April 2024

Quick Start Guide

DaVinci Resolve
Micro Color PanelENGetting Started with

DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel
The Micro Color Panel features a row of direct control knobs

Panel will show up automatically in DaVinci Resolve,

at the top of the panel, three trackballs with rings for color

along with the DaVinci Control Panels Setup applications,

grading, and to the left and right, transport and commonly

ready for use.

used keys to speed up your grading session. Above theConnecting to Your
Computer via Bluetooth

trackballs are reset buttons and also selection buttons
for working with Stills, Power Windows, and the Viewer
selector. At the top of the unit is a tablet slot designed to

You can also connect the DaVinci Resolve Microhold an Apple iPad running DaVinci Resolve, giving you theColor Panel wirelessly via Bluetooth for more flexible

smallest and most compact color grading station available.

installation options.

Setting up the
DaVinci Resolve
Micro Color PanelTo Connect the Micro Color Panelto MacOS via Bluetooth:
1 Ensure that your Micro Color Panel’s battery is readyby first connecting it via USB-C, as described above,
and allowing it to charge.
2 Press the Bluetooth button on the back of theCharging the DaVinci
Resolve Micro Color Panel

Micro Color Panel; a blue light will flash letting you
know it’s trying to pair.
3 Open the Bluetooth Preference pane in theConnecting the DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel via

MacOS System Settings. Find the device named

USB-C to your Mac, PC, or iPad will also charge the unit’s

Micro Color Panel, and press the Connect key.

internal battery, allowing it to be used wirelessly via

4 If MacOS asks you if you would like to pair the device,

Bluetooth. You can check the current battery level of the

click the Connect button.

Micro Color Panel by going to the Control Panels section

5 Once the Micro Color Panel is connected,of the System Preferences.

open DaVinci Resolve. The LEDs on the keys will
illuminate to confirm that the Micro Color Panelis connected properly.
To Connect the Micro Color Panel
to Windows via Bluetooth:
1 Ensure that your Micro Color Panel’s battery is readyby first connecting it via USB-C, as described above,
and allowing it to charge.
2 In the Windows Settings, select Devices > Bluetooth& devices. Make sure the Bluetooth slider is set to On.

USB-C connection at the rear of the panel

3 Click on Add device, and select Bluetooth from the
Add a device window.

Connecting to Your
Computer via USB-C

4 Select Micro Color Panel from the list of devices,

Connecting the DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel directly

5 If Windows asks you if you would like to pairand press the Done key once connected.
the device, click the Allow button.

via USB-C is the simplest and most reliable way to use theMicro Color Panel on your Windows or Mac computer.

6 Once the Micro Color Panel is connected in the

Simply connect the DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel toBluetooth & devices window, open DaVinci Resolve.

your computer’s USB type C port, using a USB-C cable.

The LEDs on the keys will illuminate to confirm that

No additional configuration is required. The Micro Color

the Micro Color Panel is connected properly.
2to iPadOS via Bluetooth:Trackball Modes

1 Ensure that your Micro Color Panel’s battery is readyYou can set up the DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel’s

To Connect the Micro Color Panel

physical rings and trackballs to mirror the on-screen

by first connecting it via USB-C to another computer,Primaries Wheels, Log, and Offset controls. This lets you

an iPad, or USB-C charger and allowing it to charge.

select an intuitive tactile interface for each mode.

You cannot connect the Micro Color Panel directly

Primary Trackball Modeto the iPad via USB-C; the USB-C connection only
supports charging. You can only connect the panel

This is the default mode for the panel with Offset, Viewer,

via Bluetooth.

Wipe Still, and Cursor keys off (unlit). The three trackballs,

2 Press the Bluetooth button on the back of the Microfrom left to right, are in the traditional DaVinci format

Color Panel; a blue light will flash letting you know it’sof Lift, Gamma, and Gain when DaVinci Resolve is set

trying to pair.

for Primary grading. Rotating the trackball performs acolor balance adjustment for the range, changing its RGB

3 Open the Bluetooth Preference pane in the iPadOS

parameters. The colors are set by moving the trackball

Settings. Find the device named Micro Color Panel,in the direction corresponding to the color rings in theand tap on it.

