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Expression Builder Plugin V2.0

Overview Installation UI Overview Expression Builder Open / Load Save Copy Search Page Keywords Copy Glossary Categories Copy to Clipboard Hints Links Expression Builder is for Davinci Resolve Studio version 18. Expression Builder lite will be available soon for Davinci Resolve. Overview Expression Builder assists those learning Fusion Expressions and contains hundreds of examples, however, expressions can be almost limitless and we are adding more every day. New expressions will be available through or update schedule, which is why it is important to include your correct email address. The plugin is capable of saving and loading your own custom expressions for modification or reuse. Expressions can be saved as a .txt .setting or .comp file but must be given a name and extension prior to 'save'. If you wish to contribute your expressions to be included in a future update then you can do so here. Submit an Expression Download and Installation Extract the Expression Builder zip f
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Transition Mattes & Style Mattes Solved!

I came across some files on my computer which I hadn't looked at in a while, they consisted of a shattered glass wipe effect and some sound effects. I dragged them to my timeline over a cut transition and it looked awful.

After a little research, I discovered that DaVinci Resolve treats transition Mattes and style mattes a little differently. To get them to work correctly took a little bit of experimentation but when I finally got there I wondered how many other people would be having this same problem.

I fired up OBS and recorded my screen, the video is at the end of this post.



I had a .mov which was a png sequence and a .mov file which was an Alpha Matte. The first oddity was you have to bring the matte in via the media page as a matte and not a video.

I created some bins to keep everything organized "Matte" "SFX" "Wipe" & "Footage". I had to set the timeline to be the same frame rate as the transition otherwise the video of the transition and the matte of the transition was out of sync. A little more research will be required to determine whether I can change the clip attributes before bringing the clips to the timeline.

To import the matte you have to right-click on the file from the storage section and add it as a matte. I then selected the video and audio as I normally would by dragging them into the media pool.

I brought in 2 stock footage clips which were also different frame rates, however, this didn't seem to cause any issues. I then changed to the edit page to build the transition.

I brought in the drone shot and then "append to end" the rev counter on track 1, as the transition is separate I didn't need to have handles on my clips. I then brought my transition video to track 2 and positioned it at the end of the first clip. I had to move the transition up to track 3 and clip 1 to track 2, then slide clip 2 below clip 1 lining it up with the length of the transition. 

To keep things simple I then place 2 cuts through clip 1 & clip 2 so I then had the transition on top followed by clip 1 and then clip 2 all being the same length. I did discover afterwards there was no need to cut clip 2 as the video will just continue after the transition.

An important part of making this all work was I had to make the transition and the section of clip 1 a compound clip. I could then move to the color page to add the matte to the compound clip.

On the color page, I had the compound clip selected then selected the node, and right-clicked to bring up the context menu. I selected the last item "Add Matte" and added the transition matte to the node. This created a new node of the matte which was connected to the original node, however, I did not have an alpha output for the matte.

This is achieved by right-clicking in an empty section of the node area and selecting "add alpha output". I then dragged a connection between the green square on the matte and the blue alpha output. Phew! it actually worked and looked rather cool.


Back on the edit page, I added the sound effect and that was it. This method is long-winded but I guess it is because each page in Resolve is a different app bolted together. I found that once I knew the correct way to assemble the transition I could add it within 30 seconds, so not a major issue.


Watching the video may help too!


Wait There's More!

There are a couple of ways to add mattes and after I wrote this post and recorded the video I discovered another way to add mattes. So of we go for round two, actually, I am just going to do another video, coffee ready?




Thanks for taking the time to read this post and if you would like to buy me a coffee, pizza, narrowboat then it is greatly appreciated.

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