Premation vs DaVinci Resolve Fusion
Fusion is the node-based visual effects and motion graphics toolset built into DaVinci Resolve, Blackmagic Design's post-production application. It is included in the free version of Resolve as well as in the paid Studio version.
Across the 8 areas below, DaVinci Resolve Fusion is ahead on 5, the two are level on 1, and Premation is ahead on 2. The 5 are listed first: a comparison you can trust is one that says where it loses.
Pick DaVinci Resolve Fusion if
- The job is visual effects on footage: keying, rotoscoping, planar and 3D camera tracking, composites in a true 3D workspace. Fusion is built for that, and Premation's planar tracker, camera solver and Roto Brush are newer and less proven.
- You want node-based compositing, where a node tree shows how every effect connects. Premation is layers on a timeline and has no node graph.
- You already work in DaVinci Resolve and want the graphics inside the same application, or you need Linux.
Pick Premation if
- You think in After Effects' terms: layers, pre-comps, text animators, shape operators, a value-and-speed graph editor, the same shortcuts.
- The job is motion design rather than shot work: titles, logo stings, lower thirds, explainers, 2D character rigs, Lottie for the web.
- You want open-source software. DaVinci Resolve has a free version, but it is not open source.
Feature by feature
- Node compositing
- DaVinci Resolve FusionA node tree that maps how effects connect
- PremationA layer stack with pre-comps; no node graph
- DaVinci Resolve Fusion
- Keying, roto and tracking
- DaVinci Resolve FusionDelta Keyer, rotoscoping tools, 2D, planar and 3D camera tracking
- PremationKeylight and 19 other keying effects, point, planar and camera tracking, a Roto Brush
- DaVinci Resolve Fusion
- Premation has each of these, but the planar tracker, the camera solver and the Roto Brush are recent and trail on difficult footage.
- True 3D
- DaVinci Resolve FusionA 3D workspace for compositing, with 3D particles
- PremationClassic 3D layers, cameras, lights, shadows, glTF import, extruded text
- DaVinci Resolve Fusion
- The application around it
- DaVinci Resolve FusionPart of DaVinci Resolve, beside its editing and colour tools
- PremationA motion tool with a source monitor and edit tools; no multi-track editing
- DaVinci Resolve Fusion
- Cut long-form in an editor and bring the sequence in as footage. Premation exports EDL, OTIO and FCPXML cut lists.
- Platforms
- DaVinci Resolve FusionMac, Windows and Linux
- PremationmacOS and Windows; no Linux build in 0.9.0
- DaVinci Resolve Fusion
- Motion design workflow
- DaVinci Resolve FusionGraphics are built as node trees
- PremationCompositions, layers, text animators with selectors, shape operators, templates
- Premation
- Coming from After Effects
- DaVinci Resolve FusionA different model to learn
- PremationAfter Effects' model and shortcuts; .aep and .aepx open as a conversion with a report
- Premation
- Price and licence
- DaVinci Resolve FusionFree version includes Fusion; DaVinci Resolve Studio is a paid one-time purchase
- PremationFree, AGPL-3.0
- Even
- Both are free to start. Resolve is closed source; Premation's source is open.
The Premation column is checked against the editor’s source at v0.9.0. The DaVinci Resolve Fusion column describes the product as its own site and documentation presented it on 2026-10-05; if something there has changed, tell us and this page changes.