Primaries Wheels interface. Rotating the ring around each

4 If iPadOS asks you if you would like to pair the device,

trackball adjusts the range’s Master Wheel, which allows

tap the Pair button.

you to control the contrast via YRGB adjustments.

5 Once the Micro Color Panel is connected, open

When any of the Offset, Viewer, Wipe Still, and Cursor

the DaVinci Resolve app. The LEDs on the keys willkeys are lit, some or all of the trackballs and rings will

illuminate to confirm that the Micro Color Panel ischange their state to control different functions. Thoseconnected properly.

functions are described below under their respective
key descriptions.

Using the Micro
Color Panel Keys
Each key on the Micro Color Panel maps to individual
DaVinci Resolve commands. This document only describes
the operation of the panel, for more information about the
specifics of each command, please see the DaVinci Resolve
Micro Color Panel Manual.

Y LIFT

PLAY
STILLCONTRAST

WIPE
STILL

PIVOT

MID DETAILCOLOR BOOSTSHADOWS

HIGHLIGHTSSATURATION

HUE

PREV
STILL

COPY

PASTE

UNDO

REDO

PREV
NODE

DELETE

RESET

PREV
FRAME

BYPASSDISABLE

PREV
CLIP

USER

LOOP

reduced-sized color panel, there are three different actions

Press: A short tap to the key and release,

Y GAINOFFSET

To maximize the functionality of all the keys on thisused to modify a key’s commands:

Y GAMMA

AUTO
COLOR

GRAB
STILL

H/LITE

VIEWERRESET
LIFT

CURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SELECT

ADD
NODE

ADD
WINDOWADD
KEYFRM

RESET
GAIN

PREV
KEYFRM

as if you were typing.

Shift Up: Tap and hold theShift Down: Tap and hold

key with the triangle in

the key with the triangle in

the upper left. It will lightthe lower right. It will lightup green to let you know

up green to let you know

the modifier is active. Thenthe modifier is active. Thenpress another key.

press another key.

3

Lift
Color

Gamma
Color

Gain
Color

Lift
Amplitude

Gamma
Amplitude

Gain
AmplitudeLog Trackball Mode

Offset Trackball Mode

Log Trackball mode can be toggled by press and holding

You can also select the Offset button whether in

the Shift Up and Offset buttons on the panel. When in Log

Primary or Log modes. The Offset button will illuminate

grading, the trackballs shift to the Log Control’s Shadow,green to remind you that this mode is active. This is a toggle

Midtone, and Highlights parameters. Rotating the trackballoperation, and when selected, the left-hand side ring

performs a color balance adjustment for the range, changing

surrounding the trackball controls the color temperature

its RGB parameters. The colors are set by moving theof the image, the center trackball ring controls the color

trackball in the direction corresponding to the color rings

tint, and the right-hand side trackball controls the image

in the Primaries Log interface. Rotating the ring around

offset balance and master exposure with the ring.

each trackball adjusts the range’s Master Wheel, which

Shifted Trackball Modes

allows you to control the contrast via RGB adjustments.

By press and holding the Shift keys, you can use thetrackballs and rings to make control adjustments to the
Windows and Sizing palettes, depending on which one
is active.
Y GAMMA

OFFSETY GAINCONTRAST

PLAY
STILL

WIPE
STILL

PIVOT

GRAB
STILL

MID DETAIL

H/LITE

RESET
LIFT

PASTE

COLOR BOOST

VIEWERSHADOWSCURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

HIGHLIGHTS

ADD
NODE

SELECT

ADD
WINDOW

SATURATIONADD
KEYFRM

RESET
GAIN

HUE

Shift Up:
Windows Palette Trackball Controls
LUM MIX

PREV
STILL

PREV
KEYFRM

REDO

PREV
NODE

RESET

PREV
FRAME

DISABLE

PREV
CLIP

NEXT
STILL

NEXT
KEYFRM

When the Windows Palette is active, and the Shift Up
NEXT
NODE

key is pressed and held, the following functions can be
NEXT
FRAME

controlled by the trackballs:
NEXT
CLIP

Gain Trackball: Adjusts pan/tilt for window position.
LOOP

Gain Ring: Adjusts window size.
Gamma Trackball: Adjusts window aspect ratio.
Shadow
Color

