Vintage Super 8 - Retro Footage

Here's how it has been achieved:

1. Select the clip in the Sequence and click Modify → Speed (or right click/control click the clip in the sequence to bring up the speed adjuster).Old cameras shot film at different frame rates. Super 8 cameras would shoot at 12, 18 and 24 frames per second, unlike some video cameras that shoot at 30 frames per second. Adjusting the speed so that it is a little slower, somewhere between 60% and 80%, will add authenticity to the overall look.

2. Video Filters → Blur → Gaussian BlurPlay around with the various settings within Gaussian blur. The Blue Gaussian blur setting will have a totally different look than the Red Gaussian blur setting. I like to start off with about the radius at about 2 on the Luminance blur, personally.

3. Video Filters → Stylize → Add NoiseFirst, I drop the amount down to .14, then change the type to Gaussian Noise (Film Grain) which is a uniform color. Last, change the Blend Mode to Subtract, which creates a more subtle effect.

4. Video Filters → Color Correction → Color Corrector 3-WayPlay around with the different levels of Black, Midrange, Highlight and Color controls. I like to warm up the look of video, which naturally has a natural light/blueish tinge to it by bringing the color into the direction of reds, oranges, yellows or sepias. It takes a little experimenting to see what looks best.

5. Video Filters → Video → Flicker FilterTurn the amount up to Flickr Filter (Max).

6. Video Filters → Video → StrobeThis will add the choppy, less smooth look of film (video is too smooth, which is one of the things that gives it away as video). I usually bring the Strobe Duration down to 1 or 2.After this, there are a variety of other things you can do. Maybe adjust the RGB Balance (Color Correction → RGB Balance) or play around with the various Levels (Image Control → Levels). I find that altering the Arithmetic (Channel → Arithmetic) can bring about some really cool color effects.

After you are satisfied, the final step after rendering is to go to File → Export → Using Quicktime Conversion and upload to your blog for assessment.