--- title: "How to deliver HDR and SDR from one timeline with MultiMaster in DaVinci Resolve 21" author: "Cutsio Team" date: "2026-05-15" lastmod: "2026-05-15" category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows" excerpt: "DaVinci Resolve 21 MultiMaster Trim Manager generates multiple HDR and SDR deliverables from a single timeline. This guide covers setup, trim controls, and how to combine it with upstream pre-editing." tags: ["DaVinci Resolve 21","MultiMaster","HDR","SDR","Color Grading","Delivery","Color Management"] --- ## How do you deliver HDR and SDR from one timeline in DaVinci Resolve 21? DaVinci Resolve 21 MultiMaster Trim Manager lets you generate multiple HDR and SDR trim deliverables from a single timeline. When enabled, the node editor displays additional layers for trim operations. You color manage the timeline for each output standard and render each iteration in a single pass, eliminating the need for separate timelines or projects for each deliverable. ![MultiMaster Trim Manager](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/whatsnew/color/multimaster@2x.jpg?_v=1775111432) MultiMaster solves one of the most persistent challenges in modern color grading: delivering the same project in multiple color spaces. A single project might need a Dolby Vision HDR master for streaming, a Rec. 709 SDR version for broadcast, a DCI-P3 version for theatrical release, and a hybrid Log version for archival. Previously, colorists had to create separate timelines for each deliverable, manually copying grades across each one and risking inconsistencies. ## How do you set up MultiMaster in DaVinci Resolve 21? Enable MultiMaster in the Color page settings. Go to the Color menu, select "MultiMaster Settings," and toggle it on. The node editor will display additional trim layers for each output standard you configure. Configure your output standards in the MultiMaster Settings panel. Common configurations include: - **Dolby Vision HDR (ST.2084)**: For streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime - **Rec. 709 SDR**: For broadcast television and web delivery - **DCI-P3**: For theatrical DCP mastering - **HLG HDR**: For broadcast HDR and live sports Each output standard gets its own trim layer in the node editor. The base node tree remains your primary creative grade. The trim layers sit on top, letting you make output-specific adjustments without altering the base grade. The process works like this. Grade your timeline as you normally would in your preferred color space — typically Dolby Vision or Rec. 2020 for HDR workflows. Enable MultiMaster and select your delivery standards. The node editor shows your base grade plus additional trim nodes for each standard. Make your SDR trim adjustments — pulling down highlights that would clip in Rec. 709, adjusting saturation for the narrower gamut. Make your HDR trim adjustments — expanding highlight detail, adjusting the paper white for SDR coexistence. When you render, select MultiMaster render mode on the Deliver page and choose which standards to output. Resolve renders each variant with the appropriate trim applied in a single pass. ## What trim adjustments does each output standard need in MultiMaster? | Adjustment type | HDR (Dolby Vision) | SDR (Rec. 709) | DCI-P3 | |---|---|---|---| | Highlights | Preserve detail above 100 nits | Roll off to prevent clipping | Moderate roll-off | | Shadow detail | Maintain full black level | Lift slightly for broadcast | Maintain theatrical black | | Saturation | Keep rich but natural | Reduce for Rec. 709 gamut | P3-native saturation | | Skin tones | Match HDR reference | Match SDR reference | Match P3 reference | | Paper white | Set to 100-200 nits | N/A (100% = peak white) | N/A | The goal of MultiMaster trimming is not to re-grade the entire project for each output. The base grade establishes your creative intent. The trim layers make the minimal adjustments needed to translate that intent to each color space accurately. ## Why should you pre-edit your timeline before using MultiMaster? MultiMaster renders all output variants in a single pass, but the render time depends on the total duration of your timeline. A timeline filled with unedited footage, dead air, and retakes will take significantly longer to render than a timeline that has been pre-edited. The practical workflow is to tighten your timeline before grading. Upload your raw footage to Cutsio, use the Silent Slicer to remove dead air and pauses, use AI Retake Removal to eliminate repeated takes, and use the transcript-based editor to highlight the best moments. Export an EDL or XML and import into DaVinci Resolve 21. With the timeline already assembled from selects, apply your color grade, configure MultiMaster for your delivery standards, and render all variants in one pass. This approach ensures that MultiMaster renders only the content that makes the final cut. For a project where the raw footage is 10 hours but the final edit is 30 minutes, the render time difference is substantial — 20x faster with pre-editing.
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## How does MultiMaster handle trim passes for different delivery formats? The trim layers in MultiMaster work like parallel node trees. Each output standard gets its own trim layer that can include multiple nodes for complex adjustments. You can add primary corrections, curves, qualifiers, and power windows to each trim layer independently. The key principle is that trims should be minimal. If you find yourself making large adjustments on a trim layer, your base grade may need to be adjusted. The base grade should represent a middle ground that translates well to all delivery formats, with the trim layers handling the color-space-specific nuances. MultiMaster also supports Dolby Vision trim metadata. When rendering Dolby Vision masters, the trim adjustments are encoded as Dolby Vision metadata that compatible displays use to optimize the image. This means a single Dolby Vision master can contain trim information for multiple display capabilities — from 1,000-nit consumer TVs to 4,000-nit professional monitors. ## How many delivery variants can MultiMaster output in one render pass? MultiMaster supports an unlimited number of output standards in a single render pass, limited only by your system's processing capacity. Each additional output standard adds processing overhead because Resolve must render each variant separately. A typical configuration includes two to four variants: one HDR master and one SDR master, with optional P3 or HLG variants for specific distribution channels. For most productions, two to three variants provide comprehensive coverage without excessive render time. ## FAQ ### Do I need DaVinci Resolve Studio for MultiMaster? Yes. MultiMaster Trim Manager is a DaVinci Resolve 21 Studio exclusive. It is not available in the free version. ### Can MultiMaster render Dolby Vision metadata? Yes. MultiMaster supports Dolby Vision trim metadata encoding when configured for Dolby Vision output standards. ### Does MultiMaster work with ACES color management? Yes. MultiMaster is compatible with both DaVinci YRGB Color Management and ACEScct color management pipelines. ### Can I add more output standards after I have already graded? Yes. You can add, remove, or modify output standards at any point during the grading process. Trim adjustments are non-destructive and stored separately from the base grade. ### How much longer does a MultiMaster render take compared to a single output? Each additional output standard adds approximately 50-100% of the base render time, depending on the complexity of the trim adjustments. A four-variant MultiMaster render takes roughly 2.5-4x longer than a single standard render.

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Tighten your timeline with Cutsio, grade in DaVinci Resolve 21, and let MultiMaster handle the rest. HDR, SDR, P3 — all from one timeline, all in one render pass.

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