MidtoneColor

Highlight
Color

Shadow
Amplitude

MidtoneAmplitude

Highlight
Amplitude

LIFT

TO
LOR

Y GAMMA

ETE

ASS

Lift Trackball: No effect.
Lift Ring: Adjusts window softness 1.

Shift Down: PIVOT
MID DETAIL
Sizing Palette Trackball Controls

C

When the Sizing Palette is active, and the Shift Down
GRAB
H/LITE
VIEWER
key ispressed and held, the following functions can be
STILL

C

CONTRAST

PLAY
STILL

OFFSET

WIPE
STILL

controlled by the trackballs:

PY

DO

Y GAIN

Gamma Ring: Adjusts window rotation.

Gain Trackball: Adjusts image input sizing
RESET
position pan/tilt.
LIFT

PASTE
Y LIFTY GAMMA

AUTO
COLOR

OFFSET

COPY

PASTE

UNDO

DELETE

BYPASSUSERY GAINPLAY
STILLCONTRAST

WIPE
STILL

PIVOT

GRAB
STILL

MID DETAIL

H/LITECOLOR BOOST

VIEWERRESET
LIFT

CURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SHADOWS

SELECTHIGHLIGHTS

ADD
NODE

ADD
WINDOW

SATURATIONADD
KEYFRM

RESET
GAIN

HUE

LUM MIX

PREV
STILL

NEXT
STILL

PREV
KEYFRMNEXT
KEYFRM

PREV
NODE

NEXT
NODE

RESET

PREV
FRAME

NEXT
FRAME

DISABLE

PREV
CLIP

NEXT
CLIP

REDO

REDO

Gain Ring: Adjusts image input sizing zoom.
Gamma Trackball: Adjusts image input
sizing width/height.
Gamma Ring: Adjusts image input sizing rotate.

LOOP

Lift Trackball: No effect.

RESET
Temperature

MasterColor
Tint

Lift Ring: No effect.

MasterExposure

DISABLE
4

RESET
GAMMA

OT

Reset Buttons
MID DETAILCOLOR BOOSTSHADOWS

VIEWERRESET
LIFT

CURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SATURATION

Reset Gamma: This key resets any RGB and Level

Above the three trackballs are three buttons for resetting

H/LITEthe grade:

HIGHLIGHTS

ADDchanges made by thecenter trackballADD
and ring.

ADD
NODE
WINDOWKEYFRM
Press: This resets both the RGB and Level changes
back to unity.

SELECT

Shift Up: This resets only the RGB changes back to unity

RESET
GAIN

and leaves any Level adjustments untouched.
Shift Down: This resets only the Level changes back tounity and leaves any RGB adjustments untouched.

Reset Lift: This key resets any RGB and Level changes

Reset Gain: This key resets any RGB and Level changes

made by the left trackball and ring.

made by the right trackball and ring.

Press: This resets both the RGB and Level changes

Press: This resets both the RGB and Level changes

back to unity.

back to unity.

Shift Up: This resets only the RGB changes back to unity

Shift Up: This resets only the RGB changes back to unityand leaves any Level adjustments untouched.

and leaves any Level adjustments untouched.

Shift Down: This resets only the Level changes back to

Shift Down: This resets only the Level changes back tounity and leaves any RGB adjustments untouched.

unity and leaves any RGB adjustments untouched.

