Copies
Sets how many additional Shape copies are generated.
High copy counts can become expensive when the source Shape is complex.
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Shape SystemIntermediate
sDuplicate
Procedural duplication inside the Shape pipeline
Creates repeated copies of a Shape element with per-copy transforms, timing offsets, probability and optional jitter while keeping the result as vector Shape data.
sDuplicate
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
sDuplicate is the Shape-system equivalent of a procedural repeater. It accepts a Shape stream, generates a controlled series of copies and keeps the result editable by later Shape nodes until sRender rasterizes it.
Overview
What sDuplicate does
Use sDuplicate when one clean Shape should become a row, fan, spiral, trail, dotted path or repeated motion-graphics pattern. Because the copies stay in the Shape pipeline, they can still be restyled, boolean-combined or rendered together later.
Copy Probability and Time Offset make the node more than a static repeater. Probability can thin out repeated elements, while Time Offset lets animated source Shapes cascade through time instead of moving in perfect sync.
Axis Mode controls whether offsets, scale and rotation are interpreted absolutely, relative to the source origin or progressively from one copy to the next. Progressive transforms are especially useful for spirals, stepped layouts and receding patterns.
Mental model
Think of sDuplicate as a vector repeater: one Shape enters, a procedural family of transformed copies leaves, and everything remains live Shape data.
Common uses
Build repeated HUD markers and interface ticks
Create rows, fans, spirals and stepped graphic patterns
Cascade animated Shapes with Time Offset
Scatter copies with probability and jitter
Repeat a Shape along a motion path
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Shape Input
The source Shape stream to duplicate, such as sRectangle, sEllipse, sText, sPolygon or a merged Shape branch.
sDuplicate
Fusion node
Shape Output
The generated Shape data.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Copy Probability
Controls the chance that each copy is emitted.
Values below 1 create sparse or irregular repetitions.
Time Offset
Offsets source animation time for successive copies.
Useful for cascades, trails and wave-like timing.
X Offset
Sets the X Offset.
Y Offset
Sets the Y Offset.
Z Offset [3D]
Offsets the duplicated Shape result along Z.
X Size
Scales each duplicated Shape copy horizontally.
Y Size
Scales each duplicated Shape copy vertically.
Axis Mode
Chooses how copy transforms are evaluated.
Progressive mode accumulates transforms from one copy to the next.
X Rotation [3D]
Rotates duplicated Shapes around the 3D X axis.
Y Rotation [3D]
Rotates duplicated Shapes around the 3D Y axis.
Z Rotation
Rotates copies in the 2D plane.
Red Gain
Scales the red channel for the generated Shape duplicates.
Green Gain
Scales the green channel for the generated Shape duplicates.
Blue Gain
Scales the blue channel for the generated Shape duplicates.
Alpha Gain
Scales the alpha channel.
Opacity Gain
Sets the transparency of Opacity Gain.
Duplicate Along Path
Distributes copies along an available path.
Jitter Mode
Adds controlled random variation to this property.
Random Seed
Sets the random seed so a procedural variation can be reproduced.
Jitter Probability
Controls how often jitter is applied to a copy.
Jitter X/Y/Z Offset
Sets random X, Y and Z position offsets for the duplicated Shapes.
Jitter Lock X/Y and Size
Links the X and Y values for Jitter Lock.
Jitter Rotation
Adds controlled random variation to this property.
Jitter Style Gain
Adds controlled random variation to this property.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Create or merge the Shape that will be repeated.
- 2
Insert sDuplicate before sRender.
- 3
Set Copies and a simple X/Y offset first.
- 4
Choose an Axis Mode, then add scale or rotation if needed.
- 5
Add Time Offset or Jitter only after the base pattern reads clearly.
- 6
Render the final Shape stream through sRender.
Typical node chain
Shape→
sDuplicate→
Repeated Shape Stream→
sRender
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
HUD tick strip
Repeat one narrow rectangle into an evenly spaced interface scale.
sRectanglesDuplicatesChangeStylesRender
Animated echo pattern
Delay an animated Shape across repeated copies.
sText or sPolygonsDuplicate with Time OffsetsRenderGlow
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using raster Duplicate when the design should remain in the Shape pipeline
Increasing Copies before validating the per-copy transform
Using random jitter without a fixed seed when reproducibility matters
Forgetting that Progressive Axis Mode accumulates each transform
Production notes
Practical tips
Build the cleanest possible source Shape before duplicating it.
Use a fixed Random Seed while art-directing, then change it only when you intentionally want a new pattern.
Small progressive scale and rotation changes usually look more controlled than large values.
Related nodes