Split Tone Mode: Natural / Strong / Custom
Sets Split Tone Mode to Natural / Strong / Custom.
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ColorIntermediate
SplitTone
Shadow and highlight toning
Applies separate artistic toning to shadows and highlights with natural, strong or custom modes plus color-space overrides.
SplitTone
DaVinci Resolve · Fusion
Applies separate artistic toning to shadows and highlights with natural, strong or custom modes plus color-space overrides.
Overview
What SplitTone does
Applies separate artistic toning to shadows and highlights with natural, strong or custom modes plus color-space overrides.
SplitTone pivots around a tonal midpoint: darker values lean toward one side of the hue relationship and brighter values toward the other, while neutral protection controls how much natural gray is preserved.
Mental model
SplitTone pivots around a tonal midpoint: darker values lean toward one side of the hue relationship and brighter values toward the other, while neutral protection controls how much natural gray is preserved.
Common uses
Create warm-highlights/cool-shadows looks
Add subtle cinematic color separation
Build stylized two-color grades
Protect neutrals while toning extremes
Apply a controlled finishing look after primary correction
Flow anatomy
Inputs & outputs
The port structure shows how this node fits into a Fusion graph.
Image Input
Source image for the operation.
Effect Mask
Optional mask that limits where the node affects the image.
SplitTone
Fusion node
Image Output
The processed result from this node.
Inspector
Important parameters
Start with these controls before reaching for more complicated workarounds.
Preview Influence
Shows where the shadow/highlight influences are active.
Strength
Controls overall toning intensity.
Pivot
Moves the separation point between shadows and highlights.
Hue Angle
Controls the color relationship between the two tonal regions.
Protect Neutrals
Keeps neutral colors from being excessively tinted.
Input Color Space
Defines the color space of the incoming image.
Choose the color space that actually describes the incoming image. A wrong choice changes the meaning of every color value before the effect is evaluated.
Input Gamma
Defines the gamma or log curve of the input.
Select the transfer curve that matches the source. Log, linear and display-referred material need different interpretations.
Output Color Space
Defines the color space written by the node.
Use the color space expected by the next stage of the pipeline rather than choosing a space for appearance alone.
Output Gamma
Defines the gamma or transfer curve of the output.
Set this to the curve expected by the receiving color pipeline.
Output White Point
Sets the white point of the Split Tone output.
Practical setup
A reliable workflow
- 1
Finish primary exposure and white balance first.
- 2
Choose Natural for a subtle starting point.
- 3
Set Pivot according to the image's tonal distribution.
- 4
Adjust Hue Angle and Strength together.
- 5
Enable neutral protection when skin or gray objects pick up too much color.
- 6
Check the look on several representative frames.
Typical node chain
Source→
SplitTone→
Output
Examples
Where this node fits in real work
Cinematic split
Add cool shadows and warmer highlights after primary grade.
MediaInColorCorrectorSplitToneMediaOut
Graphic look
Tone a generated background before compositing.
BackgroundSplitToneMerge
Troubleshooting
Common mistakes
Applying SplitTone before the image is in the technical state the node expects.
Pushing SplitTone too far before checking artifacts at full resolution.
Judging SplitTone on one still frame instead of checking motion and edge behavior.
Production notes
Practical tips
Compare SplitTone with bypass regularly while tuning it.
Keep SplitTone and other technical conversions separate from creative grading when possible.
After strong SplitTone processing, check alpha, highlights and image boundaries.
Related nodes