FUSION · NODE REFERENCE
KeyframeStretcher
Retarget animation to a new duration
Fits upstream animation to a Fusion clip's duration: the chosen middle stretches while the entrance and exit retain their duration.
KeyframeStretcher
Overview
What KeyframeStretcher does
Divide timing into an entrance, a flexible middle and an exit. In normal mode, motion before Stretch Start retains its distance from the start, while motion after Stretch End retains its distance from the end. The exit moves to the new clip end; it does not stay at its former absolute frame number.
Stretch Start and Stretch End are source-range coordinates, not the boundaries of a new composition. Extend the Fusion clip or title on Edit/Cut, keep Source as the authored reference and inspect the evaluated result in the Viewer.
At 24 fps, frames 0–119 form a 120-frame clip. Put entrance keys at 0 and 23, a hold between 23 and 96, and exit keys at 96 and 119. The 24–95 region absorbs length changes. After extending to 240 frames, the exit should finish at 239 with its original pace. The archived PNG uses another valid coordinate set, Source 0–120 and Stretch 24–96; 120 is an end-frame number, not the inclusive frame count.
The manual explicitly distinguishes evaluated animation from Spline display: the original keyframes remain at their authored positions. Do not move them again just because the editor still shows the old frame coordinates. First compare playback, entrance, hold boundaries and the new last frame.
Placement defines scope. KeyframeStretcher after a combined Merge affects animation from both upstream branches. To keep footage on its original timing, stretch only the title branch and composite it over footage afterward. KeyframeStretcher has one image input and no separate Effect Mask socket.
Stretch Edges Instead switches stretching to the edges and overrides normal Stretch Start/End behavior. Invert Timing appears in the archived screenshot, but its precise mapping is not explained in the corresponding Resolve 21 manual section. The basic recipes leave it disabled; reverse playback is not claimed without testing the installed version.
A separate Keystretcher modifier targets a single parameter. The KeyframeStretcher node affects an incoming image branch; their similar purpose does not make their setup interchangeable. Before releasing a template, test short, original and long versions, including any real media with limited frame ranges.
When to use it
A title with fixed entrance/exit durations and variable reading time.
A panel whose animated elements adapt together as one image branch.
A progress indicator whose movement spans the entire clip.
Reusable Fusion titles for Edit/Cut with a tested duration range.
Keeping graphic timing separate from normal footage playback.
KeyframeStretcher in context
Screenshots referenced by this article. Open an image to inspect it at full size.
Example for KeyframeStretcher.
Original image