StudioMatch
Refine Match does its solving in a small helper program that runs on Python. If that helper cannot start, the Refine window tells you, with its own error message, for example:
Everything else in StudioMatch keeps working. Pick one of the two fixes below, then close and reopen the Refine window.
Open the StudioMatch Plugin Manager. If it offers an update, install it (Windows: version 0.1.19 or newer).
Click Check Refine (under the main button). After a few seconds it shows Refine ready or Refine needs setup with the reason.
If it needs setup, click Fix setup. The Manager installs Refine Match's own private copy of Python (about 100 MB, no admin password, DaVinci Resolve can stay open) and checks it again.
When it says Refine ready, close and reopen the Refine window in Resolve.
If your Manager has no Check Refine or Fix setup on your computer yet, use Fix 2.
1. Install Python 3.12 or newer from python.org (the standard installer is fine).
2. Open Command Prompt and run:
py -m pip install numpy opencv-python scipy pillow
3. Close and reopen the Refine window.
1. Install Python 3.12 or newer from python.org. (The python3 that comes with macOS asks for Apple's developer tools first; python.org's is simpler.)
2. Open Terminal and run:
python3 -m pip install numpy opencv-python scipy pillow
3. Close and reopen the Refine window.
If the Refine window shows a ready-made install line with a Copy button, use that one: it names exactly the Python the plug-in found.
The first time the solver starts on a computer it loads its maths libraries, and an antivirus may check each one. That can take up to a minute. The window says "starting the solver (the first start can take a minute)..." while it waits; later starts take a second or two.
Email support@studiomatch.xyz with the exact message from the Refine window. On Windows, please also attach the solver's log: paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\StudioMatch\logs into the File Explorer address bar and attach refine_solver.log.
Refine Match never installs anything on your computer by itself. Fix 1's Python lives in your own user folder, is only used by StudioMatch, and does not change any Python you already have.