Warm vs Cool Grades in DaVinci Resolve: When and Why to Use Each
Learn when to use warm vs cool colour grades in DaVinci Resolve to shape mood, emotion, and storytelling in your films and videos. A guide for filmmakers and editors.
Introduction
Colour grading in DaVinci Resolve isn’t just about making your footage look polished — it’s about shaping how it feels.
One of the most powerful creative choices you can make is deciding between a warm or cool grade. This simple shift can completely change the mood, tone, and emotional impact of your visuals.
In this guide, you’ll learn what warm and cool grades are, how they affect your viewer, and when to use each — whether you're working on a film, commercial, or music video.
What’s the Difference Between Warm and Cool Grades?
In DaVinci Resolve, colour temperature plays a big role in how we experience visuals.
Warm grades use red, orange, and golden tones. They feel nostalgic, cozy, and emotionally inviting.
Cool grades lean into blue, cyan, and green tones. They feel distant, moody, or futuristic.
These tonal choices subtly guide how your audience feels, even if they don’t consciously notice it.
The Psychology of Colour Temperature
Warm ColoursCool ColoursFriendly and welcomingCalm and detachedPassionate and energeticMysterious or melancholicIntimate and nostalgicClinical or futuristic
Use these emotional cues to reinforce your story.
Warm = connection. Cool = distance.
When to Use a Warm Grade
Warm tones work best when you want your audience to feel emotionally connected or uplifted.
Use warm grading for:
Romantic or family moments – Soft, loving, and familiar.
Nostalgic flashbacks – Golden tones bring memories to life.
Golden-hour exteriors – Enhance natural beauty.
Lifestyle and food commercials – Create comfort and desire.
In DaVinci Resolve:
Use the Color Wheels, HDR Palette, or Temperature slider to warm up your image, especially in the midtones and highlights.
When to Use a Cool Grade
Cool grades are ideal when you want to create tension, mystery, or a sense of distance.
Use cool grading for:
Thrillers and sci-fi – Cool tones feel sleek and stylised.
Night scenes and rainy visuals – Add mood and atmosphere.
Hospital or lab scenes – Create a sterile, clinical feeling.
Emotional tension or sadness – Amplify inner struggle.
In DaVinci Resolve:
Try the Curves, Log Wheels, or Color Warper to pull shadows and midtones toward blue and cyan.
Mixing Warm and Cool Tones for Contrast
You don’t have to pick just one. Mixing warm and cool tones in the same shot is a classic cinematic trick — especially the teal and orange look.
Use this technique for:
Skin tones (warm) against cool backgrounds – adds pop.
Warm interiors vs cold exteriors – show emotional divide.
Conflict or drama – warm and cool contrast heightens emotion.
Resolve Tip:
Use the Split Toning panel or Custom Curves to push shadows cool and highlights warm — or vice versa.
Tips for Choosing the Right Colour Temperature
Let the story guide you. What’s the emotional goal?
Match the lighting. Daylight often pushes warm; night pulls cool.
Compare options. A/B test warm vs cool versions of the same scene.
Stay consistent. Don’t shift colour temperature randomly between shots.
Conclusion
Choosing between warm and cool grades in DaVinci Resolve isn’t just a style decision — it’s an emotional one.
Use warm tones to evoke joy, love, or nostalgia. Use cool tones to create distance, tension, or mystery. And don’t be afraid to mix them for dramatic effect.
Next time you colour grade, don’t just ask “what looks good?” —
Ask: “what should this feel like?”
