How to Use Fusion in DaVinci Resolve

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

DaVinci ResolveFusionMotion GraphicsCompositingPost-ProductionVideo EditingContent CreationWindowsMacLinux

Davinci Resolve is a powerful software for video editing, color correction, and visual effects. One of its best features is Fusion, a visual effects and motion graphics toolset. Fusion allows you to create complex visual effects using a node-based workflow, which is different from the layer-based system found in other editing software. If you want to enhance your skills in Davinci Resolve Fusion, this guide will walk you through the basics, and help you start your first Fusion project.

Understanding the fusion interface

Before creating any effects, it's important to become familiar with the Fusion interface within DaVinci Resolve. You can access the Fusion page by going to the bottom of the DaVinci Resolve interface and clicking the Fusion tab. The Fusion workspace is divided into several main panels:

• Node Editor: This is where the magic happens. Fusion uses a node-based system, and it's important to understand how nodes work. In the node editor, you connect individual nodes to create your effect. Each node performs a specific task, and you connect them together to create a flowchart-like sequence that processes your visual.
• Media Pool: Just like the Edit page, the Media Pool is where you will store all of your media assets. You can drag and drop footage, images, or any other assets you need from the Media Pool directly into your Node Editor.
• Inspector: When you click on a node, you can modify its parameters in the Inspector. This allows you to fine-tune each individual element of your visual effect.
• Viewers: Fusion provides two viewers, labeled 1 and 2. You can connect nodes to these viewers to view the results of your overall work. By default, Viewer 1 is typically used to display your source material, while Viewer 2 is often used to display your final output.

Creating your first fusion composition

Now that we've covered the basics of the Fusion interface, it's time to go ahead and create a simple effect. Let's walk through the process of creating our first Fusion composition:

1. Add Media: Start by loading one of your video clips from the Media Pool. You can easily drag a clip from the Media Pool into the Node Editor. This will create a 'MediaIn' node, which represents the video or image you imported.
2. Adding effects with nodes: After you've imported your media, it's time to add some effect nodes. For example, if you want to add a brightness/contrast effect:
   1. Right-click anywhere in the node editor.
   2. Go to 'Add Tool' > 'Color' > 'BrightnessContrast'.
   3. Connect the output of the 'MediaIn' node to the input of the 'BrightnessContrast1' node.
3. Viewing the effect: Connect the output of the 'BrightnessContrast1' node to one of the Viewers by dragging the node's output triangle to the Viewer input. Adjust the settings in the Inspector to see the effect of your changes in real time.
4. Render final output: To bring your final output back into the editing timeline:
   1. Add a 'MediaOut' node by right-clicking and selecting 'Add Tool' > 'IO' > 'MediaOut'.
   2. Connect the output of the last node to the 'MediaOut' node. This completes the node chain, and your effects will be rendered back to the editing timeline.

Understanding fusion nodes

A comprehensive understanding of nodes is essential to mastering Fusion. Nodes are the building blocks of your Fusion compositions. Each node performs a single function, and by combining multiple nodes, you can create complex visual effects. Here are some common node types:

• Transform node: used to change the position, rotation, or scale of your elements.
• Blur Node: Adds a blurring effect to your footage, which is helpful in achieving a depth of field effect.
• Color Corrector node: Lets you adjust colors, shadows, and highlights.
• Text Node: Used to create text graphics directly in Fusion. This is ideal when you need to overlay captions, subtitles, or any textual information.
• Merge Node: Merge is very important in compositing. It allows the layering of different elements, such as overlaying graphics on footage.

Practical example: revealing title

Revealing the Title is a simple but fascinating project to get more familiar with Fusion. Let's take a look at it:

1. Open a new Fusion Composition: Start with a new project. From the Media Pool, create a new Fusion Composition by right-clicking and selecting "New Fusion Composition." Drag this composition to your timeline.
2. Adding text:
   1. In the Fusion page, right-click in the Node Editor and select 'Add Tool' > 'Text'.
   2. Double-click the text node and type the text you want to appear.
3. Add background:
   1. Create a 'Background' node by right-clicking and selecting 'Add Tool' > 'Generator' > 'Background'.
   2. Connect the 'Background' node to the 'Merge' node as a background input. This allows you to place text on it.
4. Animate the text:
   1. Select the text node and find the 'Layout' tab in the inspector.
   2. Use keyframes to animate the position of the text. For example, start the text off-screen and move it into position.
5. Preview the result: Connect the output of the Merge node to the Viewer and see how your animation plays.

Tips and best practices

Here are some tips to help you get started with Fusion:

• Organize your nodes: As your composition becomes more complex, make sure your node tree stays organized. This means labeling nodes and arranging them systematically to avoid confusion.
• Use the timeline wisely: Learn how to efficiently set keyframes on the timeline to control animation. Make sure you are on the correct frame when adding keyframes.
• Experiment with different nodes: The best way to learn what each node does is to experiment. Try different combinations of nodes to see the results.
• Check render times: Some effects can be hardware-intensive. Keep an eye on render times, and optimize your node setup if necessary.

Conclusion

Fusion in Davinci Resolve is a powerful tool for creating stunning visual effects and motion graphics. With its node-based workflow, it may seem daunting at first, but with practice, you'll find that it offers tremendous flexibility and creative control. Understanding the basics of the interface, working with nodes, and practicing with simple projects like title reveals will build a strong foundation. As you become more comfortable, explore merging and advanced compositing techniques to create more complex projects. Don't forget to constantly experiment and refine your skills for best results.

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