Retrofi is a premium collection of handcrafted PowerGrades built exclusively inside DaVinci Resolve. These PowerGrades are designed to recreate the organic character, texture, and tonal behavior of real 35mm and 16mm motion picture film. Rather than relying on plugins or one-size-fits-all LUTs, Retrofi uses carefully constructed node trees that give creators full control over the look and feel of their image while staying true to the essence of analog cinematography.

Each grade is built from the ground up with custom contrast curves, halation simulation, soft highlight roll-off, and filmic shadow shaping. The colors are designed to respond dynamically to exposure and lighting, much like real film would under different conditions. Whether you're working in Log, Rec709, RAW, or anything in between, Retrofi reacts naturally to your footage instead of flattening it or forcing it into a preset aesthetic.

This approach not only gives you more creative flexibility in your color grading but also helps you work faster and more intentionally. With Retrofi, you're not clicking through endless LUTs and guessing what will stick. You're using a purpose-built grade that already understands how film behaves and gives you the space to make it your own.

At its core, Retrofi is about more than just color. It's about helping filmmakers, editors, and colorists tell stories with texture and soul. It's about restoring the emotion that modern digital cameras often lose in pursuit of sharpness and perfection. Whether you're aiming for something nostalgic and subtle or bold and stylized, Retrofi gives you the tools to make your digital footage feel crafted, cinematic, and timeless.

Retrofi was created by a filmmaker with a deep love for analog cinema and an obsession with getting the little things right. The glow around highlights. The density in the shadows. The imperfect charm of celluloid. All of these elements have been translated into a digital toolkit that prioritizes emotion, not just accuracy.

If you're using DaVinci Resolve and you're tired of lifeless images, Retrofi is built to bring warmth, mood, and life back into your work. It doesn’t take shortcuts. It doesn’t pretend to be film. But it gets closer than anything else in its class. And it does so with a level of control that LUTs simply can’t offer.

This is not a filter. This is a philosophy. And it's built into every node.

Retrofi is neither a plugin nor just a simple LUT. At its core, Retrofi was built as a collection of handcrafted PowerGrades for DaVinci Resolve. That means it operates entirely inside Resolve’s native node-based grading system, without relying on any third-party software or external tools. It is not destructive, not locked, and not baked in. Every part of the grade is editable, modular, and open to your input. You can adjust curves, tweak contrast, isolate color channels, disable grain or halation nodes, and make it your own with complete control over the image.

Unlike a plugin, Retrofi does not require installation of any external software or add-on. There are no subscriptions, no compatibility issues, and no extra processes slowing down your timeline. It works within the native Resolve environment, using nodes you can actually learn from and customize. That’s what makes it powerful. It’s more than just a look — it’s a system for building looks that are grounded in the behavior of real film. Retrofi reacts dynamically to your footage, rather than forcing a static transformation onto it.

That said, not everyone works in DaVinci Resolve. And we know there are editors, filmmakers, and content creators who prefer to work in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, CapCut, After Effects, or even mobile platforms. So for those users, we’ve introduced our Universal LUT Editions. These are .cube LUTs created directly from our original PowerGrades, adapted carefully to retain as much of the filmic tone, contrast, and behavior as possible within the limitations of the LUT format.

The Universal LUT Editions are built to be more than just a flat color shift. Each one is paired with additional creative tools — including 4K grain overlays, stylized transitions with synced sound design, ambient reel and texture-based SFX, and a quick-start guide. They are not just designed to look good when applied, but to help bring character and emotional depth to digital footage in any workflow.

So in short, Retrofi exists in two forms:

• For Resolve users, it is a full-featured node-based PowerGrade that works natively without LUTs or plugins
• For everyone else, it is available as a Universal LUT version, which comes bundled with a complete creative toolkit for building the film look in any software

No matter which version you use, Retrofi is about more than just color. It is designed to help you tell stories that feel crafted, cinematic, and alive — whether you grade with nodes or apply a LUT. It’s not locked into one way of working. It meets you where you are and gives you the tools to elevate your image with texture, tone, and intention.

This isn’t just a pack of presets. And it’s not a plugin shortcut. Retrofi is a philosophy rooted in the visual language of film. Whether you're using the Resolve version or the Universal LUT Edition, you’re getting more than just a “look.” You’re getting a complete system designed to bring soul to your digital workflow.

You do not need DaVinci Resolve to use Retrofi — but it depends on which version of the pack you’re using.

