Add a VHS effect to your photos, free

VHS tape never recorded colour cleanly. Chroma was stored at a fraction of the luminance resolution, so reds and blues smeared sideways; the tape transport wobbled, so lines drifted; and the interlaced scan left visible horizontal banding.

Open the vhs tool →

Free · no sign-up · runs in your browser — your photo is never uploaded.

This filter recreates all three: horizontal chroma bleed, per-row tape wobble, and scanlines. The result is the worn-tape, third-generation-copy look that defines 80s and 90s home video.

How to use it

Open the VHS tool and load a photo.
Increase Chroma bleed to separate red and blue sideways — the core of the analog look.
Add Wobble for tape-transport instability, which bends rows horizontally.
Set Scanlines to taste, then export.

Tips

Portraits and interiors sell the nostalgia best.
Keep bleed moderate (4–8) for realism; push past 12 for broken-tape chaos.
Stack with film grain for texture, or datamosh for tracking-failure glitch.

FAQ

How do I get a VHS look on a photo?

Apply chroma bleed, scanlines and a slight horizontal wobble. This tool does all three with adjustable sliders, free in your browser.

Is it free?

Yes — no account, no watermark, no upload. Everything runs locally in your browser.

Does it work on phones?

Yes, on iPhone and Android browsers, including HEIC photos.

More effects

Datamosh Pixel Sort Dither Chromatic Aberration Halftone ASCII Film Halation Slit-Scan

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