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How to use Magic Mask and Depth Map on still photos in DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve Photo page brings Magic Mask for one-click subject selection and Depth Map for 3D scene separation to still photography. This guide covers compositing, background separation, and independent depth grading.

How do you use Magic Mask on still photos in DaVinci Resolve?

Open a photo in the DaVinci Resolve Color page or Photo page. In the Magic Mask palette, click the target icon and draw a stroke over the person or object you want to isolate. The AI analyzes the image and generates a precise mask. For still images, the mask is instant — no tracking is required since there is no motion to analyze.

Magic Mask on still photos works identically to the video version but without the tracking step. The AI analyzes the single frame, identifies the subject based on your stroke, and generates a clean matte. You can refine the mask using the same controls — brush size, subtract mode, and edge refinement.

Once the mask is generated, you can grade the subject and background independently. Place the Magic Mask on its own node, add a color correction node downstream for the subject, and add a second node for the background with inverted mask. This lets you lighten the subject, darken the background, or apply completely different color treatments to each.

For more DaVinci Resolve tips, read our guide on DaVinci Resolve AI Tools for Colorists and Editors.

How does Depth Map work for still images in DaVinci Resolve?

Depth Map generates a 3D depth map of your scene that separates foreground and background without manual masking. The AI analyzes the image and estimates the distance of every pixel from the camera. The result is a grayscale depth map where white represents the closest elements and black represents the farthest.

Apply Depth Map from the Resolve FX library. Drag it onto a node in your grade. The depth map appears as a grayscale overlay. You can invert it, adjust the contrast to define the transition zone, and use it as a matte for grading.

Combining Magic Mask and Depth Map gives you unprecedented control. Use Magic Mask to isolate a specific person or object, and use Depth Map to create a natural falloff from foreground to background. For a portrait, mask the subject with Magic Mask, then use Depth Map to create a gentle blur on the background that increases with distance — a realistic depth-of-field effect that would require a controlled lighting setup and a fast lens to achieve in-camera.

How does the Photo page AI toolset compare to traditional Photoshop masking?

| Task | DaVinci Resolve Photo page | Photoshop |

|---|---|---|

| Subject selection | Magic Mask — one click | Select Subject — one click |

| Background separation | Depth Map — automatic 3D analysis | Manual layer masking |

| Hair/fur edge detail | Edge refinement in mask | Refine Edge brush |

| Multiple subject isolation | Multiple Magic Mask nodes | Multiple layer masks |

| Depth-based grading | Depth Map as matte | Not natively available |

The key advantage of DaVinci Resolve is the node-based workflow. You can apply Magic Mask on one node, Depth Map on another, combine them with a Layer Mixer, and apply separate grades to the subject, midground, and background — all without flattening or duplicating the original image.

How does Magic Mask on stills connect to the video grading workflow?

A grade developed using Magic Mask on a still photo can be applied directly to video. Build the look on a still frame extracted from your timeline, save the node tree as a Power Grade, and apply it to the matching video clips. The Magic Mask translates to video and tracks automatically when you enable tracking on the clip.

For photographers who also shoot video, this means a consistent look across stills and motion. Grade a still reference image with Magic Mask and Depth Map, export the grade as a LUT or Power Grade, and apply it to the video footage. The look is identical across both mediums.