Controls / Bump Channel
Selects the image channel used by this operation.
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Plastic
Bump-driven glossy surface
Builds a glossy plastic, lacquer, enamel or rubber-like surface from a selected bump channel, a shape remap curve and directional virtual lighting.
This tool belongs to the Krokodove set integrated into DaVinci Resolve 21 and Fusion Studio 21. See the complete Krokodove node list and the comparison with native Fusion tools.
Plastic
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Plastic is oriented toward stylized pseudo-relief rather than only a conventional diffuse/specular response. It converts image or channel information into bump detail, smooths and remaps that detail, then shades it with a controllable light direction.
Overview
What Plastic does
Plastic is oriented toward stylized pseudo-relief rather than only a conventional diffuse/specular response. It converts image or channel information into bump detail, smooths and remaps that detail, then shades it with a controllable light direction.
Mental model
Think of Plastic as embossing a texture into a glossy surface: the selected channel becomes height, the Shape curve defines the profile, and the Light controls reveal that relief.
Common uses
Glossy 3D titles and logos
Toy-like or enamel surfaces
Relief from alpha or luminance
Stylized interface plates and emblems
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Material/Input
Material or texture data applied to the 3D object.
Plastic
Fusion node
Material Output
The processed result from this node.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Bump Channel: Red
Sets Bump Channel to Red.
Bump Channel: Green
Sets Bump Channel to Green.
Bump Channel: Blue
Sets Bump Channel to Blue.
Bump Channel: Alpha
Sets Bump Channel to Alpha.
Bump Channel: Luminance
Sets Bump Channel to Luminance.
Controls / Lock X/Y
Links the X and Y values for the paired controls.
Controls / Blur Size
Sets the amount of blur.
Controls / Low
Sets one boundary of the active range.
Controls / High
Sets one boundary of the active range.
Controls / Color
Sets the color.
Controls / Red
Adjusts the red channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Controls / Green
Adjusts the green channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Controls / Blue
Adjusts the blue channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Controls / Alpha
Adjusts the alpha channel.
Use channel-specific controls when the operation should not affect all components equally.
Controls / Combine
Chooses how the Plastic shading result is combined with the incoming image or material.
Combine: Merge
Sets combine to Merge.
Combine: Add
Sets combine to Add.
Combine: Highlights
Sets combine to Highlights.
Shape / Curve
Remaps the bump profile to make the relief softer, harder, flatter or more pronounced.
Shape / In and Out
Sets the exact input and output values of the selected Plastic-shaping curve point.
Light / Position X
Sets the horizontal position or offset.
Light / Position Y
Sets the vertical position or offset.
Light / Height
Sets the vertical size.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Choose a source with useful alpha or luminance detail.
- 2
Select the most appropriate Bump Channel.
- 3
Blur noisy height detail until the surface reads cleanly.
- 4
Use Low/High and the Shape curve to define the relief.
- 5
Set the surface Color and Combine mode.
- 6
Move the virtual light until the form reads clearly.
Typical node chain
Texture / Alpha→
Plastic→
3D Object→
Renderer3D
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Embossed logo
Use logo alpha as bump and a soft light to create a lacquered emblem.
Logo AlphaPlasticMerge3DRenderer3D
Procedural surface
FastNoiseTexture supplies the bump pattern for a stylized plastic material.
FastNoiseTexturePlastic3D ObjectRenderer3D
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using a flat channel that contains no useful bump information.
Leaving high-frequency noise unfiltered and getting brittle highlights.
Changing light direction before establishing a readable bump profile.
Production notes
Practical tips
Alpha is often the cleanest bump source for titles and logos.
Use the Shape curve for material character instead of only increasing contrast.
Large soft bump detail usually looks more convincing than noisy micro-detail.
Related nodes