Node Mill’s new LensNode plugin for DaVinci Resolve provides a robust and technically superior approach to digitally emulate actual lens traits in submit. With data-driven profiles of classic and fashionable glass, it brings the nuanced optical imperfections of basic lenses to modern workflows – with out the price or complexity of sourcing uncommon cine lenses.
Whereas there are many movie emulation and diffusion-style plugins available on the market, LensNode from Node Mill units itself aside by replicating the look of precise lenses – not movie shares or normal softness, however pixel-accurate optical behaviors derived from measured knowledge. Developed over the previous yr by Australian filmmakers Elliott Nieves and Jarrad Russell, LensNode is now obtainable in Early Entry for DaVinci Resolve on macOS and Home windows.
Actual lens knowledge, actual optical conduct
On the core of LensNode is a library of lens profiles based mostly on detailed picture captures in a wide range of lighting circumstances. These aren’t approximations or simulations tuned by eye—they’re constructed from optical measurements of actual lenses. Customers can apply these profiles to their footage and even combine traits from totally different lenses, creating “unattainable” glass combos.
Need the distinctive distortion of a LOMO Illumina S35, the chromatic aberration of a Cooke S4, and the bloom of a 14mm Cooke prime, all with the colour solid of a Voigtländer Nokton? LensNode makes that not solely potential however simply adjustable via an intuitive OpenFX interface inside Resolve’s colour web page.
Emulations of varied lens traits
Every lens profile consists of emulation of:
- Comatic aberration (coma): Some of the crucial but difficult-to-replicate lens behaviors, particularly in classic optics. LensNode handles the form, hue, and directional bias with precision.
- Lens distortion: Utilized routinely and scalable, correct to real-world geometry shifts.
- Chromatic aberration: Simulates colour fringing because of lens ingredient development, with a easy falloff towards the body edges.
- Bloom: Captured at 14-bit precision, the plugin’s exponential bloom rendering rivals high-end diffusion filters.
- Bokeh blur: Consists of not simply form replication, however convolution with elective rotation to simulate swirly bokeh—even on lenses that didn’t initially have it.
- Vignette and colour solid: Taken straight from the true lens, these profiles embody refined hue shifts towards the perimeters of body.
- Fringing: A high-contrast fringe impact that may differ in hue, saturation, and lightness throughout the body—one other key part in mimicking basic lens texture.
Varied lens traits may be blended and matched utilizing the LensNode plugin. Picture credit score: Node Mill
ACES-ready, GPU-accelerated, and animation-friendly
LensNode was designed from the bottom up for skilled use. Inner linear processing with ACES compatibilityensures that it performs properly with color-managed pipelines, digicam log footage, and excessive bit depth renders. Each parameter is animatable, permitting for time-varying lens results—best for stylized sequences or simulating lens imperfections throughout digital zooms or reframes.
The plugin is absolutely GPU-accelerated and consists of optimization settings for quicker playback on higher-resolution timelines. Nevertheless, real-time efficiency will differ relying in your system. On a well-equipped Home windows PC with an RTX 3080 GPU, customers have reported real-time playback in 8K timelines with a number of nodes utilized.
LensNode is a drag-and droppable plugin and goes on a clip utilizing an OpenFX node. You begin by selecting the lens and the enter colour house and are capable of dial within the results you want through some sliders. Picture credit score: Node Mill
Limitations and roadmap
At present, LensNode is on the market just for DaVinci Resolve on macOS (14+ with Steel 3.0+) and Home windows 10+. There is no such thing as a help for Linux, and the plugin doesn’t but work with different NLEs or picture modifying platforms like Premiere Professional, Closing Reduce Professional, Seize One, or Lightroom. The builders are open to future growth however are prioritizing stability and efficiency inside Resolve first .
Additionally necessary to notice: LensNode doesn’t provide a free trial. As an Early Entry product, it’s being bought at a reduced worth of $99 USD (that is not an affiliate hyperlink). The license is perpetual, consists of two seats (Mac and Home windows), and grants free updates till model 1.0 is launched (anticipated mid-2025), plus an extra yr of updates afterward. Early adopters additionally acquire entry to a personal neighborhood Discord for suggestions and have requests.
Constructed-in flexibility and artistic exploration
LensNode features a international “Overdrive” slider to magnify any chosen lens impact—helpful for stylized music movies or dream sequences. Every parameter may be adjusted individually and animated over time. Results like coma and bloom scale appropriately throughout resolutions and may be masked utilizing Energy Home windows. This makes the plugin best not only for aesthetic grading but in addition for optical continuity in VFX work.
The present lens library is increasing, with Node Mill dedicated to profiling extra skilled cine lenses and sought-after classic glass. The plugin helps stacking, permitting for layered lens behaviors and nuanced picture remedies.
At first look, LensNode appears to make a major step ahead in post-production realism by letting filmmakers recreate particular optical signatures of basic and uncommon lenses – digitally and affordably. For professionals seeking to inject their footage with character with out the constraints of classic {hardware}, this plugin is likely to be the following must-have Resolve software.
Have you ever examined LensNode or in contrast it with optical filters or movie emulation plugins? What classic lenses would you like to see added subsequent? Let’s focus on beneath.
