Global In/Out
Sets the frame range over which the node is active.
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GeneratorsIntermediate
Plasma
Procedural wave and color-field generator
Builds animated plasma-like textures from multiple circular wave sources and per-channel phase controls.
Plasma
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Plasma is a self-contained procedural image generator for abstract backgrounds, energy fields, masks and animated control maps.
Overview
What Plasma does
Several circular sources are combined mathematically to create the base wave field. Their centers, scale and combination operation determine the structure of the result.
Color Phase controls offset the wave response per channel, turning the base scalar field into colorful plasma.
Because the pattern is mathematical rather than image-based, it is ideal for looping backgrounds and technical maps that need to stay resolution-independent.
Mental model
Think of Plasma as several overlapping wave emitters whose values are combined, phase-shifted per color channel and rendered as an image.
Common uses
Abstract animated backgrounds
Energy-field graphics
Displacement and distortion maps
Colorful texture generation
Masks for transitions
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Effect Mask
Optional mask that limits where the node affects the image.
Plasma
Fusion node
Output
The processed result from this node.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Circles / Scale
Controls the overall scale of the wave sources.
Circles / Operation
Chooses how circular sources combine: Add, Subtract, Multiply, Difference and other modes.
Operation: Add
Uses the Add operation.
Operation: Subtract
Uses the Subtract operation.
Operation: Multiply
Uses the Multiply operation.
Operation: Divide
Uses the Divide operation.
Operation: Maximum
Uses the Maximum operation.
Operation: Minimum
Uses the Minimum operation.
Operation: Difference
Uses the Difference operation.
Circle 1–4 / Type
Selects the type used by Plasma.
Circle 1–4 / Center X/Y
Sets the X/Y coordinates for center.
Circle 1–4 / Scale
Sets the size or frequency contribution of each source.
Color / Phase
Offsets the resulting wave field into color.
Color / Red Phase
Offsets the procedural phase used for the red channel.
Color / Green Phase
Offsets the procedural phase used for the green channel.
Color / Blue Phase
Offsets the procedural phase used for the blue channel.
Color / Alpha Phase
Offsets the procedural phase used for the alpha channel.
Image / Process Mode
Selects the processing mode.
Chooses how the node evaluates or combines the source data.
Image / Width and Height
Sets the horizontal size.
Image / Pixel Aspect X/Y
Sets the pixel aspect ratio.
Image / Auto Resolution
Lets Fusion derive the working resolution automatically.
Disable it only when this node needs an explicit canvas size.
Image / Depth
Chooses the image depth/precision used for the Plasma generator output.
Source Color Space / Color Space Type
Sets the color Space Type.
Source Gamma Space / Curve Type
Selects the Curve Type used by Plasma.
Remove Curve
Removes the selected gamma or transfer curve so the source is treated in a linearized form.
Pre-Divide / Post-Multiply
Controls premultiplied-alpha handling around the operation.
Pre-divide removes alpha multiplication before processing; post-multiply restores it afterward. This is useful when color work creates dark or bright fringes around translucent edges.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Set the overall circle scale.
- 2
Place and size the individual wave sources.
- 3
Choose a combination operation.
- 4
Adjust channel phases for the palette.
- 5
Animate source centers or phase for motion.
Typical node chain
Wave sources→
Plasma→
Procedural texture
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Energy background
Animate circular sources and soften the result.
PlasmaBlurGlowMerge
Organic displacement
Use Plasma as a moving displacement map.
PlasmaDisplaceMediaOut
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Animating every parameter at once
Using Divide without checking extreme values
Creating high-frequency detail that aliases after scaling
Production notes
Practical tips
Slow phase animation gives smooth ambient motion.
Use grayscale plasma when it is only a control map.
Color-correct downstream instead of overcomplicating channel phases.
Related nodes