Best way to bypass nodes until required?

When a comp has multiple pipelines based on (partially) the same footage and they need to be stitched sequentially, right now I use a Merge with its blend parameter keyed to be 0 and suddenly switch to 1 when the next pipeline should go through.

The problem is that it renders all pipelines, even though only one actually ends up in the final shot.

Is there a better way to do this? Can I sequence different pipelines using a single tool? How can I prevent invisible pipelines from rendering when they are being fully discarded in a merge?

I think dissolve doesn't render other pipe.

could also try SwitchFuse, allows you to have multiple inputs and select which one to use.

http://www.steakunderwater.com/VFXPedia ... escription

I think dissolve doesn't render other pipe.

I think it did and that's why I tried merge. But perhaps I set the wrong value. I should try again.

could also try SwitchFuse, allows you to have multiple inputs and select which one to use.

http://www.steakunderwater.com/VFXPedia ... escription

Good one. But I'm using the free version of Fusion. I think I read plugins are only available in the pro version.

thats right (compiled) plugins are supported only in the studio version, but fuses (= script plugins/compiled at runtime) are also supported in the free version

thats right (compiled) plugins are supported only in the studio version, but fuses (= script plugins/compiled at runtime) are also supported in the free version

That's a pleasant surprise! Thanks for clearing this up for me.