Controls / Shape
Selects the shape used by Drip.
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DistortionIntermediate
Drip
Procedural ripple and displacement distortion
Distorts image pixels with circular, square, random, directional, star or radial wave patterns.
Drip
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Drip is a procedural distortion node for water ripples, heat-wave motion, pulse deformation, abstract transitions and liquid-like image movement.
Overview
What Drip does
Shape selects the mathematical wave field used to offset pixels. Different modes create rings, directional ripples, random disturbance or star-like structures.
Center and Aspect place and stretch the field, while Amplitude, Frequency and Phase determine strength, density and animation state.
Dampening is especially useful for ripples that should decay away from their origin instead of repeating uniformly across the frame.
Mental model
Think of Drip as a built-in displacement-map generator: choose the wave geometry and center, then use amplitude, frequency, phase and damping to move the source pixels.
Common uses
Water ripple effects
Heat distortion
Pulse transitions
Energy-wave deformation
Abstract music visuals
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Input
Source image for the operation.
Effect Mask
Optional mask that limits where the node affects the image.
Drip
Fusion node
Output
The processed result from this node.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Shape / Circular
Uses circular ripples centered on the effect origin.
Shape / Square
Uses a square wavefront for the ripple pattern.
Shape / Random
Controls randomized variation.
Shape / Horizontal
Uses horizontal wave bands.
Shape / Vertical
Uses vertical wave bands.
Shape / Exponential
Uses a nonlinear wave profile whose strength changes more aggressively with distance.
Shape / Star
Uses a star-shaped wavefront with radial points.
Shape / Radial
Uses radial displacement around the effect center.
Controls / Center X, Y
Sets the Center X, Y position.
Controls / Aspect
Adjusts the aspect ratio without changing the main scale control.
Controls / Amplitude
Sets the strength of the pixel displacement produced by the waves.
Controls / Dampening
Controls how quickly the wave amplitude falls off.
Controls / Frequency
Sets the density of waves in the pattern.
Controls / Phase
Offsets the wave phase; animating it makes the ripple pattern travel.
Settings / Standard Node Controls
Opens the standard Fusion node settings for comments, connection display and render-script housekeeping.
These controls organize or automate the node; they do not define the creative look of the effect itself.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Choose the wave shape.
- 2
Position the center.
- 3
Set Frequency and Dampening.
- 4
Increase Amplitude only as far as the shot needs.
- 5
Animate Phase for continuous motion.
Typical node chain
Image→
Drip wave field→
Distorted image
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Water ripple
Use Circular shape and animate Phase.
MediaInDripMediaOut
Energy pulse
Mask a radial Drip and add glow around the affected area.
MediaInDripGlowMerge
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using excessive amplitude and tearing the image
Animating Center and Phase aggressively at the same time
Using high frequency without checking aliasing
Production notes
Practical tips
Phase is the cleanest looping animation control.
Use a soft mask for localized ripples.
Keep amplitude lower on faces and typography.
Related nodes