--- title: "How to use the new keyframing and curves editor in DaVinci Resolve 21" author: "Cutsio Team" date: "2026-05-15" lastmod: "2026-05-15" category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows" excerpt: "DaVinci Resolve 21 revamps the keyframes and curves editor with ease animations, loop modes, four-point Bezier easing, and simultaneous multi-clip adjustments. This guide covers every new feature." tags: ["DaVinci Resolve 21","Keyframing","Curves Editor","Animation","Motion Graphics","Video Editing"] --- ## How does the new keyframing work in DaVinci Resolve 21? DaVinci Resolve 21 introduces a significantly upgraded keyframes and curves editor with new ease animations including loop, ping pong, and relative modes, plus simultaneous adjustments to multiple clips. The curves editor features a normalized zoom mode that automatically scales curves to fill the available vertical space. Four-point Bezier easing now supports complex video retiming. ![Keyframes and Curves Editor](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/whatsnew/edit/keyframes@2x.jpg?_v=1775111046) These updates target editors who need precise animation control without switching to the Fusion page. The keyframing tools are available in both the Edit and Cut pages, integrated directly into the Inspector and the timeline. ## How do loop, ping pong, and relative modes work? The new ease animation modes add three powerful options beyond standard linear and Bezier easing. **Loop mode** repeats the animation from the first keyframe to the last keyframe in a continuous loop. If you have a logo that scales up over 2 seconds and you enable loop mode, the logo will scale up, reset to the starting scale, and scale up again continuously for the duration of the clip. This is useful for animated backgrounds, spinning elements, and pulsating effects. **Ping pong mode** animates forward from the first keyframe to the last keyframe, then reverses back to the first keyframe, creating a seamless back-and-forth motion. If you position a graphic 100 pixels left at the first keyframe and 100 pixels right at the last keyframe, ping pong mode creates a continuous left-right oscillation. This is ideal for bouncing icons, sliding lower thirds, and camera shake effects. **Relative mode** offsets animations proportionally across multiple selected clips. If you have 10 clips on a timeline and want each one to fade in with a 10-frame delay between them, setting relative mode distributes the animation offset automatically. You do not need to manually stagger keyframes across each clip. ## How do you adjust keyframes on multiple clips simultaneously in Resolve 21? Select multiple clips on the timeline, open the Inspector, and adjust a parameter such as scale, position, or rotation. The change applies to all selected clips proportionally. This means if you have 5 clips with different scale values and you increase the scale by 10%, each clip increases by 10% relative to its original value. For identical adjustments, hold the modifier key while dragging to apply the exact same value to all selected clips. This is useful for setting consistent position values across a row of lower-thirds or equalizing the contrast setting across a group of interview clips. The multi-clip keyframing works with all animatable parameters in the Inspector, including transform, crop, retime, and composite controls. It also works with Fusion effect parameters that are exposed in the Inspector. ## What is normalized zoom in the curves editor? The curves editor in DaVinci Resolve 21 introduces a normalized zoom mode that automatically scales the curve display to fill the available vertical space. Instead of manually zooming in to see subtle curve variations or zooming out to see the full range, normalized zoom adjusts the vertical scale automatically based on the minimum and maximum values of the selected parameter. This is particularly useful for audio keyframes where volume changes are subtle, or for position keyframes where the value range is small relative to the overall coordinate system. With normalized zoom enabled, every curve fills the editor window, making it easy to see and adjust small variations without manual zoom adjustments. The feature can be toggled on and off from the curves editor toolbar. When disabled, the editor behaves like previous versions with manual zoom controls. ## How does four-point Bezier easing work for retiming? Four-point Bezier easing adds acceleration and deceleration control at the beginning and end of speed changes. Unlike standard ease-in/ease-out which uses simple curves, four-point Bezier gives you separate control handles for the ease-in and ease-out shape. For retiming, this means you can create smooth slow-motion transitions where the speed change starts gradually, accelerates, and then decelerates into the target speed. A clip transitioning from 100% speed to 40% speed can have a gradual entry into slow motion, a sustained slow-motion period, and a gradual return to normal speed — all controlled by the four Bezier handles. The four-point Bezier controls appear in the curves editor when you add speed keyframes to a clip. The horizontal handles control the timing of the ease-in and ease-out, while the vertical handles control the acceleration curve. Experiment with different handle positions to create custom speed ramps that match the emotional pacing of your footage. ## How does the new keyframing improve the Fusion effect animation workflow? You can now animate Fusion effects directly from the keyframes and curves editors on the Edit and Cut pages. Fusion effect parameters — such as text position in a Title+ node, the intensity of a transition effect, or the offset of a transform — appear in the Inspector alongside standard transform parameters. ![Animate Fusion Effects](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/whatsnew/edit/animate@2x.jpg?_v=1775111045) This eliminates a common context switch. Previously, animating a Fusion parameter required switching to the Fusion page, locating the correct node in the node tree, setting keyframes, and switching back to the Edit page. Now, those parameters are accessible from the Edit page Inspector. The keyframe curves for Fusion parameters appear in the same curves editor as transform keyframes, giving you a unified view of all animation in the clip. ## FAQ ### Is the new keyframing available in the Cut page? Yes. The keyframing updates are available on both the Edit and Cut pages. ### Can I use loop mode on audio keyframes? Yes. Loop, ping pong, and relative modes work on both video and audio parameter keyframes. ### Does normalized zoom affect the rendered output? No. Normalized zoom only changes the display scaling in the curves editor. The actual parameter values are unaffected. ### Are the new keyframing features available in the free version of Resolve 21? The keyframing updates are available in both the free and Studio versions of DaVinci Resolve 21. ### Can I apply four-point Bezier easing to Fusion parameters? Yes. Four-point Bezier easing works with any animatable parameter, including Fusion effect parameters exposed in the Inspector.

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