Washed-out colors, tracking issues, low-quality sound, distortion, terrible subtitles… the VHS format had all that. But at the same time it delivered warmth, the excitement of searching for something new at the video store, the ability to record, to rewrite, to create. Today, the VHS effect is very popular among those who want a nostalgic spark, and if the idea of using it on your videos and photos interests you, perhaps you should download a copy of NTSCqt.
A couple of months ago we explained how to distort images and animated GIFs using PhotoMosh, one of the best online platforms for adding effects. It is also worth mentioning that PhotoMosh supports short MP4 videos, which opens up a whole range of possibilities… including a reduction in quality.
Sometimes, modern high-definition videos are too clean, too “perfect” as it were. If you want to share a short based on a retro console (say, a 1996 Nintendo 64), chances are you want to add something more… distortions, glitches. Back then we played on CRT televisions and RCA or RF connections that, in some setups, also had to go through a VHS player. So why not bring those visual details back? To do that, you will need need a copy of NTSCqt, which helps us create a VHS effect on videos and photos.
NTSCqt: Great Tool for Creating a VHS Effect
One of the most interesting aspects of NTSCqt is the number of advanced parameters it offers to the user, especially if we click on Pro Mode. The program has support for importing or exporting presets, some of which come pre-configured (yobelkcip, Master Nama, RGM), and it is not hard to find more on the web, but the best part is experimenting with each slider and seeing for ourselves how damaged or distorted we want the material to be. If in doubt, the tutorials available on the official page are an excellent starting point.
Now, if you prefer not to fight with all those sliders, the most convenient option is to choose a random seed number. The maximum value is 99, and by enabling Compare Mode you can split the image in two to see its original quality against the impact of the adjustments. The last step is to save the changes, either by rendering a complete video in MP4 format, or by keeping a single frame as a PNG image. NTSCqt is free and open source. Link below!
Official site and download: Click here
