Type
Chooses the deformation profile.
Dent variants, sine/cosine and kaleidoscope-like modes produce different local shapes.
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Warp & PerspectiveBeginner
Dent
Localized bulge, dent and wave deformation
Creates a localized dent, bulge or wave-like deformation around a chosen center.
Dent
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Dent is a lightweight distortion node for impact pulses, logo warps and localized image deformation without building a mesh.
Overview
What Dent does
The Type menu changes the deformation profile, from simple dents to sine/cosine wave shapes and decorative kaleidoscopic behavior.
Center defines where the deformation originates, Size defines the affected radius, and Strength controls how strongly pixels are pushed or pulled.
Animating Strength from neutral to a peak and back is an effective way to create a short impact or shockwave pulse.
Mental model
Think of pressing a flexible image surface inward or outward with a finger at the Center point.
Common uses
Impact pulse on a title
Bulge or dent an object
Shockwave transition
Animate a logo deformation
Abstract background warp
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Input
The image to deform.
Dent
Fusion node
Output
The locally deformed image.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Center X / Y
Positions the center of the deformation.
Animate it when the effect must follow an object.
Size
Controls the radius of influence.
A larger Size with lower Strength often looks smoother than a tiny aggressive dent.
Strength
Controls deformation intensity.
Animate 0 → peak → 0 for a quick hit or pulse.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Connect the source needed by Dent.
- 2
Choose a Type.
- 3
Move Center onto the target area.
- 4
Set Size before pushing Strength.
- 5
Animate Strength or Center if the effect moves.
Typical node chain
Source→
Dent→
Glow / Merge→
MediaOut
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Title impact
Pulse Strength briefly on a title before Glow.
Text+DentGlowMerge
Background shockwave
Deform only the background while the foreground stays clean.
Background branchDentMerge
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using very high Strength with a tiny radius and creating harsh folds.
Applying the distortion to the entire composite when only the background should move.
Animating Center without checking the effect boundary.
Production notes
Practical tips
Keep important faces/text on a separate branch if the dent is meant only for atmosphere.
Ease Strength keyframes for a softer pulse.
Combine with Ripples for a more complex shockwave.
Related nodes