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Adding titles in DaVinci Resolve is one of the quickest ways to elevate your video from raw footage to a polished production. Whether you need lower thirds for interviews, opening title cards, or animated text overlays, DaVinci Resolve’s built-in tools make it easy — once you know where to look.
This beginner guide walks you through every method for adding titles in DaVinci Resolve, from the basic Text tool to Fusion-based animated templates. By the end, you’ll be able to add, customize, and animate titles like a pro.
Why Titles Matter
Titles serve three core purposes in video editing:
- Introduce information — names, locations, dates, context
- Establish branding — consistent fonts and colors build recognition
- Guide the viewer — call-outs, subtitles, chapter markers
DaVinci Resolve gives you all the tools to do this without leaving the Edit page.
Method 1: The Built-In Text Tool (Edit Page)
The fastest way to add a basic title in DaVinci Resolve:
- Open the Edit page (top toolbar)
- Go to the Effects Library (top-left panel, or
Shift + 5) - Scroll to Toolbox > Titles
- Drag Text or Text+ onto your timeline
- In the Inspector (
Ctrl + I), type your text under the Text tab - Adjust font, size, color, spacing, and alignment
- Drag the edges of the title clip on the timeline to set the duration
Pro tip: Text+ (Fusion-based) gives you more styling options — drop shadows, outlines, gradients, and background boxes — without leaving the Edit page.
Method 2: Using Title Templates (Fusion Titles)
DaVinci Resolve ships with over 30 built-in title templates. These are pre-animated and ready to use:
- In the Effects Library, browse Titles section
- Look for templates labeled with a Fusion icon (gear symbol)
- Drag one onto your timeline
- Select the clip and open the Inspector
- Under the Title tab, modify the text and style
- Use Effects tab to adjust animation speed and type
Popular built-in templates:
– Clean Lower Third — perfect for interviews
– Call Out — name + label combo
– Reveal — animated text swipe
– Typewriter — vintage text appearance
Need more variety? Check out our guide to the best DaVinci Resolve title templates for hundreds of professional options.
Method 3: Creating Animated Titles in Fusion
For complete creative control, use the Fusion page:
- Right-click your title clip on the timeline → Open in Fusion Page
- The Text+ node appears automatically
- Add a Merge node to composite over your footage
- Add Transform nodes for position/scale/rotation animation
- Add Keyframes by clicking the diamond icon next to parameters
- Use Modifiers (Shake, Oscillate, Spring) for dynamic movement
Beginner-friendly animation ideas:
– Fade in: Set keyframe at 0% opacity → 100% opacity
– Slide up: Animate Y position from +50 to 0
– Scale pop: Animate scale from 120% → 100% over 10 frames
Method 4: Lower Thirds (Interview Titles)
Lower thirds are essential for documentaries, interviews, and corporate videos:
- Use the built-in Clean Lower Third template
- In the Inspector, fill in:
- Text 1: Person’s name
- Text 2: Title/role
- Adjust the background box opacity and color
- Trim the clip to appear only during the person’s introduction
Pro tip: Keep lower thirds on screen for 2–4 seconds minimum, and animate them in/out smoothly for a professional look.
Method 5: Credits and Rolling Text
End credits are simpler than you think:
- Drag the Rolling Text template from Titles onto your timeline
- Paste your full credits list (separate names/titles with line breaks)
- Use the Roll Direction dropdown to choose top-to-bottom
- Adjust speed by dragging the clip’s duration — longer clip = slower roll
Quick Tips for Better Titles
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Use hierarchy | Primary text larger than secondary text (e.g., name vs. title) |
| Limit to 3 fonts max | Too many fonts look amateurish |
| Add background contrast | White text on light footage is unreadable — use drop shadows or background boxes |
| Stay on screen long enough | 3 seconds for short text, 1 second per 5 words for longer text |
| Match brand colors | Use your brand palette for consistent look |
| Safe area | Keep text inside the “Title Safe” zone (guides available in Viewer menu) |
Keyboard Shortcuts (Edit Page)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open Effects Library | Shift + 5 |
| Open Inspector | Ctrl + I |
| Add default title | Ctrl + T |
| Duplicate clip | Alt + drag |
| Trim to playhead | Ctrl + Shift + X |
| Zoom timeline | Ctrl + = / Ctrl + - |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
“My title text looks blurry”
– Check that your timeline resolution matches your clip resolution
– Use vector fonts (TTF/OTF) instead of bitmap fonts
– Avoid scaling text above 100% in the Inspector
“The animation doesn’t play”
– Ensure your title clip has enough duration for the animation to complete
– Check Fusion templates — some have minimum duration requirements
“I can’t see the text over bright footage”
– Add a drop shadow (Text+ → Shading tab → Shadow)
– Use a semi-transparent background box
Next Steps
Once you master basic titles, try:
– Best DaVinci Resolve Title Templates — download professional templates
– Keyframe advanced animations in Fusion
– Add motion tracking to make text follow objects
– Create title presets for consistent branding across projects
If you’re new to video editing entirely, read our guide on the best free video editor for YouTube to compare DaVinci Resolve with other free options.
Conclusion
Adding titles in DaVinci Resolve is straightforward once you understand the tools at your disposal. Start with the built-in Text and Text+ tools on the Edit page, explore the included templates, and gradually experiment with Fusion for custom animations. The more you practice, the faster and more creative you’ll become.
Ready to expand your library? Browse the full collection of DaVinci Resolve title templates and take your text game to the next level.