# SKEffectNode A node that renders its children into a separate buffer, optionally applying an effect, before drawing the final result. ``` class SKEffectNode ``` ## Overview An [`SKEffectNode`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode) object renders its children into a buffer and optionally applies a Core Image filter to this rendered output. Because effect nodes conform to [`SKWarpable`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKWarpable), you can also use them to apply distortions to nodes that don’t implement the protocol, such as shape and video nodes. Use effect nodes to incorporate sophisticated special effects into a scene or to cache the contents of a static subtree for faster rendering performance. Each time a new frame is rendered using the effect node, the effect node follows these steps: 1. It draws its children into a private framebuffer. 2. It applies a Core Image effect to the private framebuffer. This stage is optional; see the [`filter`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/filter) and [`shouldEnableEffects`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/shouldEnableEffects) properties. 3. It blends the contents of its private framebuffer into its parent’s framebuffer, using one of the standard sprite blend modes. 4. It discards its private framebuffer. This step is optional; see the [`shouldRasterize`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/shouldRasterize) property. ## Topics ### Applying Core Image Filters with an Effect Node [Applying Special Effects to a Node’s Children](/documentation/SpriteKit/applying-special-effects-to-a-node-s-children) Apply the Core Image suite of filters to child nodes of an effect node. [`filter`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/filter) The Core Image filter to apply. [`shouldEnableEffects`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/shouldEnableEffects) A Boolean value that determines whether the effect node applies the filter to its children as they are drawn. [`shouldCenterFilter`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/shouldCenterFilter) A Boolean value that determines whether the effect node automatically sets the filter’s image center. ### Warping Nodes with an Effect Node [Warping SpriteKit Content By Using an Effect Node](/documentation/SpriteKit/warping-spritekit-content-by-using-an-effect-node) Distort the child nodes of an effect node by applying a warping effect. ### Applying a Shader with an Effect Node Supply a code file that does custom per-pixel alteration or colorization of an effect node’s children. [`shader`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/shader) A custom shader that is called when the effect node is blended into the parent’s framebuffer. [`attributeValues`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/attributeValues) The values of each attribute associated with the node’s attached shader. [`- setValue:forAttributeNamed:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/setValue(_:forAttribute:)) Sets an attribute value for an attached shader. [`- valueForAttributeNamed:`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/value(forAttributeNamed:)) Gets the value of a shader attribute. ### Flattening an Effect Node’s Child Tree for Performance Improvement [Improving the Performance of Static Content](/documentation/SpriteKit/improving-the-performance-of-static-content) Flatten a portion of your node hierarchy to a single texture to improve performance. [`shouldRasterize`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/shouldRasterize) A Boolean value that indicates whether the results of rendering the child nodes should be cached. ### Configuring Alpha Blending Change how an effect node uses its alpha value, such as additive blending, that results in the sprite being brighter than it was before. [`blendMode`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKEffectNode/blendMode) The blend mode used to draw the node’s contents into its parent’s framebuffer. ## Relationships ### Conforms To [`CVarArg`](/documentation/Swift/CVarArg) [`CustomStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomStringConvertible) [`NSTouchBarProvider`](/documentation/AppKit/NSTouchBarProvider) [`NSCopying`](/documentation/Foundation/NSCopying) [`UIUserActivityRestoring`](/documentation/UIKit/UIUserActivityRestoring) [`NSCoding`](/documentation/Foundation/NSCoding) [`NSUserActivityRestoring`](/documentation/AppKit/NSUserActivityRestoring) [`SendableMetatype`](/documentation/Swift/SendableMetatype) [`UIFocusItemContainer`](/documentation/UIKit/UIFocusItemContainer) [`UIFocusItem`](/documentation/UIKit/UIFocusItem) [`UICoordinateSpace`](/documentation/UIKit/UICoordinateSpace) [`Sendable`](/documentation/Swift/Sendable) [`UIResponderStandardEditActions`](/documentation/UIKit/UIResponderStandardEditActions) [`NSStandardKeyBindingResponding`](/documentation/AppKit/NSStandardKeyBindingResponding) [`Hashable`](/documentation/Swift/Hashable) [`SKWarpable`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKWarpable) [`Equatable`](/documentation/Swift/Equatable) [`UIActivityItemsConfigurationProviding`](/documentation/UIKit/UIActivityItemsConfigurationProviding) [`UIFocusEnvironment`](/documentation/UIKit/UIFocusEnvironment) [`UIPasteConfigurationSupporting`](/documentation/UIKit/UIPasteConfigurationSupporting) [`CustomDebugStringConvertible`](/documentation/Swift/CustomDebugStringConvertible) [`NSSecureCoding`](/documentation/Foundation/NSSecureCoding) [`NSObjectProtocol`](/documentation/ObjectiveC/NSObjectProtocol) ### Inherits From [`SKNode`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKNode) ### Inherited By [`SKScene`](/documentation/SpriteKit/SKScene) --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. 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