Change opacity by adjusting the clip's alpha value in the Inspector panel

In DaVinci Resolve, opacity controls how transparent or solid a clip appears on the timeline. To change it, select your clip in the timeline, then look at the Inspector panel on the right side of the screen. Find the Opacity slider under the "Color" section and drag it left to make the clip more transparent (lower opacity) or right to make it more solid (higher opacity). The value ranges from 0 (completely invisible) to 100 (completely solid).

You can also type a specific number directly into the opacity field instead of dragging the slider. Click the number box, delete the current value, type your desired opacity percentage, and press Enter. This method is faster when you need an exact value—for example, 50 for a half-transparent overlay or 75 for a subtle fade effect.

Key Takeaways

  • The Opacity slider lives in the Inspector panel's Color section and ranges from 0 to 100.
  • Dragging the slider left makes a clip more transparent; dragging right makes it more solid.
  • You can type a specific opacity value directly into the number field for precise control.
  • Opacity changes explore only to the selected clip and do not affect other clips on the timeline.
  • Keyframing opacity lets you fade a clip in or out over time by setting different opacity values at different points.

Locate the Inspector panel and select your clip

The Inspector panel appears on the right side of the DaVinci Resolve workspace by default. If you do not see it, go to the top menu, click Workspace, then select Inspector to turn it on. Make sure you are in the Edit page (not Fusion, Color, or Deliver), because opacity controls are only available there.

Click the clip you want to adjust in the timeline at the bottom of the screen. The clip will highlight, and its properties will appear in the Inspector panel. If the Inspector shows properties for a different clip, you selected the wrong one—click again on the correct clip.

Find and adjust the Opacity slider

In the Inspector panel, scroll down until you see the Color section. The Opacity slider is usually near the top of this section. It shows a number from 0 to 100 and a horizontal slider bar next to it. The slider's position visually represents the current opacity: all the way left is 0 (invisible), all the way right is 100 (fully visible).

Click and drag the slider to change opacity. As you drag, the clip in your timeline will become more or less transparent in real time, so you can see the effect when ready. Release the mouse when you reach the opacity level you want. If you overshoot, straightforward drag again to fine-tune it.

Type a specific opacity value for precision

Instead of dragging, you can enter an exact number. Click the opacity number field (the box showing the current percentage) to select it. The text will highlight. Type your desired value—for example, type 50 for 50% opacity—and press Enter. The slider will jump to that position, and the clip will update when ready.

This method is useful when you need consistent opacity across multiple clips or when you want a value you cannot easily hit by dragging. Common opacity values are 50 (half transparent), 75 (mostly solid with slight transparency), and 25 (mostly transparent with slight visibility).

Use keyframes to fade opacity over time

If you want a clip to fade in or fade out gradually, you can set keyframes on the opacity value. A keyframe is a point in time where you lock in a specific opacity value. Between keyframes, DaVinci Resolve automatically transitions the opacity smoothly.

To add a keyframe, move the playhead (the vertical line showing your current position in the timeline) to the frame where you want the opacity change to start. With the clip selected, click the small diamond icon next to the Opacity slider in the Inspector. A keyframe appears. Move the playhead forward to where you want the opacity change to end, adjust the opacity slider to your target value, and click the diamond again to add a second keyframe. The clip will now fade between those two opacity values over the frames in between.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common error is forgetting to select the correct clip before adjusting opacity. If you change the slider and nothing happens on screen, check that the clip you intended to modify is actually highlighted in the timeline. Another frequent mistake is confusing opacity with volume—opacity affects how transparent a video clip looks, while volume controls audio loudness. These are separate controls in the Inspector.

A third mistake is setting opacity to 0 and then losing track of the invisible clip. If you make a clip completely transparent and cannot find it later, click in the timeline where you think it is and look at the Inspector to confirm it is there. You can then raise the opacity back to a visible level. To prevent this, avoid setting opacity to exactly 0 unless you intentionally want a clip hidden; use a very low value like 1 or 2 instead if you want it nearly invisible but still findable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change opacity for only part of a clip?

Yes, by using keyframes. Move the playhead to the frame where you want the opacity change to begin, add a keyframe at the current opacity, then move forward and add another keyframe at a different opacity. The transition happens smoothly between the two keyframes. You can add as many keyframes as you need to create complex fade patterns.

Does changing opacity affect the audio in the clip?

No. Opacity controls only the video's transparency. The audio will play at full volume unless you separately adjust the audio level. To lower audio volume, select the clip and find the audio controls in the Inspector, which are separate from the opacity slider.

What is the difference between opacity and the fade tool?

Opacity is a permanent property of the clip that you adjust in the Inspector. The fade tool creates a gradual transition at the beginning or end of a clip where it fades in from black or fades out to black. You can use both together—fade the clip in with the fade tool, then lower its overall opacity with the slider.

Can I copy opacity settings from one clip to another?

Yes. Select the clip with the opacity you want to copy, then right-click it and choose Copy. Select the clip you want to paste the opacity into, right-click, and choose Paste Attributes. A dialog will appear; check only the Opacity box and click Paste. The opacity value transfers to the new clip.

Why does my clip disappear when I lower opacity?

If your clip is on a lower layer and there is nothing below it, lowering opacity makes it transparent against a black background, which can look like it disappeared. Check that your timeline has content below the clip or add a background layer. If the clip is on the top layer, lowering opacity will show the timeline background instead.