How to use Shade with Davinci Resolve Projects

Follow this video and guide to properly set up Davinci Resolve for Shade.

ShadeFS enables seamless remote collaboration for DaVinci Resolve, allowing colorists and editors to work directly with high-resolution media without the need for downloads or manual synchronization. Integrated with Blackmagic Cloud, ShadeFS makes media and project files are instantly accessible from anywhere, streamlining editing, color grading, and VFX workflows.

This guide explains how to set up and optimize DaVinci Resolve for cloud-based editing and color correction using ShadeFS.

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1. Why Use ShadeFS for DaVinci Resolve?

High-resolution color correction and VFX work require access to original camera files or high-quality intermediate codecs (e.g., ProRes, EXR sequences). Traditionally, these files must be copied to fast local SSDs to ensure smooth playback. ShadeFS eliminates this requirement by allowing direct access to high-bandwidth media in the cloud while maintaining real-time performance.

Key Benefits of ShadeFS with DaVinci Resolve

• Edit and grade directly from the cloud – no need to download massive files.

• Seamless integration with Blackmagic Cloud – project files remain accessible to everyone.

• Smart caching and pinning – access only the necessary frames without full downloads.

• Optimized for stop/start workflows – perfect for colorists working frame by frame.

• Cloud workstations – edit and grade using powerful virtual machines for ultimate speed.

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2. Setting Up DaVinci Resolve with ShadeFS

Step 1: Mount Your ShadeFS Drive

• Ensure your Shade app is installed and running.

• Mount the a Shade drive and confirm that it appears in Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows).

• Navigate to your project folder within the ShadeFS mount.

Step 2: Organize Your Project Folder Structure

For a streamlined workflow, use the following recommended structure inside the mounted drive:

• /Resolve Projects/ – Store DaVinci Resolve .drp project files here.

• /Media/ – Store all original footage and high-resolution files.

• /Proxies/ – Store lower-resolution proxies for remote editing.

• /Renders/ – Store final color-graded exports.

• /Cache/ – Store Resolve’s cache and optimized media for smooth playback.

Step 3: Configure Media Storage Settings in DaVinci Resolve

• Open DaVinci Resolve and go to Preferences > Media Storage.

• Add your ShadeFS mount path as the primary media storage location.

• Ensure cache and optimized media are stored in /Cache/ within ShadeFS or on a fast local SSD for better performance.

Step 4: Set Up Blackmagic Cloud for Team Collaboration

• Navigate to DaVinci Resolve > Project Manager.

• Sign in to Blackmagic Cloud and create a cloud project.

• This allows team members to access the same Resolve project remotely, while ShadeFS ensures all media remains instantly accessible.

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3. Working with High-Resolution Footage in the Cloud

Unlike traditional editing workflows that rely on proxy media, color grading and VFX require direct access to full-resolution files.

Step 1: Frame-by-Frame Playback with ShadeFS

• Open DaVinci Resolve and navigate to the Color Page.

• Select a shot and move the playhead to the desired frame.

• ShadeFS will intelligently download only the required bytes to build the frame, ensuring fast access without full downloads.

This allows colorists to work frame by frame on Sony Venice RAW, RED, ARRI, ProRes, or EXR sequences without waiting for terabytes of data to download.

Step 2: Real-Time Scrubbing and Processing

• Scrub across a clip to preview motion.

• Perform motion tracking, noise reduction, or temporal effects without lag.

• ShadeFS dynamically pulls only the necessary frames, reducing unnecessary bandwidth usage.

Step 3: Smart Caching for Faster Performance

ShadeFS automatically caches the most frequently accessed frames, reducing repeated downloads. If additional performance is needed:

• Store DaVinci Resolve Cache on a local SSD.

• Increase cache size in Resolve’s settings to ensure smooth playback.

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4. Optimizing Playback and Rendering in ShadeFS

Step 1: Pinning Media for Maximum Performance

If you need real-time playback of high-bandwidth media, you can preload media blocks using Shade’s Pinning:

• Right-click a folder in the Shade app.

• Select “Pin” to ensure all frames are preloaded.

Unlike traditional downloads, pinned media stays up to date—any changes made by other users will automatically sync, avoiding version conflicts.

Step 2: Using Local SSDs for Maximum Speed

• Cache render files locally for faster performance.

• Under DaVinci Resolve Preferences > General > Cache Files Location, set it to a high-speed local SSD.

Step 3: Using Cloud Workstations for Heavy Workloads

For the most demanding workflows, cloud workstations provide the best performance:

• Use a high-performance virtual machine (VM) with ShadeFS access.

• VMs typically have higher bandwidth than home internet connections, making playback smoother.

• Perform all color grading and VFX work remotely while keeping data in ShadeFS.

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5. Exporting & Delivering Final Renders

Step 1: Rendering Directly to ShadeFS

Once color grading is complete, export directly to the ShadeFS mount for collaboration or final delivery:

• Go to Deliver Page in DaVinci Resolve.

• Set Render Destination to a folder in your ShadeFS mount (e.g., /Renders/Final/).

• Select an export format:

  • ProRes 4444 for high-quality masters.

  • DNxHR HQX for post-production workflows.

  • H.264/H.265 for client review or web delivery.

Step 2: Collaborating on Exports

• Share rendered files via ShadeFS’s built-in sharing features.

• Use Blackmagic Cloud to provide project-wide access to exported sequences.

Step 3: Archiving Projects in ShadeFS

• Move completed Resolve projects to an /Archives/ folder.

• Store only essential final exports and project files to optimize space.

• Keep raw footage in ShadeFS for future revisions.

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Final Thoughts

Using ShadeFS with DaVinci Resolve eliminates the need for local storage, allowing editors and colorists to work on full-resolution files directly from the cloud.