Vortex Node

Vortex applies a rotation that varies with the distance from the center: pixels at the center get a strong rotation, those at the edge little or none. The result: a very distinctive spiral effect.

Used for bold visual moments: going through a portal, a dreamlike transition, depicting a tornado or a hurricane, a galaxy effect. Power lets you control the concentration - a wide, soft vortex vs a tight, intense one.

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

• Primary Input (orange) - the 2D image to swirl.
• Effect Mask (blue) - optional. Constrains the vortex to an area (e.g. only inside a window or around a character).

Spiral transition:
MediaIn → Vortex (Angle animated 0° → 720° over 48 frames) → MediaOut
(animation: the image swirls and then settles)

Portal / black hole:
MediaIn → Vortex (Center in the middle, Angle 360°, high Power) → MediaOut

Tornado following a subject:
MediaIn → Vortex (animated Center, following the subject) → MediaOut

Dreamlike dream sequence:
MediaIn → Vortex (large Size, moderate Angle)
       → subtle Blur
       → Color Corrector (bluish tint) → MediaOut

Center X / Y

Position of the vortex center in the frame. Default 0.5, 0.5 = image center. Animate it to move the swirl through the scene.

Size

Radius of the affected area. Small = a local vortex (e.g. in a corner), large = a vortex that covers the whole image.

Angle

Strength of the swirl, in degrees. Higher = stronger rotation at the center. 360° = a full rotation at the center, 0° = no swirl.

Power

Concentration of the effect. Low = a soft swirl that reaches far out. High = a tight swirl concentrated at the center, with almost no effect at the edges.

• Spiral transition between two shots - Vortex + Dissolve animated in parallel: the image swirls until it becomes unreadable, then the new shot appears. A classic motion graphics transition.
• Hurricane / tornado - Vortex with a moderate Power + an animated Center that crosses the screen = a tornado passing through.
• Black hole / sci-fi portal - high Power, high Angle, moderate Size = a black hole sucking things in, or an interdimensional portal.
• Dream sequence - soft Vortex + Blur + tint = a blurry, swirling dreamlike mood.
• Galaxy / cosmic effect - Vortex with a high Power + an image of particles/stars as the input = an animated spiral galaxy.
• Abstract motion graphics - Vortex layered over an animated texture (Fast Noise) = dynamic psychedelic patterns.
• Drain (water flowing out) - Vortex on a water shot + animated Angle = a simulation of water draining away.

• Animate Angle for transitions - 0° → 720° (2 turns) over 48 frames = a fast spin transition. 0° → 1440° (4 turns) over 96 frames = slower and more hypnotic.
• Power 1-3 = standard use, Power 5+ = an effect concentrated at the center, almost nothing at the edges.
• Animated Center for movement - make the vortex travel across the image = a moving tornado effect.
• Negative Angle for the opposite direction - positive Angle = clockwise, negative Angle = counterclockwise. Try both to stay consistent with the scene.
• Combine with other warps - Vortex + Displace (heat haze) on the same shot = a combined effect for a surreal mood.
• Effect Mask for a localized vortex - only swirl a specific area (a window, a materialized portal) by connecting a polygon mask.
• Light Blur after the Vortex - smooths out resampling artifacts, especially at the center where the distortion is strong.
• For a complex galaxy / spiral look, combine several Vortex nodes with different Centers and Powers - it gives richer multi-level spirals.