--- title: "How to add cinematic lighting to still photos with Relight FX in DaVinci Resolve" author: "Cutsio Team" date: "2026-05-15" lastmod: "2026-05-15" category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows" excerpt: "DaVinci Resolve Relight FX adds realistic light sources to still photos after capture. This guide covers light placement, surface analysis, and combining with Magic Mask for independent subject lighting." tags: ["DaVinci Resolve","Relight FX","Lighting Effects","Still Photography","Cinematic Lighting","Photo Page"] --- ## How do you add cinematic lighting to still photos with Relight FX in DaVinci Resolve? Relight FX in DaVinci Resolve adds a realistic light source to any still photo after capture. Open a photo in the Color page or Photo page, apply Relight FX from the Resolve FX library, and position the virtual light source in 3D space. The tool analyzes the surfaces of faces and objects to reflect light naturally across the image. ![Relight FX](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/photo/powerful/relight@2x.jpg?_v=1775623959) Relight FX works by analyzing the geometry and surface characteristics of the image. It estimates how light would interact with different surfaces — skin, fabric, metal, glass — and applies realistic lighting based on the virtual source position. The result is lighting that looks natural rather than a simple gradient or radial overlay. ## How do you set up Relight FX on a still photo in Resolve? In the Color page or Photo page, open the Open FX library and locate "Resolve FX Relight." Drag it onto a node. The controls appear in the Effects panel. Position the light source using the X, Y, and Z axis controls in the Effects panel. The viewer updates in real time as you adjust. The Light Color control sets the color temperature and tint of the light. The Intensity control adjusts brightness. The Falloff control determines how quickly the light fades with distance from the source. For a dramatic portrait lighting effect, position the light at a 45-degree angle above and to the side of the subject — classic Rembrandt lighting. Set the light color to a warm 3200K for a tungsten feel or cool 5600K for daylight. Adjust intensity and falloff to match the mood you want. ## How do you combine Relight FX with Magic Mask for independent subject lighting? For the most control, combine Relight FX with Magic Mask. Apply Magic Mask to isolate the subject on one node. Apply Relight FX only to that node, lighting the subject independently from the background. On a separate node, apply a different Relight FX or a standard grade to the background. This creates looks that are impossible in-camera. Light the subject with a dramatic key light while keeping the background dark or adding a separate colored wash. The subject appears three-dimensional and separated from the background even if the original photo was flatly lit. The combined workflow: Magic Mask node → Relight FX on subject. Background node (inverted Magic Mask) → standard grade or secondary Relight FX. Layer Mixer node to combine both. The result is a composite with completely independent lighting on the subject and background. ## When should you use Relight FX vs traditional lighting in Resolve? | Effect | Relight FX | Traditional grading/power windows | |---|---|---| | Directional light | Yes — 3D light placement | No — global or masked adjustments only | | Surface-aware reflection | Yes — analyzes skin, fabric, etc. | No | | Color temperature per light | Yes | Yes — through color correction | | Multiple light sources | Yes — multiple nodes | Yes — through power windows | | Natural falloff | Yes — physics-based | Manual gradient adjustment | Relight FX is best when you need realistic, physics-based lighting that responds to the surface characteristics of the image. Traditional grading with power windows is better when you need precise manual control over specific regions without the AI interpretation that Relight applies.

Light after capture. Grade after light.

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