When you work with tools as flexible as the Lume Cube Tube Light Mini or Tube Light XL, it doesn’t take long before you start experimenting. These lights don’t just illuminate a scene—they open creative doors. In one of my recent projects, I realized the Tube Light could act as both a practical light source and a visual effects prop, letting me create a full “lightsaber” look without any Hollywood gear.

Here’s exactly how I built the effect using nothing more than the Tube Light and a few simple nodes inside DaVinci Resolve.

How I Turned the Lume Cube Tube Light Into a Cinematic “Lightsaber” Effect in DaVinci Resolve

When you work with tools as flexible as the Lume Cube Tube Light Mini or Tube Light XL, it doesn’t take long before you start experimenting. These lights don’t just illuminate a scene—they open creative doors. In one of my recent projects, I realized the Tube Light could act as both a practical light source and a visual effects prop, letting me create a full “light saber” look without any Hollywood gear.

Here’s exactly how I built the effect using nothing more than the Tube Light and a few simple nodes inside DaVinci Resolve.

Why the Lume Cube Tube Light Is the Perfect Practical Prop

Before even getting into software, the Tube Light’s design sets you up for an effortless effect. It’s bright, even, lightweight, and incredibly responsive—qualities that directly influence how believable your final VFX shot becomes.

Because the Tube Light reacts instantly as it turns on, your face and environment pick up real illumination that enhances the digital glow you’ll add later. This is the key to blending practical lighting with effects to make everything look seamless.

Step 1: Use the Tube Light as the Practical “Saber”

I shot the effect using the Tube Light XL, but the Mini works just as well thanks to its brightness and consistency.

I timed the downward swing of my hand with the exact moment I switched the Tube Light on. This gave me a natural flare of real light across my face—a perfectly timed cue that sells the illusion in the final composite.

Tip: The more your practical light interacts with your movement, the more authentic the final shot looks.

Step 2: Build the Blade in Fusion

Once the footage was in DaVinci Resolve, I jumped into the Fusion tab and created a simple mask right over the Tube Light. That mask becomes the “blade.”

A few notes from my process:

• I kept the mask pure white as a clean starting point.

• I animated the mask frame-by-frame to follow the exact movement of the Tube Light.

• No need for complex tracking—just match the motion closely.

This creates the core structure of the saber.

Step 3: Add Glow, Color & Style

Now for the fun part: the glow.

I added a Glow node and instantly got that signature blooming effect that sells the saber look. I lightly feathered the mask so the glow rolled off naturally rather than creating a sharp edge.

Because I used the Tube Light’s green setting during filming, I colored the glow green to match—but you can match any Tube Light color or build something totally custom.

If you want extra intensity or softness, stack a second Glow node for more control.

Step 4: Blend Practical Light With Your VFX

This is the step that makes everything feel real. Because the Tube Light actually turned on in the shot, the light hitting my face wasn’t fake—it was practical.

The glowing blade added in Fusion simply enhances what was already there.
This natural blend of physical light + digital glow is what makes the effect convincing.

Optional: Remove the Tube Light for a Floating Blade

In my version, I kept the Tube Light visible to show the origin of the effect. But if you prefer a pure floating blade:

• Mask out the Tube Light using a polygon mask

• Pipe it into a Merge node with the background

• Slightly feather the mask to hide edges

This leaves only your glowing blade and the practical light reaction on your face.

Simple, clean, and surprisingly quick.

Other Options:

• Add lens flare & experiment with color variations

• Play with different types of color 
  

Why the Tube Light Mini & XL Are So Versatile

This effect worked so well because the Tube Light plays multiple roles at once:

• It’s a prop you can swing, hold, or animate around your shot

• It’s an even, diffused light source that reacts naturally in-camera

• It doubles as a VFX reference tool thanks to its brightness and shape

• It can instantly shift color to match any visual effect you’re building

Few lights can act as a practical, a prop, and a VFX foundation all at the same time. That versatility is what makes the Tube Light lineup such a powerful tool for creators.

Final Thoughts

This entire effect was built using:

• One practical Tube Light

• A mask

• A glow

• A bit of animation

No plugins. No 3D modeling. No huge setup.

Whether you’re building a fun TikTok clip, shooting a short film, or creating educational content, the Lume Cube Tube Light Mini and Tube Light XL give you a cinematic starting point with endless creative potential.