Random Seed
Changes probabilistic variation reproducibly.
← Fusion node reference
ParticlesIntermediate
pFriction
Damp particle velocity and spin
Gradually reduces particle movement and rotation, simulating drag, air resistance or a thicker medium.
pFriction
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
pFriction is a damping node for particle velocity and spin. It is useful whenever a particle system needs to slow down naturally instead of stopping abruptly.
Overview
What pFriction does
Velocity Friction reduces translational movement while Spin Friction reduces particle rotation. The two can be tuned independently.
Conditions and regions make it possible to slow only selected particles, selected ages or particles entering a specific area.
Placed after a force or vortex, pFriction can help a particle system settle and feel more physically controlled.
Mental model
Think of pFriction as invisible drag: the particle keeps moving, but the medium steadily takes energy away from its motion and spin.
Common uses
Slow sparks after an impulse
Make dust settle
Dampen a vortex
Create viscous particle motion
Reduce particle spin over time
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Particles
Particle stream processed by this node.
Region
Input used by pFriction.
pFriction
Fusion node
Particles
Particles with damped velocity and/or spin.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Reseed
Sets the random seed so a procedural variation can be reproduced.
Time Lock
Locks procedural randomness to time so the same frame evaluates consistently.
Velocity Friction
Controls how strongly translational speed is reduced.
Spin Friction
Controls how strongly particle rotation is reduced.
Probability
Affects only some particles when reduced.
Age Start
Sets the particle-age range affected by this operation.
Particle age is measured over the particle lifetime; use the start and end values to limit where the behavior becomes active.
Age End
Sets the particle-age range affected by this operation.
Particle age is measured over the particle lifetime; use the start and end values to limit where the behavior becomes active.
Age Range
Defines the range over which this operation is active.
Set Mode
Selects the Set Mode used by pFriction.
Ignore Sets
Excludes Sets from the operation.
Set 1–32
Chooses which particle sets are affected by this operation.
Region Mode
Selects the particle region type.
Chooses the geometric region used by the particle operation. Available region types include Ignore region, When intersecting region, When inside region, When not intersecting region, When not inside region, When entering region, and When leaving region.
Ignore region
Excludes region from the operation.
When intersecting region
Applies the operation while particles intersect the region.
When inside region
Applies the operation while particles are inside the region.
When not intersecting region
Applies the operation while particles do not intersect the region.
When not inside region
Applies the operation while particles are outside the region.
When entering region
Triggers the operation when particles enter the region.
When leaving region
Triggers the operation when particles leave the region.
Region
Selects the particle region type.
Chooses the geometric region used by the particle operation.
All
Applies the particle operation across the full region or particle set.
Bezier
Uses a Bezier-shaped region for the particle operation.
Bitmap
Uses a bitmap-defined region for the particle operation.
Cube
Uses a cube-shaped region for the particle operation.
Line
Uses a line region for this particle operation.
Mesh
Uses a mesh-based region for the particle operation.
Rectangle
Uses a rectangular region for the particle operation.
Sphere
Uses a spherical region for the particle operation.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Build the particle motion with emitter and force nodes.
- 2
Insert pFriction after the force that should be damped.
- 3
Raise Velocity Friction gradually.
- 4
Add Spin Friction only when particle orientation needs damping.
- 5
Use a region when friction should act only in one zone.
Typical node chain
Particle force→
pFriction→
pRender
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Settling dust
Turbulent particles slow down before rendering.
pEmitterpTurbulencepFrictionpRender
Vortex decay
Particles spiral, then gradually lose speed.
pEmitterpVortexpFrictionpRender
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using too much friction and freezing the system instantly.
Expecting friction to create motion rather than reduce existing motion.
Forgetting active region or age restrictions.
Production notes
Practical tips
Add forces first, damping second.
Use moderate friction over more frames for a smoother physical result.
Separate Velocity and Spin damping instead of assuming they should match.
Related nodes