Fusion Studio 21.0 Beta Targets High-End Motion Graphics and VFX
Fusion Studio 21.0 enters public beta as a major refresh of Blackmagic Design’s dedicated 3D compositing software, with the latest build already at Beta 3, signaling a fast iteration cycle. While Fusion’s tools are also embedded in DaVinci Resolve’s Fusion page, this standalone release focuses squarely on professional motion graphics and VFX pipelines. The update expands on deep compositing, USD-based 3D workflows and GPU-accelerated effects, positioning Fusion as a more competitive 3D compositing software option for studios that need node-based flexibility alongside modern formats and render frameworks. Fusion Studio 21.0 is compatible with Windows, Rocky Linux and macOS, and now includes native support for Windows on ARM, which should benefit artists using newer Copilot+ laptops and tablets. Existing users can access the beta as a free update, while new users can opt for the perpetual Fusion Studio license or leverage the Fusion page in the free edition of DaVinci Resolve.
Krokodove Integration Supercharges Motion Graphics Tools
The headline change for motion graphics artists is the full integration of Krokodove, previously a free third-party add-on, directly into Fusion Studio 21.0. This brings over 70 specialized motion graphics tools into the core application, spanning image filters, warping and morphing effects, plus sophisticated titling and text animation options. Fusion now also supports Lottie and OGraf, two widely used 2D motion graphics formats, simplifying interchange with web and app animation pipelines. Text+ and MultiText gain support for colored fonts and emojis, alongside a built-in spell checker and auto-correct system, making on-screen typography more efficient and consistent. Together, these additions reshape Fusion’s motion graphics tools into a more modern, design-friendly environment, enabling artists to prototype, animate and iterate on complex titles and UI graphics without relying on external plugins or round-trips to other applications.
Deep Compositing Workflow and USD Toolset Gain Critical Upgrades
Fusion Studio 21.0 significantly refines its deep compositing workflow introduced in version 20.0. A new dColorCorrector node allows artists to perform color correction directly on deep images, removing the need to flatten them to 2D before grading, which preserves per-pixel depth information and improves flexibility when re-lighting or rebalancing complex shots. The deep toolset also gains full layer support, making it easier to manage multi-layer deep passes from high-end renderers. On the 3D side, the USD toolset receives two new nodes—uProjector and uCatcher—for decal projection and texture reprojection, useful for placing graphics or relighting details without re-rendering. An Is Matte checkbox lets users designate holdout mattes to occlude objects, while the USD renderer adds an Neye AOV for camera-relative normals. Fusion also adopts Hydra 2, aligning its USD rendering with other modern DCC tools and improving consistency across cross-application pipelines.
Cryptomatte, Relief Maps and Enhanced Lens Correction for Precision VFX
Beyond USD, Fusion Studio’s standard 3D renderer now exports Cryptomatte data, bringing it in line with most modern DCC applications and renderers. Cryptomatte enables fast, accurate ID mattes for complex scenes, greatly speeding up selective grading and isolation work in compositing. New Relief Map and Create Relief Map tools generate self-occluding surface detail without subdividing geometry, giving artists a middle ground between simple bump mapping and heavy displacement. For on-set integration, the Lens Distort node gains checkerboard calibration, allowing artists to derive a lens solve from a single frame containing a checkerboard grid, which improves matchmoving and undistortion accuracy for live-action plates. These updates collectively sharpen Fusion’s suitability for precision compositing, enabling tighter integration between CG, live footage and post-production grading while reducing reliance on external utilities for lens and ID matte management.
Workflow, Performance and Platform Enhancements Round Out the Beta
Fusion Studio 21.0 Beta 3 is not just about new creative tools; it also focuses on day-to-day workflow and performance. A new Macro Editor simplifies building reusable templates and macros, while user-defined metadata can now be embedded in paths, expressions and scripts for more flexible pipeline automation. The MultiInspector lets artists edit shared properties across multiple nodes simultaneously, and multi-layer structures like MultiPoly and MultiMerge gain the ability to adjust properties across all layers at once. Under the hood, SpeedWarp now uses the same AI-based retiming engine as DaVinci Resolve’s Edit and Cut pages, improving both quality and performance. Relight and Depth Map tools see speed boosts of up to six times, making iterative look development more responsive. Combined with native Windows-on-ARM support and the availability of Fusion tools in DaVinci Resolve, Fusion Studio 21.0 positions itself as a more agile, production-ready platform.