Quick start

1. Install the add-on: Edit › Preferences › Get Extensions, open the ⌄ menu at the top right, choose Install from Disk… and pick retro_grid-1.0.0.zip.
2. In the Compositor, add the node: Add › RETRO GRID. A new node starts with only Grid and Colorize switched on.
3. Connect your footage (Image node or Render Layers) into the node's Image input, and the node's output to the Group Output / Viewer.
4. Pick a Tile Style, set Columns and choose your Colorize colors (or untick Colorize to keep the original colors).
5. Tick the sections you want (CRT Structure, Glitch, Glow, Displacement, Lens Distortion, Film Grain, Frame Step) and tweak. Every section has an on/off checkbox and a reset button; Reset All to Optimal brings everything back to the tuned defaults without changing your checkboxes.

Tips

• Columns sets how many cells run across the frame: low values (20-40) give chunky 8-bit blocks, high values (150+) a fine LED mesh.
• Pixel art & 2D games: set Columns to the game's pixel width so every game pixel becomes one LED, and untick Colorize to keep the original palette.
• Use Black Point / White Point to decide which parts of the image light up; raise Black Point to keep dark areas fully off.
• Glyph tile styles (16-33) re-roll with Glyph Flicker; set it to 0 for static glyphs.
• Film Grain is applied as the very last effect. Pick an 8mm, 16mm, 35mm or 65mm stock, or choose Custom to set Grain Size, Strength and Softness yourself.
• Frame Step holds the input video for 1-12 frames while the effects keep running every frame.
• Stack two Retro Grid nodes with an Alpha Over for layered looks (for example a fine grid under a coarse glyph grid).