VFX Exposed Parameters
Updated: 3 Feb 2026
VFX Exposed Parameters
VFX Exposed Parameters allow external applications to control data in a VFX Block, allowing Notch content to be reactive and dynamic to the data supplied, in real time.
Exposing a parameter creates a pathway for external DCCs (Digital Content Creation tools) such as Adobe After Effects to override specific properties in the exported VFX Block, which can replaces videos, numerical values, and other basic properties.
How to Expose a VFX parameter #
To expose a parameter, mouse over the parameter in the Property Editor and select [VFX] Expose To VFX Block.
Once a property is exposed, the data it represents will be completely overwritten by the data from the DCC (Digital Content Creation tool). You can manage all of your Exposed Parameters from the VFX Exposed Node.
What should I expose? #
- For a video texture input: expose the “Video” property of a Video Loader.
- For a numeric value: expose the “Value” property (not Current Value) on a Value node.
- For a colour value: expose the “Colour” property on the Colour node.
VFX Blocks support Video, Text, Numeric, Option Selection and Colour parameters only
Sharing Exposed Values Between Multiple Compositions #
By default, each Exposed Parameter will be created as a unique parameter that is accessible only in the composition that it is exposed in.
However, it can be useful to have a single parameter that is shared between multiple compositions, for example if you have a parameter which controls something global such as brightness, it makes sense to share this Exposed Parameter across some, or all of the compositions. This way changing the value in one composition will also change it in all others sharing that Exposed Parameter.
The way you can control which parameters are shared and which are not, is by setting the “Unique IDs” of each parameter. If two Exposed Parameters in different compositions share the same Unique ID, then they will be linked.
By default, exposing a parameter will assign it with its own distinct Unique ID. So to connect a parameter to another one, you must copy and paste its Unique ID into the “Unique Id” field of the other.
When you copy and paste any node that has Exposed Parameters inside of Notch, you will be asked if you want to make it’s exposed properties unique. If you want your newly pasted node to share the Exposed Parameter’s Unique IDs with the node you have just copied, press no. If you want to control this node’s Exposed Parameters separately, click yes.
Exposed Parameters Best Practices #
VFX Exposed Parameters give you complete control of your looks in real time, but there a few considerations that can help maximise their effectiveness. This page contains some guidance, that you are free to ignore, for how to approach Exposed Parameters.
Layout of Nodegraph #
The way you layout your Nodegraph as you add Exposed Parameters is important to making sure that it makes sense when you need to come back to it, or people are looking at it for the first time. When you expose properties on a node directly, it can be hard to see at a glance what is being controlled, and from where.
One alternative to exposing the property directly, is to add a separate node, and then connect that to the property you want to control. The new node’s value can then be exposed instead of the one in the target node . This allows you more freedom to arrange the exposed node in the Nodegraph, which in tern allows you to arrange things more clearly by:
It can also be useful to keep all exposed properties together in the Nodegraph, with Comments and Regions to explain what controls what. Bridge nodes can also aid this workflow, by reducing the visible lines in the graph, and therefore reducing clutter.
Layout of Groups #
Once a Notch VFX Block is loaded inside of a DCC (Digital Content Creation tool), the Exposed Parameters and the groups they belong to will be visible for the active composition. Groups are a good way to make it clear to anyone programming a VFX block what does what.
If several properties relate to one function, group them together so it is clear that they work together. Groups (and parameters inside of groups) can be re-ordered by clicking and dragging them inside of the Exposed Node’s properties.
VFX Blocks support: 4 Groups, 8 Properties per group and 32 Options per drop down (Enum / Resource)
Edit groups #
To make a new group, click on the “group dropdown” in the Exposed VFX Node’s property editor menu.
Now click “+ Create Group”.
Once the new group is created you can rename it by clicking the pencil icon next to the name.
Useful Modifiers and Modifier Operations #
Modifiers are a really useful way to map one Exposed Parameter to multiple elements in your Nodegraph. This can give you one control in your DCC (Digital Content Creation tool) that can be scaled and adjusted to give a big change in the overall look of your scene. Some of the useful modifiers for this are:
- Smooth Value Modifier: smooths and scales a value over time. Useful for smoothing out fader movements or noise in the system.
- Range Remap: Remaps a value to a new range. Useful for re-scaling the incoming value to a new maximum and minimum.
- Combiner: Lets you combine an exposed value with another value.
- Expression: Lets you write a mathematical expression to adjust an Exposed Parameter.
Each modifier node has an “operation” property. This will change the way in which it modifies the parameter it controls. You can change this to have a modifier add, subtract, multiply or replace the value of the property it is modifying. This is something else worth considering when you’re setting up your Exposed Parameters.