The original Retrofi packs were built exclusively for DaVinci Resolve and take full advantage of its node-based grading system. These versions come as editable PowerGrades, which are designed for creators who want full control over every part of the image. In Resolve, you can dive into the node structure, make real-time changes, and tweak every layer of contrast, color, grain, halation, and more. If you’re using DaVinci Resolve, this is the version that gives you the most depth, flexibility, and authenticity when it comes to recreating the film look.

However, not every creator works inside Resolve. A huge number of editors, filmmakers, and content creators are working inside Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, CapCut, Photoshop, and other NLE software. That’s exactly why we developed the Universal LUT Editions.

These Universal versions are adapted from the original PowerGrades and exported as .cube LUTs, making them compatible with nearly any editing platform. In addition to the LUTs themselves, these editions also include 4K grain overlays, textures, stylized transitions with sound design, a cinematic SFX pack, and a guide to help you emulate the film look as closely as possible in a non-Resolve environment. You do not need any extra plugins or extensions — if your editor supports LUTs, video layers, and basic blend modes, you’re good to go.

So if you’re not using DaVinci Resolve, you can still get the Retrofi look. Just make sure to choose a pack that specifically says Universal LUT Edition. These are labeled clearly in the product title and description, and they’re designed to give you the same analog texture, contrast, and cinematic tone that made the Resolve version popular — adapted for your software and workflow.

In short, Resolve is not required, but it does unlock the full editable PowerGrade experience. For everyone else, the Universal versions exist to bring Retrofi’s film aesthetic to any editor, without compromise.

Yes, Retrofi works with both the free and Studio versions of DaVinci Resolve. Everything in the pack is fully compatible with either version, so you won’t miss out on the film look itself if you're using the free edition.

The only limitation comes from a few specific nodes that are exclusive to DaVinci Resolve Studio. Most notably, the grain node and the sharpening node. These tools are used inside our PowerGrades to add natural film grain and soften digital sharpness. If you're using the free version of Resolve, you’ll see a red “offline” warning on those nodes when you apply the grade. All you have to do is disable them, and the rest of the PowerGrade will function normally without any issues.

To make sure free users can still achieve the full effect, we include a separate set of grain overlays in the pack. These are high-quality video layers that replicate 16mm, 35mm, and expired film grain — designed to be dropped over your footage and set to a blend mode like Add or Overlay. They’re drag-and-drop, easy to adjust, and designed to match the intensity and texture of the built-in node-based grain in the Studio version.

For those who want even more control and realism, we also offer a premium 4K Scanned Film Grain Pack as a separate add-on. This standalone pack includes 11 unique grain types, each scanned from real motion picture film. You can layer them, stretch them, adjust opacity, or combine them with glow and halation for a fully customized look that’s closer to true celluloid.

So whether you’re using Resolve Free or Studio, Retrofi has you covered. The core grades work in both. Studio users get real-time node-based grain and softness, and free users get alternative overlays that preserve the visual quality and style.

Each Retrofi pack includes multiple distinct PowerGrades or LUTs, depending on the version you're using. You're not just buying one look — you're getting a curated set of cinematic styles, each handcrafted and labeled for quick use inside your timeline.

The exact number of looks varies depending on the pack:

• Retrofi Original Pack — 9 unique PowerGrades, covering a wide range of 16mm and 35mm film looks including Kodak 500T, 250D, Portra, AGFA, and Expired variations
• Muted Indie Pack — 3 PowerGrades or LUTs, all built with a softer, more restrained tone for story-driven or ambient visuals
• Noir Pack — 3 black-and-white PowerGrades or LUTs, each with bold contrast and classic film-inspired monochrome profiles
• Teal & Orange Pack — 3 PowerGrades or LUTs that modernize the blockbuster color palette with restraint and character

All looks are clearly labeled inside each pack and come ready to drag into your node tree (Resolve version) or apply through your LUT panel (Universal version). Whether you need subtle tone shifts or bold, stylized contrast, each pack is designed to give you a range of options rather than locking you into one look.

Each Retrofi pack includes a carefully curated set of tools designed to bring cinematic character and analog texture to your footage. The exact contents vary slightly depending on the pack, but most include the following:

• PowerGrades or Universal LUTs — Multiple film looks inspired by 16mm and 35mm stocks, all clearly labeled
• Preview Images — Visual thumbnails to help you identify and apply each look quickly
• Grain Overlay Pack — Drag-and-drop 4K overlays for users on Resolve Free or other NLEs
• Monitoring LUTs — On-set LUTs for loading into your camera or monitor
• Tutorial Videos — Quick walkthroughs to help you install and apply the grades or LUTs correctly
• PDF Guides — Setup instructions, usage tips, and in some cases, inspiration references for each look
• Retrofi Logo PNGs — Clean overlays for branding, client credits, or packaging

Some packs also include:

• Transitions — Film-style wipes, smears, match cuts, and more (Noir, Muted Indie, Teal & Orange)
• Sound Effects — Vintage-inspired cinematic hits, ambient noise, reel sounds, and synced FX for transitions
• Textures — Flicker layers, dust, scratches, and burn overlays for additional visual character

You can find a full breakdown of what's included in each individual pack by visiting its product page in the Retrofi Collection.

