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| photo credit: nodemill.co |
In cinematic and high-end video work, lens characteristics play a huge role in establishing the visual narrative. But what if you don’t own every vintage lens or can’t capture every lens artifact in camera? That’s where LensNode by Node Mill shines. It’s a plugin for DaVinci Resolve (macOS and Windows) designed to simulate—and even invent—lens signatures with precision and creative control.
More info: https://www.nodemill.co
What Is LensNode?
LensNode is a lens-simulation plugin that models real optical traits (coma, distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, bloom, bokeh, etc.) using data captured from real lenses, then lets you mix, exaggerate, or custom-tune those effects. Its GPU acceleration ensures fast playback and renders, and it’s made to slot cleanly into color grading and VFX pipelines.
It also includes a “Lite” version for users who want fast, stylized results with minimal tweaking.
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| photo credit: nodemill.co |
Core Features of LensNode
Real Lens Presets & Profiles
LensNode comes with an expanding library of lens profiles modeled from real lenses. Each profile captures minute details—optical aberrations, vignettes, color casts—that give your footage authentic lens character.
Mix & Match Traits
One of its standout features is the ability to blend different lens traits. Want the coma from a vintage Zeiss lens but the distortion of a modern anamorphic? With LensNode, that’s possible.
Overdrive Slider & Animation
A single slider lets you exaggerate or dial back your chosen lens effect. Every parameter is animatable, giving you dynamic transitions across your timeline.
High-Fidelity Effects
LensNode handles:
Coma / comatic aberration (shape, hue, direction)
Distortion, auto-scaled to frame
Chromatic aberration with hue-accurate splitting
Bokeh blur, including swirly and edge behavior
Vignette & color cast with subtle hue shifts
Bloom / diffusion with exponential falloff
Fringing across contrast edges
These are all captured and processed at high precision (14-bit color, etc.).
Granular Control, Masking & Stacking
You can fine-tune each effect parameter, stack multiple LensNode instances, mask with power windows, or selectively limit effects to parts of the frame.
Performance & Workflow Integration
LensNode is GPU-powered for fast, real-time performance. It keeps color spaces and out-of-range values intact, making it friendly for ACES and advanced grading workflows. Just drag and drop into your node graph in Resolve and go.
LensNode Lite
If you prefer a more streamlined approach, LensNode Lite offers 8 curated presets (based on combinations of lens traits) with fewer controls. Great for rapid stylization without complexity.
Who Should Use LensNode?
Colorists / VFX Artists wanting to integrate realistic lens effects in post
Filmmakers / Editors who lack certain lens hardware but want cinematic signatures
Creative Directors / Stylists desiring unique lens looks (creative exaggeration)
Post houses / studios needing consistent, customizable lens effects without renting lenses
System Requirements & Licensing
macOS: Requires macOS 14+, Metal 3, DaVinci Resolve 18.6+, plus internet connection
Windows: Windows 10 or 11, an NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support, Resolve 18.6+, internet connection
License: One-time purchase (permanent license) includes all future updates
photo credit: nodemill.co
Example Use Cases & Tips
Vintage lens recreation: Use presets from classic lenses, combine traits, and animate transitions over time.
Hyper-stylized effects: Use Overdrive to exaggerate lens aberrations for sci-fi or surreal visuals.
Partial effects: Use masks to apply lens flare, vignette or distortion selectively (e.g. edges only).
Stacking creative lenses: Combine two or more LensNode effects chained for experimental looks.
photo credit: nodemill.co
Call to Action & Closing
If you’re working in DaVinci Resolve and want to unlock true lens control—beyond LUTs and overlays—LensNode by Node Mill is an exceptional tool. With realistic optical simulation, creative flexibility, and high performance, it’s a smart investment for filmmakers, colorists, and post artists alike.
Ready to try? Visit Node Mill to download LensNode or LensNode Lite, explore demos, and decide which license fits your workflow best.
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