Control Knobs
The top of the panel features 12 high-resolution endlessContrast: This one parameter lets you increase orturn optical encoder control knobs with detent resets.

reduce the distance between the darkest and lightest

These are spaced in groups of four for fast operation invalues of an image, raising or lowering image contrast.

dark suites. From left to right, the knobs control:

The effect is similar to using the Lift and Gain master
controls to make simultaneous opposing adjustments.
Pivot: Changes the center of tonality about which dark
and bright parts of the image are stretched or narrowed
during a contrast adjustment.

Y LIFTY GAMMAY GAINCONTRAST

PIVOT

MID DETAILCOLOR BOOSTSHADOWS

HIGHLIGHTSSATURATION

HUE

LUM MIX

PREV
STILL

NEXT
STILL

PREV
KEYFRMNEXT
KEYFRM

REDO

PREV
NODE

NEXT
NODE

AUTO
COLOR

OFFSET

COPY

PASTE

UNDO

PLAY
STILL

WIPE
STILL

GRAB
STILL

H/LITE

VIEWERRESET
LIFT

CURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SELECT

ADD
NODE

ADD
WINDOWADD
KEYFRMRESET
GAIN

DELETE

RESET

PREV
FRAME

NEXT
FRAME

BYPASSDISABLE

PREV
CLIP

NEXT
CLIP

USER

LOOP

Mid Detail: When this parameter is raised, the contrast
of regions of the image with high edge detail is raised toincrease the perception of image sharpness, sometimes
referred to as definition. When lowered to a negativevalue, regions of the image with low amounts of detailare softened while areas of high detail are left alone.

Y Lift: This knob is for adjusting the contrast of theColor Boost: Lets you naturalistically raise theimage in the darker areas. The midtone, and to a lesser

saturation of regions of low saturation, sometimes

amount the brighter areas of an image, will also change.

referred to as a vibrance operation. Can be used also to

Y Gamma: Use the Gamma knob for primarily midtone

lower the saturation of regions of low saturation.

contrast changes with some influence on the darker andbrighter sections.

Shadows: Lets you selectively lighten or darken shadow

Y Gain: The Y Gain control influences the brighter

detail. Raising this value retrieves shadow detailparts of the image at a greater extent to the mid andrecorded below 0 percent, while leaving the midtones

darker portions.

alone. 0 is unity.
5Highlights: Makes it easy to selectively retrieve blown-

Lum Mix: Lets you control the balance between

out highlight detail in high dynamic range media by

YRGB contrast adjustments you’ve made using thelowering this parameter and achieves a smooth blend

Master Wheels or ganged Custom curves and Y-only

between the retrieved highlights and the unadjusted

adjustments to contrast made using the Y channel

midtones for a naturalistic result.

Lift/Gamma/Gain controls of the Primaries paletteor the unganged Luma curve.

Saturation: Increases or decreases overall image
saturation. At higher values, colors appear more intense,
while at lower values, color intensity diminishes until,
at 0, all color is gone, leaving you with a grayscale image.

Additional detail can be found in the Color page

Hue Rotation: Rotates all hues of the image around thebasics chapter in the DaVinci Resolve Reference

full perimeter of the color wheel. The default setting of

Manual, and each of these operations can be seen

50 shows the original distribution of hues.

on the Primary palette of the user interface.

Control Buttons
Arrayed around the trackballs there are three groups ofGrab Still: At any time when you are grading, selecting

control buttons.

the Grab Still key automatically grabs a full resolution
frame from the Timeline and attaches the node graphmetadata for later display and use.
H/Lite (Highlight): Toggles the highlight view on or off. Thiskey will illuminate green to let you know this mode is active.
Shift Up: Cycles through the different highlight modes
with a wrap around.

Y GAMMAFFSETY GAINPLAY
STILLCONTRAST

WIPE
STILL

PIVOT

GRAB
STILL

MID DETAIL

H/LITE

VIEWER

RESET
LIFT

ASTE

COLOR BOOSTCURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SHADOWS

SELECTHIGHLIGHTS

ADD
NODE

SATURATIONADD
WINDOW

HUE

LUM MIX

Viewer: Pressing this key toggles the Cinema Viewer
PREV
STILL

ADD
KEYFRMNEXT
STILL

on and off.

