Frames Either Side
Sets how many neighboring frames are included in the temporal analysis.
Tip: Start small; larger windows can create visible trails.
← Fusion node reference
Cleanup & RestorationIntermediate
Smear
Temporal smearing for frame-to-frame cleanup
Blends temporal information around the current frame to hide small discontinuities, jumps and artifacts using neighboring-frame analysis and luma/chroma thresholds.
Smear
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Smear is a temporal cleanup node. Frames Either Side determines how much neighboring time is inspected, while Luma Threshold and Chroma Threshold decide which differences are eligible for smoothing instead of being preserved as real motion or detail.
Overview
What Smear does
Smear is most useful for small temporal defects: unstable repaired areas, tiny jumps after cleanup, or local discontinuities that appear only from frame to frame. It does not replace a full optical-flow or paint solution for major motion problems.
A wider temporal window can hide more variation but also increases the risk of trails and softness. Thresholds keep the tool from smearing every difference indiscriminately by separating small luminance/chroma changes from larger scene motion.
Always inspect the result in motion. A frame that looks cleaner when paused can still produce a visible temporal trail when played back.
Mental model
Think of Smear as a temporal smoothing brush: it looks around the current frame and spreads only differences that fall inside your luma/chroma tolerance.
Common uses
Hide small cleanup flicker
Smooth a repaired patch across adjacent frames
Reduce minor temporal jumps
Blend tiny discontinuities after object removal
Soften frame-to-frame artifacts in a localized area
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Image Input
Source image for the operation.
Smear
Fusion node
Image Output
The processed result from this node.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Luma Threshold
Controls how much luminance difference can be smeared.
Chroma Threshold
Controls how much color difference can be smeared.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Identify the exact temporal artifact.
- 2
Start with the minimum Frames Either Side.
- 3
Raise Luma Threshold only enough to smooth the defect.
- 4
Tune Chroma Threshold if color variation remains.
- 5
Play the shot at full speed and inspect for trails.
- 6
Mask the node if only one region needs temporal smoothing.
Typical node chain
Frames Around Current→
Thresholds→
Smear→
Temporal Cleanup
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Cleanup flicker repair
Smooth a repaired patch that changes slightly between frames.
PatchReplacer / RepairSmearMergeMediaOut
Minor temporal jump
Use a short neighborhood to reduce a one-frame discontinuity.
MediaInSmearColorCorrectorMediaOut
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Using a large temporal window for major motion
Judging only on a paused frame
Setting thresholds so high that real motion is smeared
Applying Smear to the whole frame when only a small repaired region needs it
Production notes
Practical tips
Use a tight mask around the repaired area whenever possible.
Evaluate the shot at normal playback speed and also frame-by-frame.
If motion geometry itself is wrong, use OpticalFlow or a more appropriate repair tool before Smear.
Related nodes