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Sticky Note Node

By Kriss Norde

The Sticky Note is a virtual post-it placed in the Fusion node graph. It does not process any image - it is only a visual comment to annotate, explain, or leave notes for yourself or your collaborators. Essential in complex comps to keep the chain readable.

Overview

Sticky Note appears as a colored rectangle in the node graph holding a title and free text. No input or output - it lives outside the image flow. Its value is purely organizational.

It lets you document an area of the graph ("This is where we handle the green screen"), explain a non-obvious choice ("Intentional blur to match the plate"), or leave a TODO ("Revise after the client brief").

Where to find this node

  • Effects Library: Tools > Organization > Sticky Note
  • Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > Organization > Sticky Note
  • Typical shortcut: the S key (depending on the project mapping).

Sticky Note vs Underlay

Sticky Note
A discreet post-it, fixed size, mostly holding text. It does not group nodes, it only annotates.
Underlay
A visual grouping area that encloses several nodes. It gives a cluster a title and a background color.

Rule of thumb: a one-off note → Sticky Note. Visually grouping several nodes → Underlay.

Setup

Annotated keying workflow:
[Sticky Note "Cleanup keying"]
       │
[MediaIn] → [Color Corrector] → [Ultra Keyer]
                                     │
                                [Sticky Note "Spill removal" ]

Documentation for the client:
[Sticky Note "Final version - Brief 2024-04-12"]
[MediaIn] → [rest of the comp]

TODO list inside the comp:
[Sticky Note "TODO:
 - Fix the roto at frame 240
 - Update the grade after the client brief
 - Check the shot match with shot B"]

Controls tab

Title (default: "Note")
Title of the sticky, shown in bold at the top. Keep it short and descriptive.
Comment (default: empty)
The comment text, multi-line. It can hold paragraphs, lists, etc.
Color (default: Yellow)
Background color of the note. Use different colors for different categories: yellow = info, red = warning, green = done, blue = todo.
Width / Height
Size of the sticky in pixels. Adjust it to show more content without scrolling.

Use cases

  • Documentation for collaborators - explain the reasoning behind a complex chain to a teammate who will take over.
  • Versioning notes - note the version date, the matching brief, and the changes since the previous version.
  • Built-in TODO list - a sticky with the remaining tasks, visible as soon as you open the comp.
  • Critical warnings - a red sticky to highlight something not to forget ("Do not change - tracking approved by the client").
  • Explaining a non-obvious choice - why this 0.7 blur? Why this color correction at -10 saturation? A sticky keeps people from drawing the wrong conclusions.
  • The equivalent of a code comment - like comments in code, to explain the intent rather than the mechanics.

Tips

  • Keep the title short - the title stays visible even when the sticky is small. 2-4 words max.
  • Consistent color code - pick a team convention (red = problem, green = approved, yellow = info, blue = todo) and stick to it for readability.
  • Next to the relevant node - place the sticky right next to the node (or group) it documents. Not isolated at the bottom of the graph.
  • Multi-line for TODOs - the Comment supports multiple lines. List items cleanly rather than writing one long sentence.
  • No impact on performance - purely visual, it costs nothing at render time. Add as many as you need.
  • No markdown - the text is plain text, with no formatting. Use ASCII separators ("---", "*") if you need visual structure.
  • For large visual groupings, prefer the Underlay, which encloses several nodes in a titled colored area.