FILM GRAIN

DCTL

This DCTL reproduces the organic texture and tonal behavior of real film. Its non-repeating, multi-layered grain structure reacts naturally to exposure and color, blending seamlessly with the image instead of sitting on top. Balanced RGB correlation ensures cohesive color, while resolution-aware scaling keeps the texture consistent. Optimized for real-time performance, it delivers a refined, cinematic grain that enhances digital footage with authentic film character.

Developed with the goal of achieving the most natural and visually pleasing film grain possible in digital form.

FILM DIRT

DCTLS

Both DIRT DCTLs offer a wide range of controls to shape the look and behavior of film dirt, dust, and fibers. You can adjust the frequency, size, and overall intensity of the effect, as well as fine-tune how it blends with the image. The included preview options, such as Gray Background and Fill Screen, make it easy to see your adjustments clearly while you work. Together, these tools provide a flexible and intuitive way to add authentic analog imperfections to digital footage.

VIGNETTE

DCTLS

Both Vignette DCTLs offer detailed control over image shaping and edge falloff. You can adjust parameters such as size, strength, and falloff to define the light distribution, or refine the look with controls like Border Roundness, Anamorphic Stretch, and Offset. Preview options such as Gray Background help visualize the shape precisely while working.

HALATION

DCTL

Halation is a film phenomenon where intense light penetrates the emulsion, scatters within the base, and causes a faint secondary exposure. This reflection primarily affects the red layer of color film, creating a subtle red-orange fringe around bright sources or high-contrast edges. The hue and intensity of this effect can shift with white balance or grading, echoing the behavior of real film stocks.

This DCTL recreates this scattering with adjustable controls for size, intensity, hue, saturation, and threshold. A Halation Checker assists in isolating affected areas, while multiple transfer functions ensure accurate color management across workflows.

CHROMATIC ABERRATION

DCTL

Chromatic aberration occurs when a lens fails to bring all wavelengths of light into focus at the same point. Each color bends at a slightly different angle as it passes through the glass, producing subtle red, green, or blue fringing along high-contrast edges or near the image periphery.

This DCTL simulates that dispersion effect with independent scaling and blur controls for each color channel. Optional features such as Edge Amount and Show Grid provide precise control and visualization

EDGE BLUR

DCTL

Edge Blur provides a natural and aesthetically pleasing way to soften the edges of a frame, avoiding the harshness of traditional masks. Built on a vignette-based mathematical approach, it smoothly blends the blur into the image, maintaining a cinematic and organic feel.

Edge Blur allows precise control over the radius, strength, and falloff of the blur, ensuring a gradual transition.

LENS DISTORTION

DCTL

Lens Distortion simulates the optical warping caused by camera lenses, allowing you to create subtle corrections or dramatic visual effects. Unlike simple scaling or warping, this tool distorts the image based on real lens behavior, affecting the center and edges differently for a more natural look

You can adjust Radial Distortion to curve the image inward or outward, and Edge Distortion to control how strongly the outer areas are affected. The Scale Image slider compensates for edge gaps or extreme distortion by zooming the frame as needed.

GATE WEAVE

DCTL

Gate Weave replicates the subtle frame movement seen in old film projectors, where the film shifts slightly within the gate. The effect introduces natural horizontal and vertical motion with gentle randomness.

You can adjust the amount, speed, and direction of the weave to create anything from a mild jitter to a stronger wobble. Image Scale prevents edge gaps by slightly zooming in, while the Yellow Background option reveals when the weave is too strong, helping you determine how much to scale the image.

FLICKER

DCTL

Flicker introduces frame-to-frame brightness variation, emulating the subtle exposure shifts historically seen in film projection systems, transfer processes, and under fluctuating light conditions.

This DCTL offers controls for amount, speed, and variation, creating effects from mild drift to strong flicker. A Grayscale Ramp option visualizes modulation, and multiple transfer functions ensure consistent color response across workflows.

MTF

DCTL

This tool models how an imaging system transfers contrast across different levels of detail, shaping its perceived sharpness curve. It operates across multiple detail bands to provide precise control over texture, structure, and overall image depth while keeping color stable and edges clean.

The process is edge-aware and luminance-based, enhancing detail naturally without creating halos or unwanted color shifts. Built-in guardrails maintain tonal balance and ensure a stable, controlled response.

Usage Suggestions
For a natural, film-like look, slightly reduce Fine Detail and increase Coarse Detail to emphasize midtone contrast and depth.

Fast Blur
Enable Fast Blur for faster playback while adjusting, and disable it for highest quality final renders.

REFRAME

DCTL

Reframe provides precise control over image scale, rotation, and position while preserving composition. It includes blanking overlays for common aspect ratios, allowing quick previews of how the image fits different formats without altering the original frame.

This DCTL features sliders for scale, rotation, and offset, plus options for horizontal flipping and grid display. Aspect ratio guides such as 16:9, 4:3, or 2.39:1 assist with accurate composition and alignment across various delivery formats.