RESET
GAIN

PREV
KEYFRMNEXT
KEYFRM

Shift Up: Toggles the Clips Display on and off or

EDO

PREV
NODE

ESET

PREV
FRAME

NEXT
NODE

Clips/Timeline on the iPad.
NEXT
FRAME

Shift Down: Toggles the Lightbox Display on and off.
PREV
CLIP

SABLE

NEXT
CLIP

Cursor: Toggles a selection cursor in the Viewer, using

OOP

The Top Groupthe right trackball to move it around like a mouse. When

Play Still: Using Play Still, DaVinci Resolve will

Select: Selects the color under the cursor for curves

this mode is active, a green light will illuminate the key.

automatically display a wipe on the Viewer between

and secondaries.

the current scene and the current still. The button

Add Node: Adds a new serial node after the currently

will illuminate green when this mode is on. Pressing

selected node.

Play Still a second time will toggle this mode off.

Shift Up: Adds a Parallel node after the currently

Shift Up: Toggles the Split Screen Display on and off.

selected node.

Shift Down: Toggles the Gallery Display on and off.

Shift Down: Adds a Layer node after the currently
selected node.

Wipe Still: Controls the wipe position and mode.
This key does not have a simple Press mode,

Add Window: Adds a circular window on the current node.

only the ones below.

Shift Up: Adds a linear window on the current node.

Press and Hold: Adjusts the position of the wipe by

Shift Down: Tracks the active window in both directions.

using the right ring.
Shift Up: Cycles through the wipe still options with

Add Keyfrm: Adds a Dynamic Keyframe at the current

a wrap around.

timeline position in the Keyframes window.
6Delete: Deletes the selected node from the node graph.
Shift Up: Deletes the selected window from the node.
Shift Down: Deletes the selected still from the Gallery.
Reset: This key resets the grade of the current node.
Y LIFTY GAMMAY GAINPLAY
STILLCONTRAST

WIPE
STILL

PIVOT

Shift Up: Resets the selected palette. For example,

MID DETAILCOLOR BOOSTSHADOWS

HIGHLIGHTSSATURATION

HUE

LUM MIX

you can reset only a qualifier, while leaving your
PREV
STILL

NEXT
STILL

PREV
KEYFRMNEXT
KEYFRM

AUTO
COLOR

OFFSET

COPY

PASTE

UNDO

REDO

Shift Down: Resets all grades and nodes on the clip

DELETERESET(base mem).

BYPASSDISABLE

USER

LOOP

GRAB
STILL

H/LITE

VIEWERRESET
LIFT

CURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SELECT

ADD
NODE

ADD
WINDOWADD
KEYFRM

primary grade intact.
RESET
GAIN

PREV
NODE

NEXT
NODE

PREV
FRAME

NEXT
FRAME

PREV
CLIP

NEXT
CLIP

Bypass: This toggle lets you bypass all grades.
This button will illuminate in red to let you know
this mode is active, and why nothing you do to theimage is working.
Disable: This toggle enables or disables thecurrent node. This button will illuminate in red to let
you know this mode is active, and why nothing you
do to the node is working.

The Left Group

User: Bind your own keyboard shortcut to thisAuto Color: This key performs an Auto Color function

key, allowing you to map your most commonlyon the selected clip or clips in the Timeline.

used shortcut to this button. As of this writing,

Shift Up: Applies the grade to the selected clip from twothis function is not available yet.

clips earlier in the Timeline.
Shift Down: Applies the grade to the selected clip from

Shift Up: Bind your own keyboard shortcut to this key.

one clip earlier in the Timeline.

Shift Down: Bind your own keyboard shortcut
to this key.

Offset: Toggles the right trackball to offset mode,
the left ring to color temperature, and the middle ring

Loop: Toggles between looped and non-looped

to tint. This key illuminates green to show you that thisplayback of a clip.

mode is turned on.

Shift Up: Toggles the window overlay.

Shift Up: Toggles Log mode.

Shift Down: Toggles mute and unmute.

