Scale Node

Scale works with relative factors. Size = 1.0 changes nothing. Size = 2.0 doubles the resolution (Width × 2, Height × 2 = 4x more pixels). Size = 0.5 halves it.

Like Resize, it physically changes the resolution of the flow - downstream nodes receive an image at the new size. Simpler but less flexible than Resize (which accepts any absolute dimensions).

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

Scale

Relative factor (0.5, 2, etc.). Changes the resolution proportionally. Quick setup.

Resize

Absolute dimensions (3840×2160). More flexible (any resolution). More precise for format conversion.

Transform

Does not change the resolution. It only scales the appearance. For animation, placement.

Rule: quickly multiply by a factor → Scale. Exact resolution (4K, 1080p) → Resize. Animation or placement → Transform.

• Input (orange) - 2D image to scale.

No Effect Mask. Scale applies to the whole image.

50% downscale for preview:
MediaIn → Scale (Size 0.5) → expensive effects → Scale (Size 2.0) → MediaOut

Simple 2x upscale:
MediaIn → Scale (Size 2.0, Lanczos) → MediaOut

Non-uniform scale (stretch):
MediaIn → Scale (Lock OFF, X Size 1.2, Y Size 0.9) → MediaOut
       (image stretched horizontally)

Lock X/Y

On (default): a single Size slider scales X and Y proportionally. Off: separate X Size and Y Size sliders for asymmetric scaling.

Size

Uniform multiplier. 1.0 = unchanged, 2.0 = double, 0.5 = half, 0.25 = quarter.

X Size / Y Size (Lock OFF)

Independent multipliers per axis. Allows non-uniform stretching/squashing.

Filter Method

Interpolation algorithm (Box, Linear, Catmull-Rom, Lanczos, Sinc, etc.). Lanczos for quality, Catmull-Rom for downscaling with subtle sharpening.

Pixel Aspect

Optional pixel aspect ratio adjustment.

HiQ Rendering

Enables higher quality options for the final render.

Window Method

For advanced filters (Sinc, Bessel): Hanning, Hamming, Blackman, Kaiser. Refines how the filters behave at the edges.

• Downscaling by a simple factor - Scale 0.5 to halve the resolution. Faster to set up than an absolute Resize (no need to compute 1920/2 = 960).
• Intermediate render optimization - 4K flow → Scale 0.5 → heavy effects → Scale 2.0 → 4K. 4x faster processing while you work, with an acceptable final upscale.
• Double resolution for a specific effect - for an element you will zoom into later (Transform), scale it 2x first with Scale, then Transform with Size 0.5 = better quality when zooming.
• Anamorphic stretch - Lock OFF, X Size 1.33, Y Size 1.0 = horizontal stretch (anamorphic cinema look or pixel ratio compensation).
• Matching a resolution by factor - 3840×2160 input → Scale 0.5 = exactly 1920×1080. Faster than an absolute Resize.
• A more efficient double-pass blur - Scale 0.5 → wide Blur (at half res) → Scale 2.0 = a blur effectively 2x larger than the same operation at full resolution, for a lower cost.

• Scale 2.0 + Scale 0.5 ≠ identity - each scale loses a bit of information through resampling. Repeating it causes cumulative blur.
• Lanczos for upscaling, Catmull-Rom for downscaling - the same rules as Resize apply.
• Lock ON by default - avoids accidental stretching. Turn it off only for specific cases (anamorphic, squash).
• Scale vs Resize: a practical choice - if you know the factor you want (2x, 0.5x), Scale. If you know the exact resolution you want, Resize.
• No Keep Centered - Scale grows/shrinks from the top-left corner by default. To scale around the visual center, combine it with a Transform.
• Scale down for preview, then reverse - a classic optimization: Scale 0.5 at the head of the flow, Scale 2.0 just before MediaOut = a 2x faster pipeline with acceptable final quality.
• For precise non-integer factors (e.g. 1.779), Resize with absolute dimensions is more predictable than Scale.