That retro filter plugin that totally broke my render times

I tried using that free 'Film Grain Pro' plugin from 2017 on a 4K timeline last week, thinking it'd add some nice nostalgia to a wedding video I did in Portland. Instead of a subtle look, it choked my computer so bad that a 3-minute clip took over 4 hours to export, and the grain looked more like TV static than actual film. I guess I learned to always test plugins on a short clip first before committing to the whole project. Has anyone else found a lightweight alternative that doesn't fry your system?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot_johnson317d ago

3-minute clip took over 4 hours to export"... sounds like you unlocked the secret to time travel. Back to 1999 dial-up speeds. I fell for that same trap with a plugin called "RetroReel." Promised 8mm magic. Gave me a slideshow at 2fps and a GPU fan that sounded like a jet engine taking off. Try Davinci Resolve's built-in film grain. It's lighter than a feather and doesn't demand your firstborn child for a render.

verawhite7d ago

Oh man, 'jet engine taking off' - that's exactly what my old PC sounded like when I tried to run that 'VintageVibes' plugin. I thought I was making art, turns out I was just giving my computer a heart attack. Actually reminds me of this time I tried to film a short on a flip phone from 2007. The quality was so bad it looked like a security camera from a haunted house. But hey, at least it exported in under a minute. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways, even if they look like garbage.