Can I create this effect without Sapphire Plugin?

The reverse effect can be done without Sapphire, but the cinematic zoom blur requires S_BlurMoCurves or a similar plugin.

Why use Optical Flow?

Optical Flow generates smooth intermediate frames during reverse playback, preventing jitter.

Why keep clips under 1 second?

Short clips maintain rhythm and make the reverse transition impactful.

What type of footage works best?

Clips with minimal movement and strong central subjects work best.

DaVinci Resolve

Create Smooth Zoom & Reverse “Tiki Tiki” Effect in DaVinci Resolve (No After Effects)

Intermediate

9 mins

Kabeer Khan

Creator

Feb 21, 2026

Watch on YT

Overview

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create the Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve step by step using Fusion and the Sapphire plugin.

The Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve has become extremely popular on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts because of its cinematic reverse timing and punchy zoom motion.

Instead of using mobile apps or After Effects, we will create this Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve entirely inside DaVinci Resolve using:

Compound Clips
Optical Flow
Time Stretch in Fusion
S_BlurMoCurves (Sapphire Plugin)
Adjustment Clips

By the end of this guide, you’ll fully master the Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve and be able to recreate it for viral short-form content.

Tools Used

DaVinci Resolve

Fusion Page

Sapphire Plugin (S_BlurMoCurves)

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

14 Steps

Prepare Your Clips Properly

• Keep each clip under 1 second. Longer clips reduce the punch of the effect. • Use clips with minimal motion. Static shots or subtle movement work best. Avoid fast dancing or chaotic movement. • Cut your downloaded video into multiple short segments in the Edit page. The cleaner the clips, the smoother the final effect.

Create Compound Clips

Open the Media Pool. Create a new bin named “Compound.” Select each short clip. Right-click → New Compound Clip. This keeps each segment organized and ready for Fusion effects.

Open the First Compound Clip in Fusion

Right-click the first compound clip → Select Open in Fusion Page. We’ll now create the reverse timing effect.

Add Optical Flow Node

Press: Shift + Space Search for: Optical Flow Add it to the node tree. This ensures smooth frame interpolation during reverse playback.

Add Time Stretch Node

Press: Shift + Space Search for: Time Stretch Add it after Optical Flow. This node controls the reverse timing animation.

Create Reverse Keyframe Animation

Select the Time Stretch node. Go to frame 0. Reset the “Source Time” value. Now check total frames of your clip (example: 24 frames). Go to frame 13 (middle of clip). Set Source Time to total frames (example: 24). Go to last frame (example: frame 24). Set Source Time to 0. This creates a forward → reverse timing effect.

Refine Time Stretch Settings

With Time Stretch selected: • Change Interpolation Mode to Flow • Enable Clamp Edges This removes visual glitches.

Apply to All Clips

Copy the Optical Flow and Time Stretch nodes. Paste them onto all other compound clips. Important: Adjust keyframes depending on each clip’s frame length.

Add Adjustment Clip for Zoom

Go back to Edit Page. Go to Effects. Drag an Adjustment Clip above your compound clips. Place markers at the center of each clip. This will control the zoom pulse.

Add Sapphire Plugin – S_BlurMoCurves

In Effects, search: S_BlurMoCurves (Requires Sapphire Plugin — not built-in.) Drag it onto the Adjustment Clip.

Animate Z-Distance for Zoom

Select Adjustment Clip → Open Inspector. Find S_BlurMoCurves → Z-Distance. At center marker: • Set Z-Distance around 0.786 • Add keyframe At first and last frames: • Set Z-Distance to 1 This creates the zoom in and zoom out motion.

Smooth the Zoom Curve

Open Keyframes panel. Click curve icon. Select center keyframe. Apply: • Ease In • Ease Out Hold Shift and adjust handles to create an S-shaped curve. This gives cinematic smooth zoom.

Also, smooth out the keyframes of the Time Stretch node.

Duplicate & Adjust Zoom

Hold Alt and drag adjustment clip to duplicate. Adjust Z-Distance for each clip based on: • Subject size • Zoom target • Composition

Target Zoom Area Precisely

Select Adjustment Layer. Click: Open FX Overlay Now visually position the zoom over the face or subject. This makes the effect look intentional and professional. This completes the Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve and gives you a professional cinematic result ready for Shorts and Reels.

Interactive Gallery

Drag the slider to compare before and after results.

After

Before

Transformed basic short clips into viral “Tiki Tiki” style smooth reverse zoom transitions using Fusion and Sapphire plugin.

Transcript

In this video, I’m going to show you how to create the Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve without using After Effects or mobile apps.

First, make sure your clips are properly prepared. Each clip should be under one second because longer clips reduce the impact of the effect. This effect works best with minimal motion, such as static shots or subtle movements. Avoid fast-moving footage like dancing or heavy camera motion.

Once your clips are ready, cut them into short segments inside the Edit page.

Next, create a new bin inside your Media Pool and name it “Compound.” Select your cut clips, right-click, and choose “New Compound Clip.” This allows us to apply advanced effects individually to each segment.

Now right-click the first compound clip and select “Open in Fusion Page.”

Inside Fusion, press Shift + Space and search for Optical Flow. Add it to the node tree. Optical Flow helps generate smooth frame interpolation during reverse motion.

After that, press Shift + Space again and add a Time Stretch node.

Select the Time Stretch node. At frame 0, reset the Source Time value.

Now check your clip’s total frame count. For example, if it’s 24 frames:

Go to the middle frame (around frame 13) and set Source Time to 24.

Then go to the last frame and set Source Time back to 0.

This creates the forward and reverse motion.

Now change Interpolation Mode to “Flow” and enable “Clamp Edges.” This prevents visual glitches.

Repeat this process for all compound clips.

Now go back to the Edit page and add an Adjustment Clip above your clips.

Place a marker at the center of each clip.

Search for S_BlurMoCurves inside Effects. This is part of the Sapphire plugin.

Drag it onto the Adjustment Clip.

In the Inspector, locate Z-Distance.

At the center marker, set Z-Distance to around 0.786 and add a keyframe.

At the first and last frames, set Z-Distance to 1.

Open the Keyframes panel and smooth the animation by applying Ease In and Ease Out. Create an S-shaped curve for a more cinematic zoom.

You can duplicate the adjustment layer and tweak zoom intensity depending on your subject.

Use Open FX Overlay to visually position the zoom target, such as a face or main subject.

And that’s how you create the Smooth Zoom Reverse Tiki Tiki Effect in DaVinci Resolve.