How to transfer your projects from Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve for color grading

In this video, we take a look at the Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve Workflow for Color Grading.

As much as I like using DaVinci Resolve for color work, I still prefer to do my main edit in Premiere Pro and this is the workflow I like to use when working with both.

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Let's take a look at how you can transfer your projects from Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve for color grading.

There are a few ways you can do this, but this is my personal favourite and arguably the most useful.

The first method we are going to take a look at is using an XML or (eXtensible Markup Language).

You can use this method with various NLEs

Most non-linear editing applications such as Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final cut and Avid don't talk like talking to each other. You can't just open up a Premiere Pro sequence in Resolve, unfortunately.

This is where XML Files come in. An XML file is designed to store and transfer data. An XML has no pre-defined tags and separates information from presentation. This allows it to be readable in multiple applications.

It's also readable by humans as well. So you can actu ally go into an XML document and see what it contains if necessary.

XML files don't contain your files, just the data of where they are and what you've done with them.

When it comes to color grading, this should always be the last step, however, when using an XML you have the option to bring back that sequence into your native editing application such as Premiere Pro if needed after the color work is done. You will have to export a new XML from resolve for this.

To export an XML file from Premiere Pro, here's what you do.

Go to - File > export > and then Final cut Pro XML

Don't worry about the "Final Cut" Part.

and choose where you would like to save it.

Your edit can include basic effects such as dissolves but not more complex edits.

If you have a very complicated timeline with lots of nested sequences, I'd advice exporting those nested sequences separately and re-importing them into the timeline as whole clips. I often scale clips and nest them when applying warp stabiliser, this kind of information isn't included in the XML file and so won't translate to DaVinci resolve. This is why I would recommend exporting them in a high-quality lossless format and re-importing them.

Once in DaVinci Resolve, to import that XML

Go to > file > import > import XML timeline

check your settings

You should hopefully see your timeline now in DaVinci Resolve and you can now start to work on grading your footage.

You can finish your project in DaVinci Resolve, exporting it from here, or as I mentioned earlier, If you need to, you can export another Premiere Pro XML and bring it back into there necessary.

To do this, in the deliver tab you will find

Premiere Pro XML

And in Premiere to import it, go to

Import premiere pro XML

___________

Other ways you can do this include using an EDL

An EDL is an edit decision list which is (text document)

These are kind of old fashion now but are still used when sending to a finishing house.

They are very limited compared to XML files as they only understand 1 track of video and 4 tracks of audio.

For this reason, I recommend duplicating your sequences and with the copy, Flatten down your video layer to just one track (this isn't always possible I know). You may have to export multiple EDL's if you have a complicated timeline.

Personally, if you are grading yourself, I'd recommend using an XML over an EDL, however, if you need to send your work to a finishing house for post-production it's always best to ask and check what they will need.

In the past, I've sent an external hard drive with the original source material, proxies, an EDL and XML. I've also included a lossless export of my final edit with effects and graphics for reference as well as another copy without effects and graphics. This gives them plenty of options.

If you've done a really complex edit with lots of effects and graphics, sometimes the only option will be to export a lossless file from your editing software such as Premiere and use the scene cut detection in DaVinci resolve to colour grade the individual scenes.

Something like a Pro res 4444 file would be fine for this. As I mentioned before, if you are sending it to someone else, it's always best to check what they need.

I hope you found this video useful, if you have any questions let me know in the comments below.

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See you next time, take care