Saver Variables for Fusion Renders
Fast Fusion Playback with Metadata Saver Nodes
If you are dealing with heavy Fusion comps, one of the most effective ways to boost performance and playback is by using a Saver node. This tool acts as a render node specifically designed for the Fusion page. In the past, this workflow was tedious because it required you to manually type out absolute file paths. However, DaVinci Resolve 21 introduces a new feature: metadata variables. You can now automate the naming and location of your Saver files using details like the project name, timeline name, clip name, and source name.
YourPathHere/Projects/%{resolve:Project Name}/Savers/%{resolve:Timeline Name}_%{resolve:Clip Name}_%{resolve:Source Name}/%{resolve:Timeline Name}_%{resolve:Clip Name}_%{resolve:Source Name}_saver1/%{resolve:Timeline Name}_%{resolve:Clip Name}_%{resolve:Source Name}_saver1..exr
Here is a breakdown of how to utilize this feature to improve performance on your next project.
Setting Up the Saver Node and Variables
To begin, press Shift + Space and type "Saver Node" to add it to your flow.
In the file path area, type a percentage sign (%), followed by curly braces ({}) using Shift + [.
A prompt will appear asking if you want metadata for Resolve or Fusion.
Select the Resolve metadata option, which provides the same list of metadata you would find on the Deliver page, or for renaming clips in bins.
Building Your Automated File Path
By matching your DaVinci Resolve project name to the folder name on your hard drive, you can build a preset that automatically organizes all your renders into your job folder automatically. This completely removes the need to type or paste absolute paths every single time you use a saver node.
Find your root folder path in your Finder by right-clicking the folder and copying the path name, then paste it into a text editor.
Use standard slashes (/) to dictate new folder hierarchy levels in your text string.
Keep in mind that this workflow uses EXR image sequence files, rather than QuickTime movies.
For compression in the format tab, DWA 256 line is highly recommended.
This compression format is extremely efficient and is about six to ten times smaller than lossless EXR compressions like zip or PIZ.
My Metadata Default Setup
To keep files perfectly organized, consider this specific metadata structure for your path:
Project Name: Start with the project name so your renders automatically drop into the correct root project folder.
Hard-Coded Folder: Add a hard-coded text folder name, such as "savers", to separate these EXR renders from other elements in your project folder.
Timeline Name: Use a short, three or four-character name for your timeline to keep filenames manageable and easy to search for.
Clip Name: This refers to the instance of the clip on the timeline, acting essentially as a unique VFX shot name. This is incredibly useful for manually iterating versions and splitting up long, continuous takes into individual VFX shots.
Source Name: Including the original source name helps you easily track back to the original file. This is the name created by the camera.
Saver Identifier: Add a unique identifier at the end, like "denoise" or "saver 1", to ensure the image sequences for that specific task are placed into their own isolated folder. This is the only part that will require manual input if you use more than 1 saver on a comp.
Extension Format: End the string with two periods followed by EXR (..exr). This separator format is compatible with software like Maya and cleanly separates the frame number from the file name.
Rendering and Reloading for Maximum Performance
When setting up your project, navigate to the Fusion tab in your project settings (Shift + 9). Set your starting frame to a positive number, such as 997. This ensures you have plenty of room to add handles to the beginning of a shot without dipping into negative frame numbers, which can cause loaders to not load sequentially.
Once your Saver path is fully configured, right-click and choose "Settings > Save Default" to save it as a preset. You can quickly render all savers by pressing Command + Shift + R if you set that in your keyboard customization.
The Secret to Fusion Playback: When it is time to load the rendered sequence back into your composition, avoid simply dragging the folder into your media pool. Doing so ties the media directly to Resolve's media engine, which can slow down Fusion playback.
Instead, use a Loader node (Shift + Space, LD) and select the first image of your sequence. By keeping DaVinci Resolve from touching the media in the pool, you bypass the media engine entirely. This workaround allows you to easily play back high-resolution, high-bit-depth files and achieve full RAM cache previews without trouble.
