Grain Node

Grain applies a fairly simple procedural grain to the image. It is set up with Power, RGB Difference, Grain Size, Grain Spacing, and a Spread tab that lets you shape the grain by tonal range.

It stays in Fusion so older projects do not break. Its features are less advanced than the modern Film Grain (which offers more per-channel control and a better film simulation).

• Effects Library: Tools > Film > Grain
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > Film > Grain

Grain (legacy)

The older node, simple setup, more uniform grain. Keep it only for existing comps or compatibility.

Film Grain (recommended)

A more precise model, separate control per R/G/B channel (Size, Strength, Lift/Gamma/Gain), realistic luminance response. The one to use for modern projects.

Rule of thumb: new projects → Film Grain. Legacy comp → keep Grain so you do not break the look.

• Input (orange) - the 2D image that receives the grain.
• Effect Mask (blue) - optional. A mask that limits the grain to certain areas (polygons, bitmap, paint strokes).

Restoring grain after degraining:
MediaIn → Remove Noise (clean)
       → Color Corrector
       → Grain (bring back a little texture before export)
       → MediaOut

Classic film grain restoration:
Degrained footage → Grain (moderate Power, strong blue Spread)
                → MediaOut

Keeping a legacy comp:
[Existing comp with Grain]
   = do not change it, keep it so the established look
   stays the same

Power

Overall visibility of the grain. Controls how strongly it is applied.

RGB Difference (Red / Green / Blue)

Individual sliders per channel to adjust the grain intensity for each color layer.

Grain Size

Size of the grain particles. Adapt it to the resolution and the style you want.

Grain Spacing

Spacing / density of the grain. Changes the distribution.

Aspect Ratio

Lets you adapt the grain to anamorphic footage (non-square ratio).

Alpha-Multiply

When enabled, multiplies the image by its alpha channel to remove the grain in transparent areas.

The Spread tab exposes curves to control the grain by tonal range (shadows, midtones, highlights) on each channel.

RGB Checkboxes

Enable individual curves per channel. Lets you mimic film by adding more grain in the blue than in the red.

In / Out Controls

Numeric editing of the curve points for absolute precision.

• Restoring grain after cleanup - footage degrained in post (Remove Noise) → reinject a little grain to avoid the "too clean" effect before export.
• Compatibility with legacy comps - older projects using Grain that must stay as they are so the approved look does not change.
• Simple film look - for cases where Film Grain is overkill, Grain gives an acceptable result quickly.

• Blue stronger than red - for an authentic film look, set up the distribution with more grain in the blue than in the red.
• Prefer Film Grain for new work - if you are starting a new comp, use Film Grain rather than Grain. More modern and flexible.
• Always at the end of the chain - grain goes right before MediaOut, not at the start. Otherwise the following operations (blur, color) change how it looks.
• Alpha-Multiply for transparent areas - enable it if you are working on transparent elements to avoid grain in empty space.
• For more realism by tonal range, use the Spread tab rather than a uniform Grain.