--- title: "What are the new Krokodove tools in DaVinci Resolve 21 Fusion" author: "Cutsio Team" date: "2026-05-15" lastmod: "2026-05-15" category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows" excerpt: "DaVinci Resolve 21 integrates over 70 GPU-accelerated Krokodove compositing tools directly into Fusion. This guide covers the best tools, use cases, and how they fit into your Resolve workflow." tags: ["DaVinci Resolve 21","Fusion","Krokodove","Compositing","Motion Graphics","VFX","GPU Acceleration"] --- ## What are the Krokodove tools in DaVinci Resolve 21? DaVinci Resolve 21 integrates over 70 GPU-accelerated tools from the Krokodove toolset directly into the Fusion page. Krokodove is a well-known collection of compositing tools that were previously available as a separate paid plugin. Their inclusion at no additional cost in Resolve 21 Studio represents a major expansion of Fusion's native compositing capabilities across image processing, matte generation, warping, noise, transitions, and utilities. The tools are GPU-accelerated, meaning they leverage your graphics card for real-time playback and fast rendering. This is critical because Fusion composites can become node-heavy quickly, and CPU-based tools introduce lag that slows down the creative process. ## What are the most useful Krokodove tools for editors and compositors? The Krokodove toolset covers a wide range of tasks. Here are the categories and standouts: | Category | Key tools | What they do | |---|---|---| | Image processing | Soft Glow, Channel Blur, Edge Detect, Median, Sharpen | Stylized looks, beauty passes, glitch effects | | Matte generation | Difference Matte, Luminance Key, Chroma Key | Green screen keying, edge refinement | | Warp and distort | Ripple, Bulge, Swirl, Perspective Corner Pin | Dynamic text, screen replacements | | Noise and grain | Add Noise, Match Grain, Dust Bust | Film emulation, grain matching | | Transitions | Multi-Strip Wipes, Shape Wipes, Tile Transitions | Custom transitions without complex keyframing | | Utilities | Merge, Channel Swap, Invert, Clamp | Pipeline utilities for complex node setups | **Soft Glow** is one of the most immediately useful tools. It creates a high-quality bloom effect that was previously only achievable with a multi-node setup involving blurs and merges. A single Soft Glow node replaces five or more nodes in a traditional Fusion glow setup. Apply it to text for a cinematic title treatment, to highlights for a dreamy look, or to an entire composite for a filmic bloom. **Difference Matte** and **Luminance Key** expand Fusion's keying capabilities beyond the native Chroma Key node. Difference Matte compares two clips — a clean plate and the plate with the subject — and generates a matte based on the pixel differences. This is essential for removing green screens with uneven lighting or for keying subjects against complex backgrounds where traditional chroma keying fails. **Corner Pin** provides perspective-based positioning without requiring a full planar tracker. Map a graphic onto a screen within a scene, apply perspective distortion to a text layer, or match the angle of a replacement element. The corner pin controls are intuitive: drag each corner to the target position, and Fusion handles the perspective math. ## How do Krokodove tools compare to After Effects plugins for motion graphics? | Capability | Fusion + Krokodove | After Effects | |---|---|---| | GPU acceleration | Yes (native) | Limited (depends on plugin) | | Glow/bloom effects | Soft Glow (one node) | Multiple steps or plugin | | Lens flares | Built-in + Krokodove | Plugin required | | Keying | Delta Keyer + Krokodove Matte tools | Keylight + Advanced Spill Suppressor | | Corner pin tracking | Manual or tracker-based | Built-in corner pin | | Price | Included in Resolve 21 Studio | Separate AE license + plugins | For editors who previously switched to After Effects for specific effects that Fusion could not handle natively, the Krokodove integration removes many of those reasons. Soft Glow, advanced keying tools, and warp effects are now available in Fusion without plugins or additional software. ## Where do you find Krokodove tools in the Fusion page? The Krokodove tools appear in the Effects tab in the Fusion page, organized in their own category alongside the existing Fusion tools. You can also search for them by name in the Effects tab search bar. To use a tool, drag it from the Effects tab onto the node editor. Connect your input clip to the tool's orange input node, adjust the parameters in the Inspector, and connect the green output to your next node or the MediaOut node. Krokodove tools work with any standard Fusion workflow, including merge trees, mask chains, and loader-based composites. Most Krokodove tools include preset menus for common setups. The Soft Glow tool, for example, includes presets for "Soft Dream," "Strong Glow," and "Cinematic Bloom" that adjust the intensity, radius, and color balance automatically. ## How do you integrate Krokodove tools with existing Fusion workflows? Krokodove tools are designed to be drop-in replacements for manual multi-node setups. The most common integration pattern is to replace a chain of standard Fusion nodes with a single Krokodove tool. For example, a traditional soft glow effect in Fusion requires: Loader → Blur → Brightness/Contrast → Channel Booleans → Merge → MediaOut. The same effect with Krokodove is: Loader → Soft Glow → MediaOut. The Krokodove tool handles the blur, color adjustment, and merging internally, with GPU acceleration applied to the entire operation. The tools can be combined with standard Fusion tools in any configuration. Use a Krokodove Soft Glow for the base effect, then add a standard Fusion Color Corrector to refine the tint, then a Krokodove Edge Detect to add a stylized border. The node colors differentiate Krokodove tools (typically purple) from standard Fusion tools (typically blue), making it easy to identify them in complex node trees.
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## Are Krokodove tools available in the free version of DaVinci Resolve 21? No. The Krokodove tools are included in DaVinci Resolve 21 Studio. The free version of Resolve 21 does not include the Krokodove toolset. Additionally, the GPU acceleration that makes Krokodove tools perform well requires a compatible GPU and sufficient VRAM, which are also Studio-specific advantages. ## FAQ ### Do Krokodove tools work with Fusion Studio standalone? The Krokodove tools are integrated into the Fusion page within DaVinci Resolve 21 Studio. Their availability in Fusion Studio standalone depends on Blackmagic's licensing. ### Can I use Krokodove tools on the Edit page? Krokodove tools work in the Fusion page. They can be applied to clips on the Edit page through the Fusion composition workflow, where effects open in the Fusion page for editing. ### Are the Krokodove tools as fast as the native Fusion tools? Yes. The Krokodove tools are GPU-accelerated and perform comparably to native Fusion tools. Some operations like Soft Glow are actually faster than the equivalent multi-node setup. ### Do I need to install Krokodove separately? No. The tools are included in the DaVinci Resolve 21 Studio installation. No separate download or license is required. ### Can I combine multiple Krokodove tools in a single node tree? Yes. Krokodove tools can be combined with each other and with standard Fusion tools in any configuration within the node editor.

GPU-accelerated effects on a clean timeline

Pre-edit with Cutsio to remove dead air and retakes, then apply Krokodove tools in Resolve 21 Fusion only to the selects that matter. Your GPU works harder on less footage.

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