How to Create & Animate Solid and Border Rectangles & Square in DaVinci Resolve | Step-by-Step Guide

Animating rectangles or squares around objects in DaVinci Resolve is simple and effective for adding visual emphasis to your videos. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Creating a Solid Rectangle or Square

1. Add a Solid Color:
- Go to the Effects tab on the top left of your screen.
- Navigate to Generators and drag Solid Color onto your timeline.
- Adjust its length as needed.
- Select the clip, open the Inspector, and change the color to your preference.

2. Convert to Compound Clip:
- Right-click on the Solid Color clip and choose New Compound Clip.
- Name the clip (e.g., "Rectangle") and confirm.

3. Make It a Solid Rectangle:
- Open the compound clip in the Fusion Page.
- Select the MediaIn node and add a Rectangle Mask from the toolbar.
- Adjust the size and corner radius as desired.
- Return to the Edit Page to resize and reposition the rectangle.

Creating an Empty Rectangle or Square

1. Convert to an Outline:
- In Fusion, uncheck the Solid option in the Rectangle Mask's settings.
- Increase the Border Width to define the outline thickness.
- Go back to the Edit Page to resize or reposition the outlined rectangle.

Animating the Rectangle

1. Animate the Drawing Effect:
- In Fusion, reduce the Length property in the Rectangle Mask settings to 0.
- Go to the first frame, and set a keyframe for Length at 0.
- Move forward in the timeline (e.g., 36 frames for 1.5 seconds)* and set the Length to 1.

2. Smooth the Animation:
- Open the Spline Editor, select the keyframes for Length, and press S to smooth the animation curve.

3. Adjust the Start Position:
- Modify the Angle property to change the animation’s starting point (e.g., 90° for a top-to-bottom effect).

4. Optional Enhancements:
- Enable Motion Blur in the Settings tab for smoother transitions. Adjust the quality as needed.

Creating Squares

- To make a square, ensure the width and height of the Rectangle Mask are equal. Adjust proportions in Fusion or the Edit Page.

Changing Colors Post-Animation

- Open the compound clip in the timeline, adjust the Solid Color settings, and return to the main timeline.

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Understanding Timecode Calculations in Fusion

The Fusion page uses frame numbers for animations, while the Edit Page displays time in seconds. To synchronize these:

1. Check Timeline Frame Rate:
- Right-click on your current timeline in the Edit Page and go to Timeline Settings.
- Note the Frame Rate (e.g., 24, 30, or 60 FPS).

2. Calculate Frames for Desired Duration:
- Use the formula: Frames = Frame Rate × Duration in Seconds
- *Example: For 1.5 seconds at 24 FPS: 24 × 1.5 = 36 frames.

3. Input in Fusion:
- Use this frame count to set keyframes at precise positions in the Fusion timeline.

By understanding frame rates, you can perfectly time animations in your projects.

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This guide provides a detailed workflow for creating and animating rectangles or squares in DaVinci Resolve.