Add a CRT Effect Online
The CRT Monitor Effect adds a retro cathode-ray-tube look online, recreating the scanlines, barrel curvature, phosphor glow, and color fringing of old computer monitors and TVs. Type custom text or drop in your own image, tweak every parameter live, and download the result as a PNG.
It is built for designers chasing a vintage aesthetic, content creators making retro thumbnails and banners, and anyone who loves the nostalgic glow of arcade and old-monitor screens. Pick a one-click preset or fine-tune eight sliders for the exact era you want.
How to Use the CRT Monitor Effect
Pick a mode
Hover the screen (or tap on mobile) to reveal the gear, open Settings, then choose Text for custom characters or Image to use your own picture.
Add your content
In Text mode, type into the box and pick a phosphor color — Green, Amber, White, or Cyan. In Image mode, click Upload Image, drag & drop, or paste from the clipboard with Ctrl+V.
Dial in the look
Start from a preset (Classic CRT, Old TV, Arcade, VHS), then fine-tune the Scanlines, Curvature, RGB Shift, Glow, Vignette, Noise, Flicker, and Brightness sliders. Each slider shows its live value.
Download the PNG
Click Download PNG to save a clean frame with all effects baked in. Your settings are remembered for next time, and Reset restores the defaults.
Features
Text Mode
Show custom text in a monospaced font with selectable phosphor colors — Green, Amber, White, or Cyan — and a built-in glow.
Image Mode
Upload a file, drag & drop, or paste from the clipboard. Images scale to fit the screen while keeping their aspect ratio.
Scanlines
Horizontal dark lines mimic the phosphor rows of a real tube. Push the intensity from subtle to heavy for different display eras.
Barrel Curvature
Simulates the convex glass of CRT monitors, bulging the picture and darkening the corners just like an old tube screen.
RGB Shift
Chromatic aberration separates the red and blue channels horizontally to recreate the color fringing of imperfect beam convergence.
Phosphor Glow
A bloom effect makes bright areas bleed outward for that warm phosphor look — especially striking on green or amber text.
Vignette & Brightness
A radial vignette darkens the edges while a brightness slider sets the overall light level, brightest at the center like a real tube.
Noise & Flicker
Animated grain mimics analog signal interference while flicker reproduces the subtle brightness wobble of CRT refresh cycles.
Four Presets
Classic CRT, Old TV, Arcade, and VHS each tune all eight sliders to a different era — a clean monitor, worn TV, bright cabinet, or tape-degraded glitch.
PNG Export & Saved Settings
Download a clean, flicker-free PNG at screen resolution, with your settings stored locally and the animation auto-pausing when the tab is hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CRT effect?
A CRT effect recreates the look of a cathode-ray-tube screen — the technology behind TVs and computer monitors from the 1950s to the early 2000s. It layers visible scanlines, curved glass, a warm phosphor glow, and slight color fringing over your text or image to give it that vintage display feel.
How do I add a CRT effect online?
Open the tool, pick a preset to start, then either type text or switch to Image mode and upload, drag & drop, or paste a picture. Adjust the sliders to taste and click Download PNG. There is nothing to install and no sign-up.
What are scanlines?
Scanlines are the faint horizontal dark lines you see on CRT screens, caused by the gaps between rows of glowing phosphor that the electron beam paints line by line. The Scanlines slider controls how strong they appear, from a subtle texture to a heavy retro grid.
What does each slider do?
Scanlines adds horizontal dark lines, Curvature bends the picture like curved glass, RGB Shift separates the color channels, Glow blooms bright areas, Vignette darkens the edges, Noise adds grain, Flicker varies the brightness, and Brightness sets the overall light level.
Which preset should I use?
Classic CRT gives a balanced retro monitor. Old TV adds curvature, noise, and flicker for a worn-out television. Arcade boosts glow and brightness for a vivid cabinet screen. VHS cranks RGB Shift and noise for a tape-degraded, glitchy look. Each preset is just a starting point — keep tweaking the sliders from there.
Can I apply the effect to my own images?
Yes. Switch to Image mode and upload a file, drag & drop it onto the screen, or paste from your clipboard. The CRT effects are applied live over your picture, which is scaled to fit while keeping its original aspect ratio. The tool works on still images; it does not process video files.
What format is the download, and are my images uploaded?
The download is a PNG at the current screen resolution, captured as a clean frame without flicker so all the active effects look their best. Nothing is uploaded: every effect runs locally in your browser, so your images and settings never leave your device.
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