DaVinci Resolve: Adjusting exposure with color wheels

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Think Media·Oct 2025

Demo summary

Using the Offset wheel in DaVinci Resolve, the creator shows how to reduce exposure on a clip to find a balanced medium.

Step-by-step

Locate the Color Wheels panel
Identify the Offset wheel for overall exposure adjustment
Click and slide the wheel to the left to reduce exposure
Monitor the numerical value until a balanced medium is reached
Click the undo icon above a specific wheel to reset adjustments if needed

Options

Independently adjust the Lift wheel for shadows
Independently adjust the Gamma wheel for midtones
Independently adjust the Gain wheel for highlights

Watch out for

Avoid sliding the exposure too far as the image quality will degrade significantly

Tips

Think of the four wheels as shadows, midtones, highlights, and overall adjustment
Use the Offset wheel as a simple starting point for a quick exposure tweak

Highlights

“the simplest way to do that is by using these color wheels”

All demos from “How to Color Grade in DaVinci Resolve for Beginners!”

1:340:26Setting up a node tree in DaVinci ResolveThe creator demonstrates how to add and label serial nodes in the color page to create a structured workflow for exposure, white balance, and creative looks.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Editor
2:561:14Adjusting exposure with color wheelsCurrentUsing the Offset wheel in DaVinci Resolve, the creator shows how to reduce exposure on a clip to find a balanced medium.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Enhancer
4:141:06Using Waveform Scopes to monitor exposureThe creator demonstrates how to enable and read the Waveform video scope to ensure highlights aren't clipping and skin tones are properly exposed.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Editor
5:481:17White balance correction with the eyedropper toolThe creator uses the eyedropper tool in DaVinci Resolve to sample a white shirt and a gray card to automatically correct color temperature and tint.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Enhancer
7:180:35Adding contrast to flat footageThe creator demonstrates increasing the contrast slider to add 'pop' and depth to a washed-out image.DaVinci Resolve· AI Image/Photo Enhancer
8:010:27Adjusting color saturationThe demonstration shows how to use the saturation tool to make colors more vibrant while monitoring skin tones.DaVinci Resolve· AI Image/Photo Enhancer
10:391:04Applying a Color Space Transform (CST)The creator demonstrates using the Color Space Transform effect to convert Sony S-Log3 footage into a standard Rec.709 color space.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Enhancer
11:430:21Applying a technical LUT to Log footageThe creator shows how to right-click a node and apply a camera manufacturer's technical LUT to normalize flat footage.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Enhancer
12:580:59Applying and adjusting a creative LUTThe creator demonstrates applying a Fujifilm creative look and then using the 'Key Output' gain to reduce the opacity and intensity of the effect.DaVinci Resolve· AI Photo Filter
15:000:23Copying and pasting color grades between clipsThe creator demonstrates how to quickly transfer a complete color grade from one clip to another using keyboard shortcuts.DaVinci Resolve· AI Video Editor
Watch “How to Color Grade in DaVinci Resolve for Beginners!” →

AI Video Enhancer

5:550:53Generate custom LUTs from reference imagesThe Higgsfield LUT generator is shown creating a color grading preset for a clip by analyzing a reference still from the movie 'The Joker'.Joseph Martin
33:142:07Color correction with wheels and AI Auto BalanceThe demo shows using the AI Auto Balance button followed by manual adjustments to Gain, Temperature, and Saturation using color wheels.Justin Brown - Primal Video
8:590:34Fix blurry footage with AI Ultra SharpenThe creator applies the Ultra Sharpen effect to out-of-focus footage to demonstrate how the AI attempts to recover detail and improve clarity.The David Shutt
2:561:14Adjusting exposure with color wheelsCurrentUsing the Offset wheel in DaVinci Resolve, the creator shows how to reduce exposure on a clip to find a balanced medium.Think Media
5:481:17White balance correction with the eyedropper toolThe creator uses the eyedropper tool in DaVinci Resolve to sample a white shirt and a gray card to automatically correct color temperature and tint.Think Media
10:391:04Applying a Color Space Transform (CST)The creator demonstrates using the Color Space Transform effect to convert Sony S-Log3 footage into a standard Rec.709 color space.Think Media
11:430:21Applying a technical LUT to Log footageThe creator shows how to right-click a node and apply a camera manufacturer's technical LUT to normalize flat footage.Think Media
3:320:38Apply cinematic color grades with Higgsfield LUTsThe creator uses a reference frame from the movie Dune to apply a specific cinematic color grade to a video clip with one click.Editxor
23:492:41Color correction and grading presetsThe video demonstrates adjusting brightness, temperature, and saturation on the Color page, then saving the look as a 'Still' to apply it to other clips in bulk.Justin Brown - Primal Video
26:121:07Basic color correction on the Color PageA walkthrough of the Color Page in DaVinci Resolve, demonstrating adjustments to shadows, highlights, color boost, and temperature.Ben Claremont
14:140:38AI Color CorrectionDemonstrates the one-click AI color adjustment tool on the Color page to automatically balance a shot.Justin Brown - Primal Video