Copying attributes from one clip to another is one of the fastest ways to maintain consistency across a timeline without rebuilding settings by hand. DaVinci Resolve handles this differently depending on which page you are working on, which trips up even experienced editors. This guide covers the complete workflow for both the Edit page and the Color page, including how to apply attributes to multiple clips at once.
What “Copy Attributes” Means in DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve does not have a single universal “copy attributes” command. The feature exists in two separate forms depending on where you are working:
-
Edit page → Paste Attributes — copies clip properties such as transforms, speed, effects, and composite mode
-
Color page → Apply Grade — copies color corrections and node structures between clips
Before following any steps below, identify which type of attribute you need to copy. Using the wrong page for the wrong task is the most common source of confusion.
How to Copy Attributes on the Edit Page? (Paste Attributes)
The Edit page method is what most users are searching for. It lets you transfer clip-level properties from one clip to one or more targets using the Paste Attributes dialog.
Step-by-Step: Using Paste Attributes
-
Select the source clip on the timeline — this is the clip whose attributes you want to copy.
-
Copy the clip by right-clicking and selecting Copy, or pressing Ctrl+C (Windows) / Cmd+C (Mac). The clip must be actively copied, not just selected.
-
Select the target clip (or multiple clips — see the section below for multi-clip selection).
-
Right-click the target clip and choose Paste Attributes from the context menu.
-
The Paste Attributes dialog opens. Check or uncheck the specific properties you want to transfer. You do not have to paste everything — you can pick only what you need.
-
Click Apply.
The Paste Attributes dialog gives you full control over what transfers. Each checkbox corresponds to a different clip property. Selecting only the relevant ones prevents unintended changes to the target clip.
Which Attributes Can Be Selectively Pasted?
When the Paste Attributes dialog opens, you will see checkboxes for the following categories:
-
Transform — position, zoom, rotation, anchor point
-
Cropping — input and output crop values
-
Speed — playback speed and direction
-
Retime Controls — frame blending and optical flow settings
-
Composite Mode — blend mode applied to the clip layer
-
Stabilization — any stabilization settings applied in the Inspector
-
Lens Correction — distortion and chromatic aberration corrections
-
HDR Mode — tone mapping settings for HDR clips
-
Effects / Filters — any Resolve FX applied to the clip in the Edit page Inspector
Note: Only attributes that were applied to the source clip will have any meaningful effect when pasted. Pasting a “Transform” from a clip with default values will simply reset the target clip’s transform.
How to Copy a Grade on the Color Page?
Color grade copying is handled entirely within the Color page and is a separate system from Paste Attributes. Grades live at the node level and carry color corrections, curves, qualifiers, and node structures.
Method 1 — The “Apply Grade” Option
-
Navigate to the Color page using the page selector at the bottom of the interface.
-
Locate the graded source clip in the mini-timeline at the bottom of the Color page.
-
Select the target (non-graded) clip in the mini-timeline. To select multiple clips, hold Shift or Ctrl/Cmd and click each one. The selected clips will be highlighted in “Red.”
-
Once selected, go to the graded clip, right-click on its thumbnail, and choose “Apply Grade” from the menu.
-
As soon as you do that, it will automatically copy the grade from the source clip and paste it into the target clip/clips.
The full node structure and grade values from the source clip are transferred to the target. If the target clip already has a grade, it will be replaced.
Method 2 — Middle-Click Drag to Apply a Grade
For a quicker one-at-a-time approach, you can middle-click a clip thumbnail in the mini-timeline and drag it directly onto another clip thumbnail. This applies the source grade to the destination clip without opening any dialog. It is a useful shortcut when you are working through a sequence clip by clip, but it does not scale well for bulk operations.
How to Copy Attributes to Multiple Clips at Once?
Applying the same settings across many clips is where these workflows deliver the most time savings. Both pages support multi-clip operations, but the selection method differs slightly.
On the Edit page:
-
Go to the “Edit” page.
-
Copy the source clip (Ctrl/Cmd+C).
-
Hold Shift to select a range of clips, or hold Ctrl/Cmd and click to select individual clips in the timeline.
-
Right-click any selected clip and choose Paste Attributes.
-
Choose the attributes to paste in the dialog and click Apply.
All selected clips receive the pasted attributes simultaneously.
On the Color page:
-
Select the non-graded clips and make sure they are highlighted in red.
-
Right-click the source clip (graded clip) thumbnail and select Apply Grade.
The grade is applied to every clip in the selection at once. This approach works for dozens of clips just as efficiently as for two.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Copying Attributes
|
Action |
Windows Shortcut |
Mac Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
|
Copy clip |
Ctrl + C |
Cmd + C |
|
Paste Attributes (Edit page) |
Ctrl + Alt + V |
Cmd + Opt + V |
Note: In some versions of DaVinci Resolve, Ctrl+Alt+V / Cmd+Opt+V for Paste Attributes may not be assigned by default. If the shortcut does not work, you can assign it manually via DaVinci Resolve menu → Keyboard Customization, then search for “Paste Attributes” and assign your preferred key combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is “Paste Attributes” greyed out in DaVinci Resolve?
The most common cause is that the source clip was selected but not copied. You must press Ctrl/Cmd+C to actively copy the clip before Paste Attributes becomes available. Also, confirm that at least one target clip is selected in the timeline. Both conditions must be met for the menu option to activate.
Does copying a grade on the Color page also copy effects from the Edit page?
No. These are two separate systems. Copying grade through the “Apply Grade” or other methods only transfers color corrections, node structures, and grade values applied within the Color page. Edit page attributes, such as transforms, Resolve FX filters, and composite modes, are handled exclusively through Paste Attributes on the Edit page.
Can I copy attributes between clips on different timelines?
Not directly in the older versions. DaVinci Resolve does not support cross-timeline Paste Attributes. As a workaround, you can move both clips into the same timeline temporarily, or export a LUT from the Color page grade and apply it to clips in the other timeline. In the newer version, you can copy attributes between clips on two different timelines as long as it is done in the same project.
Is there a way to save attributes to apply across multiple projects?
For color grades, the Stills Gallery and Power Bins let you save and recall grades across projects. For Edit page attributes, there is no native equivalent — your best option is to create a template timeline or save effect presets individually, where the feature allows.
Conclusion
Copying attributes in DaVinci Resolve comes down to knowing which page you are on. Use Paste Attributes on the Edit page for clip properties like transforms, speed, and effects. Use Apply Grade or the Middle-Click method on the Color page for color corrections. Once you know the right method, both workflows are fast and scale easily to large clip selections.
