CRITICAL GUIDELINES

Windows File Path Requirements

MANDATORY: Always Use Backslashes on Windows for File Paths

When using Edit or Write tools on Windows, you MUST use backslashes (\) in file paths, NOT forward slashes (/).

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FFmpeg Creative Effects

Purpose

Apply creative video effects including glitch art, VHS simulation, datamosh, chromatic aberration, motion trails, and distortion effects.

Workflow

1. Analyze Input

ffprobe -v error -show_entries stream=width,height,r_frame_rate,duration -of default=noprint_wrappers=1 INPUT

2. Effect Presets

Glitch (Combined)

ffmpeg -i INPUT \
  -vf "\
    minterpolate='mi_mode=mci:mc_mode=aobmc':enable='lt(mod(t,3),0.2)',\
    rgbashift=rh='3*sin(t*10)':bh='-3*sin(t*10)',\
    noise=c0s=10:c0f=t:enable='lt(mod(t,2),0.1)'" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 OUTPUT

VHS/Analog

ffmpeg -i INPUT \
  -vf "\
    noise=c0s=15:c0f=t:c1s=10:c1f=t,\
    eq=saturation=1.4:contrast=1.1:brightness=-0.02,\
    chromashift=cbh=3:crh=-3,\
    rgbashift=rh=2:bh=-2,\
    drawgrid=w=iw:h=2:t=1:c=black@0.3,\
    curves=preset=vintage" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 20 OUTPUT

Datamosh (Pixel Bleeding)

ffmpeg -i INPUT \
  -vf "minterpolate='mi_mode=mci:mc_mode=aobmc:me_mode=bidir:vsbmc=1'" \
  -c:v libx264 -crf 18 OUTPUT

Chromatic Aberration

# Static
ffmpeg -i INPUT -vf "rgbashift=rh=-5:bh=5" OUTPUT

# Pulsing (animated)
ffmpeg -i INPUT -vf "rgbashift=rh='5*sin(t*10)':bh='-5*sin(t*10)'" OUTPUT

Motion Trails

ffmpeg -i INPUT -vf "lagfun=decay=0.95" OUTPUT

Wave Distortion

ffmpeg -i INPUT \
  -vf "geq=lum='lum(X+10*sin(Y/20+T*5),Y)':cb='cb(X+10*sin(Y/20+T*5),Y)':cr='cr(X+10*sin(Y/20+T*5),Y)'" \
  OUTPUT

Barrel/Fisheye Distortion

ffmpeg -i INPUT \
  -vf "lenscorrection=cx=0.5:cy=0.5:k1=0.5:k2=0.5" \
  OUTPUT

3. Timing Effects

Apply effects only during specific time ranges:

# Effect between 5-10 seconds
-vf "effect_filter:enable='between(t,5,10)'"

# Effect at regular intervals
-vf "effect_filter:enable='lt(mod(t,4),0.3)'"

4. Effect Parameters

Effect	Key Parameters
Datamosh	mi_mode, mc_mode, scd (scene change)
Chromatic	rh, bh, rv, bv (shift amounts)
VHS noise	c0s, c0f (strength, flags)
Trails	decay (0-1, higher = longer trails)
Distortion	k1, k2 (barrel/pincushion)

5. Combining Effects

Chain multiple effects:

ffmpeg -i INPUT \
  -vf "effect1,effect2,effect3" \
  OUTPUT

6. Performance Tips

• Datamosh is CPU-intensive: Consider processing at lower resolution
• Test on short clips: Use -t 5 to process only 5 seconds
• Hardware encode final: After effects, use NVENC/QSV for encoding

Output

Provide:

1. Complete FFmpeg command for the requested effect
2. Explanation of effect parameters
3. Options for timing/triggering the effect
4. Combination suggestions for more complex looks
5. Performance optimization tips