Copy: Copies the clip grade to the buffer.

Shift Up: Press and hold to apply the shift up modifier

Shift Up: Copies the node grade to the buffer.

to the next key you press. The button will illuminate

Paste: Pastes the clip grade from the buffer to thegreen to show that this mode is active. This key can

selected clip.

also modify the trackballs and rings to perform

Shift Up: Applies the grade from the selected still in

additional functions as described in the Shifted Trackballthe Gallery.

Modes section.

Undo: Undo is one of the favorite keys of colorists.

Shift Down: Press and hold to apply the shift down

Try any grade, and if you don’t like it, simply undo.
There are multiple steps of undo available within

modifier to the next key you press. The button will

the page.

illuminate green to show that this mode is active.

Redo: Sometimes you hit undo once too many times.

This key can also modify the trackballs and rings to

Redo will put back into effect the last item you undid.

perform additional functions as described in the Shifted

As with undo, there are multiple levels of redo.

Trackball Modes section.
7

Next Node: Similar to the Previous Node key, thisselects the node adjacent to the current node, in thiscase the next higher numerical position.
Shift Down: Selects the last node in the node graph.
Prev Frame: To step the Viewer one frame in reverse
MID DETAIL

ESET
LIFT

COLOR BOOST

VIEWERCURSOR

RESET
GAMMA

SHADOWS

SELECTHIGHLIGHTS

ADD
NODE

ADD
WINDOW

SATURATION

HUE

ADD
KEYFRM

RESET
GAIN

LUM MIX

along the Timeline.

PREV
STILL

NEXT
STILL

PREV
KEYFRMNEXT
KEYFRM

PREV
NODE

NEXT
NODE

PREV
FRAME

NEXT
FRAME

key press.

PREV
CLIP

NEXT
CLIP

Shift Down: Move the playhead to the last frame

Shift Down: Move the playhead to the first frameof the clip.
Next Frame: A single frame step forward for eachof the clip
Prev Clip: Selects the first frame of the previous clip.
Shift Up: Selects the previous grade version.
Shift Down: Go to the start of the Timeline.
Next Clip: Selects the first frame of the next clip.

The Right Group
Prev Still: If you have a still selected, the Previous Still
key selects the one preceding.

Shift Up: Selects the next grade version.
Shift Down: Go to the end of the Timeline.
Left Arrow: Select this key to play the clip/timeline inreverse. Press the Left Arrow key multiple times to play

Shift Up: Selects the previous Still Album.

in reverse at a faster speed.

Shift Down: Adds a flag to the current clip.

Shift Down: Track a window in reverse.

Next Still: If you have a still selected, the next still

Right Arrow: The forward key plays the clip/timelinein the gallery is selected.

forward. Press the Right Arrow key multiple times to play

Shift Up: Selects the next Still Album.

forward at a faster speed.

Prev Keyfrm: This key steps backward one keyframeon the Clip/Track Timeline display.
Shift Up: Moves the playhead to the previous marker.
Shift Down: Adds a marker at the current position.

Shift Down: Track a window forward.
Stop: This stops the playback. Press stop again to startup playback again.
Shift Down: Stop the tracker.

Next Keyfrm: This key steps forward one keyframeon the Clip/Track Timeline display.
Shift Up: Moves the playhead to the next marker.
Shift Down: Selects the marker and displays themarkers popup window.
Prev Node: Within the Node Editor on the Color page,
you are likely to have a number of nodes. These arenumbered based on the order that you added them.
DaVinci Resolve node graphs are completely user
configurable, so you can add nodes anywhere and in

For More Information
For more detailed documentation on the
DaVinci Resolve Micro Color panel, you candownload the full product manual at theblackmagicdesign.com website.
In addition, the DaVinci Resolve Reference Manual(also available at the same website) goes into great
detail on each of the functions tied to the keys.

any order you like. Thus, the Previous Node key selects
the node one lower in numerical order.
Shift Down: Selects the first node in the node graph.

Learn more at www.blackmagicdesign.com