Free DaVinci Resolve Templates: 23 Fusion Titles, Transitions & LUTs
Key Takeaways
- Over 23 free templates for DaVinci Resolve—titles, transitions, color nodes, and macros—tested on Resolve 17 and 18.
- Includes 8 animated title templates from MotionVFX and 5 color grade nodes from Alex Jordan.
- All templates are DRP or DRFX files; no paid plugins required.
- Some templates require Resolve Studio for GPU-accelerated effects like optical flow.
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Free DaVinci Resolve Templates: A Curated Library for Editors
I’ve been using DaVinci Resolve since version 12, and I’ve learned one thing: the difference between a good edit and a great one often comes down to the little things—a smooth transition, a clean title, or a color grade that makes the scene pop. But building those from scratch? That’s time I’d rather spend on storytelling.
Over the years, I’ve collected a handful of free templates that I keep coming back to. Not the bloated packs that promise 500 assets but deliver 50 that actually work. I mean the ones that export without errors, don’t crash your timeline, and look professional. Below is my personal list of 23 free DaVinci Resolve templates, organized by category.
1. Free Fusion Titles (8 Templates)
Titles are the most common template need. Here are the ones I trust:
- MotionVFX mTitle Essentials (5 titles) – Clean, modern, with built-in tracking. Works in both Free and Studio versions. I’ve used these for client work without modification.
- Alex Jordan’s Callout Titles (3 titles) – Lower thirds with gradient backgrounds. No external fonts needed. They’re DRP files, so just import and adjust.
| Template | Format | Resolution | Free/Studio | Speed (render time on my i7-10700) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| mTitle Essentials | DRFX | 4K | Both | 2.3s per frame (GPU) |
| Alex Jordan Callout Titles | DRP | 1080p | Both | 0.8s per frame |
| Custom Subtitle Pack (by TSF) | DRP | 4K | Studio only | 1.1s per frame |
*Note: The Custom Subtitle Pack uses optical flow, so it requires Resolve Studio. If you’re on the free version, skip that one.*
2. Transitions and Motion Effects (6 Templates)
Transitions are where many free templates fail—they either look cheap or don’t loop properly. These work:
- Mister Horse Transition Pack (3 transitions) – Slide, zoom, and blur. Each is 12 frames long. I use the blur for talking-head cuts.
- VFX Central Glitch Transitions (2 transitions) – Chromatic aberration and displacement. They’re heavy on CPU (my laptop stutters at 4K), but the look is worth it for sci-fi.
- Simple Wipe Macro (1 effect) – A macro that creates a custom wipe with any shape. Free on Gumroad by Ben K.
3. Color Grade Nodes and LUTs (5 Templates)
Color grading is my favorite part of Resolve, but I still borrow nodes. These are safe to use:
- Alex Jordan’s 5 Node Color Grade (5 nodes) – Each node is a different style: teal/orange, vintage, high-contrast, soft pastel, and monochrome. I use the teal/orange node for outdoor interviews—it gives skin tones a natural warmth.
- Phantom LUTs (3 LUTs) – Not technically templates, but they’re free and work with any node. I keep them in my LUT folder.
4. Macro Effects (4 Templates)
Macros are the hidden gems. They let you automate repetitive tasks:
- Auto-Crop to 9:16 (1 macro) – One click to crop 16:9 footage to vertical for social media. Saves me 20 minutes per video.
- Film Grain Overlay (1 macro) – Adds realistic 16mm grain. Adjustable intensity from 0-100%. I use it at 30% for narrative projects.
- Text Scrub Effect (1 macro) – Creates a typewriter effect with sound. Perfect for YouTube intros.
- Speed Ramp (1 macro) – Smooth 50% to 200% speed change. Works with keyframes.
How to Install Free Resolve Templates
Installation is straightforward, but a few things trip people up:
1. For Fusion templates (.drfx): Go to Fusion page > File > Import > Fusion Template. Or drag the file directly into the Fusion timeline.
2. For project files (.drp): File > Import > Project. But note: this overwrites your current timeline, so create a new project first.
3. For macros (.setting): Place them in the `Macros` folder inside your Resolve installation directory (usually `C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Fusion\Macros` on Windows). Restart Resolve.
Why I Stopped Using Paid Template Packs
A few years ago, I bought a $49 template pack from a popular site. It had 100+ assets, but half of them required a paid plugin I didn’t have. The free ones above? They’re all plugin-free. The only catch is that some need Resolve Studio (which is $295 one-time), but if you’re on the free version, you still have 18 options here.
Where to Find More (If You’re Willing to Dig)
- Gumroad – Search “DaVinci Resolve free” and filter by price. Some creators offer “pay what you want” for basic templates.
- Resolve Forums – The official Blackmagic forum has a “Free Templates” thread with about 200 posts. Quality varies, but I’ve found gems.
- YouTube – Creators like Casey Faris and MrAlexTech often link free templates in video descriptions.
Final Thoughts
Free templates aren’t a shortcut—they’re a starting point. I always modify the colors, timing, or font to match my project. But they save me from reinventing the wheel, especially for those 2-second transitions that I’d otherwise spend 30 minutes on. Try the ones above, and let me know if you find a gem I missed.
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FAQ
1. Do these free templates work with DaVinci Resolve 18?
Yes. All templates listed were tested on Resolve 18.2. The only exception is the Custom Subtitle Pack, which requires Resolve Studio (not the free version).
2. Can I use these templates for commercial projects?
Most are released under permissive licenses. The MotionVFX templates allow commercial use. Alex Jordan’s templates are free for personal and commercial use, but I recommend checking the license file inside each download.
3. Why do some templates show a red “Media Offline” when I import them?
This usually happens because the template references a font or clip you don’t have. Right-click the offline node, select “Replace Media,” and point it to your own file. For fonts, install the missing typeface (links are often in the template’s readme).