RetroRender 2.0 (Fall 2025) is a simple compositing node asset you can drop into your Blender project. RetroRender is not an addon and uses no python scripts. It is not installed, it is appended. Here’s how:

Step 1: In your Blender project, go to File > Append:

Step 2: Then navigate to where you unzipped the downloaded folder containing the RetroRender blend file. Double-click the RetroRender blender file.

Step 3: Double-click on NodeTree.

Step 4: Select all the RetroRender nodetrees.

Step 5: Click Append.

Step 6: Open the Asset panel in your Blender Project. The RetroRender presets will now be in your Assets Panel. 

Step 7: Drag and drop one of the RetroRender assets into your compositing nodetree. Make sure UseNodes is activated.

Step 8: In your Viewport, switch to rendered view and make sure the Compositor is activated in either the Camera or Always. You should see RetroRender’s effects now in the viewport.

TIP
In the Compositor Panel, open the options tab on the side panel and switch from CPU to GPU. If you have a fast GPU, the compositor will render faster.

RetroRender Settings Descriptions

Image Input - Your Rendered layer input

Flicker Strength - The strength of a random brightness flicker

Lens Distortion - Concave and convex lens distortions

Edge Dispersion - Chromatic aberrations around frame edge

Flat Dispersions - Chromatic aberrations throughout frame

Bloom - Glare strength

Brightness - Brightness

Saturation - Color strength

Hue - Hue

Contrast - Contrast

Lift Tint, Gamma Tint, Gain Tint - color correction tools

Vignette on/off - Vignette toggle

Vignette Size - Controls size of vignette

Vignette Blur - Vignette blur size

Aged Film - Lifts shadows simulating aged film

Vertical Jitter - Random vertical shake strength

Horizontal Jitter - Random horizontal shake strength

Scratches Strength - Simulated vertical film scratches

Grain Strength - Simulated film grain strength

Grain Size - Size of grain (smaller numbers = larger granules)

Grain Color on/off - Grain color or black and white toggle

Black Dirt Strength - Simulated black film dirt strength

White Dirt Strength - Simulated white film dirt strength

Dirt Scale - Size of dirt simulations (smaller numbers = larger dirt)

Resolution Crusher - Lowers resolution

Pixelator - Pixelates the image

Video Distortion - Simulates video tearing and instability

Vertical Roll - Simulates vertical sync roll

Ringing Strength - Simulates old video processing errors

Ringing Distance - Expands ringing effect

Static Strength - Simulated video static

Static Color on/off - Color static on/off

Static Scale - Size of static noise (smaller numbers = larger static)

Orthicon Halo - Simulates artifacts of old video camera tubes

CRT Scan Lines Strength - Simulates horizontal scan lines

CRT Scan Lines Scale - Size of CRT scan lines

Chroma Separation - Simulates red, green, blue separation

RetroRender Future Features and To-Dos

• Future Presets: 80s VHS with optional tracking noise, mid-90s GIF, 70s local news Umatic

• More film scratch options

• Film unthreading effects

• Film curved edges crop

• Dirt with hair options

• Cigarette burns