Add blur to video clips in DaVinci Resolve using the Blur tool in the Effects panel

DaVinci Resolve includes a built-in blur effect that you can apply to any video clip, adjustment layer, or specific area of your frame. The blur sits in the Effects panel under the Blur category, and you add it the same way you'd add any other effect — by dragging it onto your clip or by selecting your clip and double-clicking the blur. Once applied, you control how strong the blur is, what shape it covers, and whether it affects the whole frame or just part of it.

The most common reason to blur in DaVinci Resolve is to hide sensitive information like faces, license plates, or text. You can also use blur for creative effects — softening backgrounds, creating motion blur, or drawing attention to a sharp subject against a blurred surround. The steps below cover the standard blur workflow and the settings you'll adjust most often.

Key Takeaways

  • Drag the Blur effect from the Effects panel onto your clip, or select your clip and double-click Blur in the Effects panel.
  • Adjust the blur strength using the Blur Amount slider, which ranges from 0 to 100 and controls how soft the effect looks.
  • Use the Shape dropdown to switch between full-frame blur and shaped blur (box, circle, or polygon) if you only want to blur part of the image.
  • Enable the Mask option and adjust the mask bounds if you need to blur only a specific region, like a face or license plate.
  • Preview your blur in real time by playing the clip or scrubbing through it in the viewer.

Open the Effects panel and locate the Blur tool

In DaVinci Resolve, the Effects panel is usually docked on the right side of the Edit page. If you don't see it, go to the top menu, click Workspace, and select Effects to toggle it on. The panel shows categories of effects — Color, Blur, Distortion, and others — arranged as folders you can expand.

Click the arrow next to Blur to open that category. You'll see several blur types: Blur, Gaussian Blur, Bilateral Blur, and others. For most situations, Blur (the first one) is what you want. Gaussian Blur is similar but uses a different algorithm and is useful if you want a softer, more natural-looking blur. Start with regular Blur unless you have a reason to switch.

Drag the blur effect onto your clip

Select the clip in your timeline that you want to blur. Click and hold on Blur in the Effects panel, then drag it onto your clip in the timeline. Release the mouse. The effect is now applied, and you'll see it listed in the Inspector panel on the right side under the clip's properties.

Alternatively, you can double-click Blur in the Effects panel while your clip is selected, and the effect will attach automatically. Either method works — use whichever feels faster to you. If you apply blur by mistake, right-click the effect in the Inspector and select Remove to delete it.

Adjust the blur amount and shape

Once the blur is applied, the Inspector panel shows the blur settings. The first slider you'll see is Blur Amount (or sometimes labeled Blur). Drag this slider to the right to increase the blur strength. At 0, there's no blur. At 100, the image is heavily blurred. Most of the time, you'll land somewhere between 15 and 50 depending on what you're trying to hide and how much detail you want to preserve in the rest of the frame.

Below Blur Amount, you'll find Shape. This dropdown controls whether the blur covers the whole frame or just a specific region. The options are usually None (full frame), Box (rectangular area), Circle (circular area), and Polygon (custom shape you draw). If you're blurring a face or license plate, switch Shape to Box or Circle depending on what fits better. If you need an irregular shape, use Polygon and click to draw the outline.

Position and resize the blur mask if using a shaped blur

When you select a shape other than None, a mask appears on your clip in the viewer. For a box or circle, you'll see handles at the corners and edges. Click and drag these handles to resize the blurred area. Click inside the shape and drag to move it around the frame. Position it so the blur covers exactly what you want hidden — the face, the license plate, the text, or whatever else needs to be obscured.

If you're using a polygon shape, click points on the frame to draw the outline around the area you want to blur. Right-click or press Escape when you're done drawing. You can then adjust the polygon by dragging its points. The blur will apply only inside the shape you've drawn, leaving the rest of the frame sharp.

Fine-tune blur settings for a natural look

Below the Shape setting, you'll find Feather or Edge Softness (the exact name varies by DaVinci version). This controls how hard or soft the edge of the blur mask is. A higher feather value creates a gradual transition from blurred to sharp, which looks more natural. A lower value creates a hard edge, which is useful if you want the blur to stop abruptly at a boundary. For hiding faces or plates, a feather value between 10 and 30 usually looks good.

You may also see Blur Type options. Gaussian is the standard soft blur. Box is faster but less smooth. Median is useful for reducing noise while keeping edges sharp. Stick with Gaussian unless you have a specific reason to change it. Play the clip in the viewer to see how the blur looks in motion — sometimes a blur that looks right on a still frame looks wrong when the video plays.

Apply blur to multiple clips or keyframe the effect

If you need to blur the same area across multiple clips, apply the blur to the first clip, then right-click the effect in the Inspector and select Copy. Select the next clip, right-click in the Inspector, and select Paste. The blur settings transfer over. You may need to adjust the mask position if the subject moves between clips.

If the area you need to blur moves within a single clip — for example, a face that walks across the frame — you can keyframe the mask position. In the Inspector, look for a stopwatch icon next to the mask position or shape settings. Click the stopwatch to enable keyframing, then move to different points in the clip and adjust the mask position at each point. DaVinci will interpolate the movement between your keyframes, keeping the blur on the moving subject.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I blur just part of the frame without affecting the rest?

Yes. Change the Shape setting from None to Box, Circle, or Polygon, then position the mask over the area you want to blur. The rest of the frame stays sharp. Use Feather to soften the edge of the mask so the transition looks natural.

Why does my blur look pixelated or blocky?

The blur amount may be too low, or you may be using Box blur instead of Gaussian. Increase the Blur Amount slider, or switch Blur Type to Gaussian in the effect settings. Also check that your clip resolution matches your project resolution — mismatched resolutions can cause quality issues.

How do I blur a moving object that changes position throughout the clip?

Enable keyframing by clicking the stopwatch icon next to the mask position in the Inspector. Move to the first frame where the object appears, position the mask, then move to later frames and reposition the mask as the object moves. DaVinci interpolates the movement between keyframes automatically.

Can I blur the background and keep the subject sharp?

Not directly with the standard Blur tool — that effect blurs what's inside the mask. Instead, use the Inverse Mask option if your version of DaVinci offers it, or apply the blur to an adjustment layer above your clip and use a mask to exclude the subject. Alternatively, use the Power Window tool in the Color page to create a sharp area and blur the surroundings.

What's the difference between Blur and Gaussian Blur?

Gaussian Blur uses a mathematical algorithm that creates a smoother, more natural-looking blur. Regular Blur is faster to process. For most work, Gaussian Blur looks better, especially if you're hiding sensitive information. Try both and see which one looks right for your shot.