Pixel Frequency
Controls the number and scale of mosaic cells.
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Edge & StylizeBeginner
MosaicBlur
Geometric pixelation and mosaic blur
Turns the image into square, hexagonal or triangular mosaic cells with frequency, offset, aspect and anti-alias controls.
MosaicBlur
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Turns the image into square, hexagonal or triangular mosaic cells with frequency, offset, aspect and anti-alias controls.
Overview
What MosaicBlur does
Turns the image into square, hexagonal or triangular mosaic cells with frequency, offset, aspect and anti-alias controls.
Pixel Frequency determines cell size: lower frequency produces larger blocks and destroys more detail, while higher frequency keeps more of the source recognizable. Cell Shape switches the geometry between square, hexagonal and triangular mosaics.
Use X/Y Offset, Aspect, antialiasing and Whole Cells Only to make the grid sit cleanly on the shot. For censorship or privacy work, drive MosaicBlur through a tracked mask so only the required face, plate, screen or logo is obscured.
Mental model
Imagine replacing the image with a grid of sampled color cells. Pixel Frequency decides how dense the grid is, while Cell Shape changes the visual language of the mosaic.
Common uses
Pixelate faces or details
Create geometric stylization
Build retro graphics
Make privacy masks
Generate mosaic transitions
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Image Input
Source image for the operation.
Effect Mask
Optional mask that limits where the node affects the image.
MosaicBlur
Fusion node
Image Output
The processed result from this node.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Cell Shape
Chooses Square, Hexagon or Triangle cell geometry.
Cell Shape: Square
Uses Square as the active cell shape.
Cell Shape: Hexagon
Uses Hexagon as the active cell shape.
Cell Shape: Triangle
Uses Triangle as the active cell shape.
Aliasing
Controls the crispness or aliasing of cell edges.
X Offset
Offsets the cell grid horizontally.
Y Offset
Offsets the grid vertically.
Aspect
Changes cell proportions.
Antialias Result
Smooths cell boundaries.
Whole Cells Only
Keeps complete cells at the image boundary.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Choose the cell shape.
- 2
Set Pixel Frequency for the desired level of abstraction.
- 3
Adjust offsets if the mosaic needs to align with a subject.
- 4
Tune aliasing and antialias controls.
- 5
Mask the effect if only part of the image should be pixelated.
Typical node chain
Input→
MosaicBlur→
Output
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Privacy mosaic
Pixelate a tracked face or license plate.
MediaInTracker / MaskMosaicBlurMerge
Graphic texture
Apply a hexagonal mosaic as a stylized background.
BackgroundMosaicBlurColorCorrector
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using cell sizes too small to read as mosaic
Animating frequency without checking temporal stepping
Ignoring grid alignment on a tracked subject
Applying the effect globally when only one region needs privacy
Production notes
Practical tips
Track the mask, not the mosaic grid, for cleaner privacy work.
Whole Cells Only can produce cleaner graphic borders.
Related nodes