How to Easily Make a CRT TV Effect in Premiere Pro

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a vintage CRT TV effect in Adobe Premiere Pro. This effect mimics the nostalgic look of cathode ray tube televisions, adding a unique aesthetic to your videos. Whether you're aiming for a retro vibe or enhancing a project with a vintage touch, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

• Open Adobe Premiere Pro and create a new project.
• Import the video clip you want to edit.
• Drag the clip to the timeline to start working on it.

Step 2: Add the Distortion Effect

• Go to the Effects panel.
• Search for "Distort."
• Drag the Warp Stabilizer effect onto your clip. This will help create the CRT look by simulating the distortions often found in older TVs.

Step 3: Adjust the Effect Settings

• Select your clip in the timeline.
• In the Effect Controls panel, find the Warp Stabilizer effect.
• Adjust the following settings:
  • Smoothness: Set this to a low value (around 10-20%) to maintain some natural movement.
  • Crop Less, Smooth More: This can be adjusted according to the amount of distortion you want.

Step 4: Create the Scan Lines

• Search for "Color Correction" effects in the Effects panel.
• Drag the Brightness & Contrast effect onto your clip.
• In the Effect Controls panel, reduce the brightness slightly (around -10 to -15).
• Increase the contrast to enhance the scan lines effect.

Step 5: Add a Vignette Effect

• Search for "Vignette" in the Effects panel.
• Apply the Lens Distortion effect to your clip.
• In the Effect Controls, adjust the Curvature settings to create a subtle vignette.
• Experiment with the Amount to achieve the desired darkness around the edges.

Step 6: Apply a Noise Filter

• Search for "Noise" in the Effects panel.
• Drag the Noise effect onto your clip.
• In the Effect Controls, adjust the Amount of Noise to a low percentage (around 5-10%) to add texture reminiscent of older TV displays.

Step 7: Final Adjustments

• Play through the video to see how the CRT effect looks.
• Make any necessary adjustments to the effects you applied to achieve the desired vintage aesthetic.
• Consider tweaking colors using the Lumetri Color panel for a more authentic look.

Conclusion

You have now successfully created a CRT TV effect in Adobe Premiere Pro! This effect can enhance the vintage feel of your videos, making them stand out. Remember to experiment with the settings to personalize the effect further. For more advanced techniques, consider exploring additional color grading and effects. Happy editing!