting. Images can be saved directly into an album, creating a seamless workflow from capture to final edit1

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. The software also supports importing Lightroom catalogs, making it easier for photographers to transition from existing workflows2

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AI Tools Transform Photo and Video Editing

DaVinci Resolve 21 introduces an extensive suite of AI tools that work across both photo and video content. The AI Magic Mask enables one-click selections of objects or people, simplifying complex masking tasks for content creators1

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. AI UltraSharpen can upscale video and photos to make previously unusable footage sharp in higher resolutions, and can also correct minor focus errors2

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The AI Face Age Transformer analyzes faces and lets users enter the subject's age, then adjust the age offset slider to add or remove wrinkles and facial fullness1

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. AI Face Reshaper allows adjustments to eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, and overall face shape, while AI Blemish Removal reduces the appearance of superficial skin imperfections like acne, discoloration, and large pores while retaining natural skin texture3

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. Additional AI features include AI Motion Deblur for fixing slightly blurred images, particularly useful for slow motion and freeze frame shots, and AI IntelliSearch to analyze media and find specific objects or keywords within dialog2

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Advanced VFX and Collaboration Features

The Photo page integrates with other Resolve tools, allowing advanced VFX on still photos using Resolve's Fusion page, or adding OpenFX or FusionFX filters directly on the Photo page1

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. Users can edit Fusion effects from within the Cut and Edit pages, and the update includes the Krokodove library of compositing tools. New immersive VR tools support delivery to platforms like Meta Quest and YouTube VR1

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Collaboration capabilities extend to the Photo page through Blackmagic Cloud, though this requires a paid subscription1

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. The multiuser collaboration workflow tools enable teams to work together on photo projects, mirroring the collaborative features that have made Resolve popular for video production.

Pricing and Availability Shake Up Creative Software Market

Most new features in DaVinci Resolve 21 are available in Blackmagic Design's free version, making professional-grade photo editing accessible without subscription costs1

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. The fully-featured DaVinci Resolve Studio version costs $295 as a one-time purchase and includes additional tools like AI Magic Mask and Film Look Creator2

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. This pricing model positions Resolve as an economical alternative to subscription-based software, potentially disrupting workflows for photographers who have relied on Adobe's ecosystem.

While the Photo page may not offer the same vast array of retouching and compositing tools as Photoshop, its image organization and color grading capabilities present a compelling Adobe Lightroom alternative for photographers and content creators3

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. The public beta is available for download now, with the full release expected to follow.