---
title: "Best Way to Export High Quality Video in DaVinci Resolve"
author: "Alex Johnson"
category: Tips
excerpt: "Direct methods for maximizing bitrate, choosing ProRes or H.265 codecs, and bypassing YouTube compression in DaVinci Resolve."
image: "/cutsio-thumbnail.svg"
tags: "DaVinci Resolve, Export, Render, Best Practices"
---

The best way to export high quality video in DaVinci Resolve is to use the Deliver page to select a robust codec like Apple ProRes or H.265, set a constant high bitrate, and bypass default web presets.

Here are the direct methods to best export high quality video in DaVinci Resolve.

## What is the fastest way to export Apple ProRes or DNxHR?
If you need a visually lossless master file for archiving or sending to a colorist, you must use an uncompressed professional codec.

To quickly export ProRes or DNxHR:
1. Go to the **Deliver** page at the bottom of DaVinci Resolve.
2. In the top-left Render Settings, scroll right and select the **Custom** preset.
3. Under the **Video** tab, change the **Format** to `QuickTime`.
4. Change the **Codec** to `Apple ProRes 422 HQ` (Mac) or `DNxHR HQX` (Windows).
5. Click **Add to Render Queue** and then **Render All**. The resulting file will be massive but identical in quality to the original timeline.

## How do you maximize bitrate for H.265 web delivery?
If you are uploading to YouTube or Vimeo and the video looks blocky or pixelated, the default export preset compressed the data rate too aggressively.

To maximize bitrate for web delivery:
1. On the Deliver page, select the **Custom** preset.
2. Set the **Format** to `MP4` and the **Codec** to `H.265` (HEVC).
3. Scroll down to the **Quality** section and change it from **Automatic** to **Restrict to**.
4. Enter a high custom bitrate: type `60000` Kb/s for 4K video, or `30000` Kb/s for 1080p. This forces DaVinci Resolve to allocate enough data to keep complex motion looking crisp on YouTube.

## How do you bypass color shifts on Mac exports?
If your exported video looks perfectly graded inside DaVinci Resolve but appears washed out or desaturated when played in QuickTime on a Mac, the color space tags are mismatched.

To bypass Mac export color shifts:
1. Go to **DaVinci Resolve > Preferences > System > General**.
2. Check the box for **Use Mac Display Color Profiles for Viewers**.
3. When exporting on the Deliver page, expand the **Advanced Settings** under the Video tab.
4. Set the **Color Space Tag** to `Rec.709` and the **Gamma Tag** to `Rec.709-A`. This forces QuickTime to interpret the contrast exactly as you graded it.