Apply a still (grade) to a clip by name, defaulting to current clip if none specified.
AI agents use apply_still to create or update resources in DaVinci Resolve MCP Server — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your DaVinci Resolve MCP Server environment.
This tool creates or modifies data (applies a grade/still to a clip) in a reversible manner. It does not execute arbitrary code, delete data, or move money. While grades can be applied to clips in a non-destructive editing workflow, the blast radius is moderate—a misapplied grade could affect the visual output of a project, but changes are easily undone in a non-linear editor like DaVinci Resolve.
From the tool's definition The tool 'apply_still' modifies a clip by applying a still/grade to it. The description states it 'apply[s] a still (grade) to a clip', which is a reversible modification of video production data.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access apply_still gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and DaVinci Resolve MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for apply_still:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"apply_still": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "apply_still_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}apply_still stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Apply a still (grade) to a clip by name, defaulting to current clip if none specified. It is categorised as a Write tool in the DaVinci Resolve MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the DaVinci Resolve MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for apply_still: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches DaVinci Resolve MCP Server. Nothing to install.
apply_still is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the apply_still rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for apply_still. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
apply_still is provided by the DaVinci Resolve MCP Server MCP server (tooflex/davinci-resolve-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from DaVinci Resolve MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
32 DaVinci Resolve MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.