DaVinci Resolve Fusion Tutorial – Learn Motion Graphics & VFX

About this video

Tim teaches DaVinci Resolve Fusion by building an animated lower third, explaining the node system in plain terms. He distinguishes four node types: generators that create an image (Text+ and Background), merges that layer a foreground over a background (yellow background, green foreground and blue effect-mask inputs, with Ctrl+T / Command+T to swap them), masks that show in black and white what passes through or is cut out, and effects such as Transform and Color Corrector that do nothing until something is fed into them. A Text+ node is merged over footage, then over a gradient Background limited by a Rectangle mask with corner radius and softening; text is left-justified and positioned in the Layout tab, and shading adds a drop shadow. Placement in the flow matters: a Transform between the text and its merge moves only the text, while one later moves everything upstream. Animation uses Fusion’s frame-based timeline and keyframes on the Transform, smoothed in the Spline editor (T for easing, F to smooth, plus time stretch, reverse and loop). Finally he copies the nodes into a standalone Fusion Composition with a transparent background, notes the furthest-background node determines resolution (shown as 1920x1080), saves reusable versions in Power Bins, and adds a logo via a new merge and transform.

Key takeaways

• Generators create images, merges layer foreground over background, masks control what passes through, and effect nodes only work on an input fed into them.
• Connect a node’s square output to a merge’s triangular input; dragging text onto footage auto-creates a merge, and Ctrl+T / Command+T swaps foreground and background.
• Use a Rectangle mask on a Background node’s effect-mask input to size a lower third, then adjust corner radius, softening, text layout and shading for polish.
• A Transform affects only what flows into it at that point in the graph, so its position determines whether it moves text, background, or the whole composite.
• Animate with keyframes, smooth the motion with easing in the Spline editor, then save the finished composition in Power Bins to reuse it as a template across projects.

Episode details: published January 21, 2025 · 32:48 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Kevin Stratvert’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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