Give your videos a retro, analog style
If you've been searching for a VHS or film grain filter, this is it. "Analog" is an AI Edit style that produces that gritty, lo-fi look of VHS tape. It's warm, raw, and unmistakably retro.
What it looks like:
A grainy, nostalgic feel
Analog wraps footage in the visual language of 35mm photography and VHS tape. B-roll sits inside a CRT monitor visual, making every cut feel cinematic.
Retro titles and type
Old-school graphic language sets Analog videos apart from more contemporary aesthetics. TV-style title bars and bold captions help your message pop.
Scroll-stopping style
Analog gives your content a creative energy that stands out in polished feeds. It makes your videos look crafted, not just edited.
Create it fast with Captions
Our AI Edit feature turns any footage into a fully-edited video. Just upload your footage to Captions, and pick the "Analog" style from the style library. Captions' AI editor will intelligently apply the Analog aesthetic to your entire video at once.
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Behind the Analog aesthetic
That found footage aesthetic is everywhere right now in fashion and streetwear. Captions built it into a single template so you don't need hours in an editing timeline to get there. With Analog as your visual signature, you instantly communicate edge and authenticity. We've seen it work especially well for product drops, motivational content and fashion edits.
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Frequently asked questions
When should I use the Analog style?
Use Analog for content with a nostalgic feel or lo-fi quality. It gives your video more of an archival quality. If you'd rather achieve a cinematic quality, try the Film style instead.
What's the lo-fi retro video aesthetic called?
The look is often called the analog aesthetic, retro aesthetic, or lo-fi video style. We named our version "Analog" to reflect that videos look like they were made during analog eras with older cameras or videocameras.
What is the analog video aesthetic?
The analog aesthetic replicates the visual qualities of pre-digital recording — film grain, VHS scan-line distortions, warm desaturated color grading, and the textural imperfections of optical and magnetic media. These elements come from 35mm film, VHS cassettes, and 1980s–90s broadcast TV. In digital content, creators use them deliberately to signal authenticity and nostalgia in an era where most video looks algorithmically clean and over-produced.
How do you add film grain and VHS effects to a video?
In professional editing software like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro, film grain is added using built-in noise effects and layering a grain texture overlay at low opacity. For a VHS look, use scan-line overlays, slight chromatic aberration, and a soft horizontal blur simulate tape degradation.
You can often find these packs in professional editors to help you customize the look. If you'd rather edit quicker or don't have professional editing experience, try more preset styles or templates instead. Captions offers a much easier way to add a VHS or film grain filter. Use the Analog AI Edit style to apply the entire style at once.
Does the retro aesthetic work for all content types?
No — the analog and VHS aesthetic is strongly associated with fashion, personal brand, and nostalgia-driven content. It tends to feel out of place in contexts where credibility and clarity matter more, like healthcare, finance, education, or professional services. It works best when the creator's identity already has retro, underground, or countercultural associations: streetwear, vintage fashion, lo-fi music content, or personal brand reels where imperfection signals authenticity rather than lack of effort.
Does the retro VHS aesthetic work for Instagram Reels and TikTok?
Yes, it really pops. Film grain and CRT textures create strong visual contrast against the polished content most creators post, making your video stand out as viewers scroll. It performs especially well for fashion drops, montages, and motivation content. To recreate the VHS look fast, use Captions' Instagram Reel generator or TikTok maker to make your video. You can create the entire video and edit it in one go, in just a few taps.