--- title: "Write On Effect Tutorial in Davinci Resolve | Handwriting Text Effect" author: "Sarah Williams" category: Tutorials excerpt: "Learn how to create a professional handwriting text effect in DaVinci Resolve using the Fusion page, masking tools, and the Write On animation feature." --- To create a handwriting "write on" effect in DaVinci Resolve, you must use the Fusion page to trace a mask path over your text and animate the stroke. By creating a Text+ node, drawing a polyline mask over the letters, and keyframing the "Length" parameter, you can simulate the exact motion of an invisible pen writing text onto the screen. ## What is the write on effect in DaVinci Resolve? The write on effect is a visual animation technique that reveals text sequentially, mimicking the natural flow of human handwriting. This effect is highly popular in documentary filmmaking, travel vlogs, and kinetic typography videos. It transforms static titles into dynamic, engaging elements. Instead of the text fading in or appearing instantly, the viewer watches the letters form stroke by stroke, drawing the eye and emphasizing the specific word being written. ## How to set up your text for the handwriting effect? To begin the handwriting effect, you must use a Text+ node rather than a standard basic title, as the effect requires access to the Fusion node tree. 1. **Add a Text+ Node:** On the Edit page, open the Effects Library. Go to `Titles` and drag a `Text+` title onto your timeline. 2. **Choose a Handwriting Font:** In the Inspector panel, type your desired text. For a realistic effect, change the font to a script or cursive typeface (e.g., Pacifico, Brush Script, or a custom downloaded handwriting font). 3. **Enter Fusion:** With the Text+ clip selected on your timeline, click the "Fusion" tab at the bottom of the screen to open the node editor. You will see a `Template` (or `Text1`) node connected to a `MediaOut1` node. ## How to trace the text with a mask in Fusion? The core of the write on effect involves creating a mask that perfectly follows the shape of your cursive text. 1. **Add a Polygon Mask:** Click anywhere in the empty space of the node graph (ensure no nodes are selected). Press `Shift+Spacebar`, type "Polygon," and press Enter. 2. **Connect the Mask:** Drag the output of the `Polygon` node and connect it to the blue "Effect Mask" input on your `Text1` node. Your text will temporarily disappear—this is normal. 3. **Trace the Letters:** Select the `Polygon` node. In the viewer, click to draw a path directly over your text, following the exact motion a pen would take. If you have a continuous cursive word, draw one long path. If the letters are separated, draw the path to connect them (you will hide the connecting lines later). 4. **Adjust Mask Properties:** In the Inspector for the `Polygon` node, uncheck the "Solid" box. Increase the "Border Width" slider until the mask completely covers and reveals the text underneath. 5. **Soften the Edges:** Slightly increase the "Soft Edge" slider to blend the mask, preventing sharp, unnatural cuts as the text is revealed. ## How to animate the write on effect? Once the mask covers the text, you must animate the path to simulate the writing motion. 1. **Locate the Length Parameter:** In the `Polygon` node Inspector, locate the "Length" slider under the Stroke Controls section. This slider dictates how much of the path is visible. 2. **Set the Start Keyframe:** Move your playhead to the first frame of your Fusion composition. Drag the "Length" slider down to `0.0` (your text will disappear). Click the diamond icon next to "Length" to set a keyframe. 3. **Set the End Keyframe:** Move the playhead forward in time to where you want the writing animation to finish (e.g., 2 seconds in). Drag the "Length" slider up to `1.0`. The software will automatically set a second keyframe. 4. **Review the Animation:** Press play. You will see the mask path grow, gradually revealing the text underneath, simulating a handwriting effect. ## How to fix intersecting mask lines? When tracing cursive text, the thick mask path often accidentally overlaps and reveals adjacent letters prematurely. To fix intersecting mask lines, you must animate the mask path itself: 1. Move the playhead to the frame where the premature reveal happens. 2. Ensure the `Polygon` node is selected and the "Click to Append" tool is active in the viewer toolbar. 3. Click and drag the specific mask control points away from the adjacent letter to hide it. 4. Move forward a few frames and move the points back into position to reveal the letter when it is supposed to be written. Fusion automatically keyframes these path adjustments. ## How to add a custom pen or hand graphic to the effect? To make the effect hyper-realistic, you can attach a PNG image of a pen or a hand to the tip of your animated mask path. 1. **Import the Graphic:** Drag a transparent PNG of a pen into the Fusion node graph (`MediaIn1`). 2. **Add a Transform Node:** Connect the `MediaIn1` to a `Transform` node, then merge it over the `Text1` node. 3. **Link to Path:** In the Transform node Inspector, right-click the "Center" X/Y coordinates. Select `Connect To > Polygon1 > Path > Position`. 4. **Animate Position:** The pen will now follow the exact path of your mask. You may need to adjust the "Angle" and "Size" in the Transform node so the tip of the pen perfectly aligns with the text being revealed. ## How to automate title creation for large projects? While creating custom handwriting effects in Fusion is excellent for hero titles, applying complex text effects to hours of dialogue is incredibly inefficient. For massive projects like podcasts or documentaries, professional editors use AI pre-editing workflows: * **Upload Media:** Send your raw footage to an AI platform like [Cutsio](https://cutsio.com). * **Extract Quotes:** Highlight the best quotes in the auto-generated transcript. * **XML Export:** Export the selections as an XML file and import them into DaVinci Resolve to instantly build a timeline. * **Apply Hero Graphics:** Once the narrative timeline is built, apply your custom handwriting Fusion macro only to the most important opening title, saving hours of manual labor. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### Can I use the built-in "Write On" slider in the Text+ node? Yes, the Text+ node has a native "Write On" slider located under the "Text" tab. However, this native tool only reveals text letter-by-letter or word-by-word. It does not reveal the stroke of the letter dynamically. For a true handwriting simulation, you must use the Polygon mask method. ### How do I make the handwriting speed up or slow down? To adjust the speed, open the "Spline" editor in the top right of the Fusion interface. Check the box next to your Polygon node to reveal the keyframes. Select the keyframes and drag them closer together to speed up the writing, or further apart to slow it down. Press `S` to smooth the curve for a more natural writing cadence. ### Why is my mask revealing the background instead of the text? If your mask is cutting a hole in your text rather than revealing it, check the `Merge` node or the blue "Effect Mask" input on the `Text1` node. Ensure the mask is connected to the blue triangle (Mask Input) of the Text node, not the green or yellow inputs. In the Polygon node, ensure the "Invert" checkbox is not checked. By mastering the Polygon tool and stroke length animation in the Fusion page, you can create a highly customized, realistic handwriting effect that elevates your DaVinci Resolve projects.