Yes, Retrofi is fully cleared for commercial use. Once you purchase any Retrofi pack — whether it’s a Resolve-based PowerGrade or a Universal LUT Edition — you are granted the right to use it across both personal and client projects without restriction.

There are no watermarks, activation codes, recurring fees, or licensing limitations tied to your creative output. You are free to use Retrofi looks and assets in monetized content, commercial campaigns, branded work, films, music videos, and any other professional project. No additional licensing or attribution is required.

The only strict limitation is on redistribution or resale. You may not resell, share, or repackage any part of the Retrofi product — including PowerGrades, LUTs, overlays, sound effects, or PDF guides — under any circumstances. Doing so is a direct violation of our licensing agreement.

We take intellectual property theft seriously. If any individual or business attempts to sell, leak, or redistribute Retrofi assets, we will pursue legal action to protect our work and the creators who support it.

Retrofi is designed for filmmakers and editors who respect the craft. Use it in your art, your business, your vision — but not as your product.

Retrofi is different from most film emulation packs in both how it’s built and what it includes. While many other products rely on baked LUTs, pre-rendered effects, or locked plugin systems, Retrofi is created entirely inside DaVinci Resolve using real nodes. That means every part of the grade is visible, editable, and built from the ground up using Resolve’s native toolset — no black boxes, no shortcuts, and nothing artificial.

When you load a Retrofi PowerGrade, you can open it up and see exactly how each component works. From custom film curves to halation layers, glow simulators, grain nodes, and tone modifiers, everything is laid out in a modular structure that gives you total control. You're not just applying a color preset — you're stepping into a fully realized digital film pipeline that’s designed to behave more like real celluloid.

But what really sets Retrofi apart is what comes with each pack. You’re not just buying a look. You’re getting a complete toolkit. That includes preview images, 4K grain overlays, on-set monitoring LUTs, clean logo PNGs, a detailed user guide, and depending on the pack, professionally designed transitions and cinematic sound effects. These extras are not afterthoughts. They are part of a larger creative workflow that’s meant to help you bring the look of film into every part of your edit — not just the color grade.

Other companies might offer a single LUT and charge over $300 for it. Retrofi delivers more for less — without cutting corners on quality. Every pack is priced accessibly but built at a professional level, with features and tools that rival or exceed high-end competitors. Whether you're working on a short film, music video, documentary, or branded content, each Retrofi pack is designed to stand on its own as a complete cinematic solution.

In short, Retrofi is built differently, functions differently, and delivers more. It's designed for creators who care about texture, tone, and story — and want the closest thing to shooting on real film without actually loading a reel.

Yes, absolutely. Every Retrofi PowerGrade is fully unlocked, editable, and meticulously organized. Nothing is hidden, baked-in, or locked behind a plugin. You can tweak every node, disable specific effects like halation or glow, swap out the included grain with your own, adjust contrast curves, shift color balance, or completely rework the structure if you want to build something custom.

Each node has been carefully labeled to make the grade easy to understand, even if you're still getting comfortable inside DaVinci Resolve. Whether you’re making small refinements to better fit your footage or diving deep into the internals to reverse engineer how the look was built, Retrofi is your creative sandbox. It’s meant to give you total control and help you learn in the process.

We believe the best film emulation doesn’t just give you a “final look” — it gives you the tools to explore, experiment, and push your footage in the direction that feels right for your story. That’s why every Retrofi pack is designed to be open, flexible, and creator-friendly from the ground up.

Installing Retrofi is quick and easy — no technical knowledge required. Each pack is designed to be drag-and-drop friendly so you can get started immediately, even if you’ve never used PowerGrades or LUTs before.

Inside your download, you’ll find a cleanly organized folder structure and a detailed PDF guide that walks you through the entire process. The guide includes step-by-step instructions for importing PowerGrades into DaVinci Resolve, applying overlays and textures, using blend modes correctly, loading LUTs into other editors like Premiere or Final Cut, and setting up your on-set monitoring LUTs if needed.

If you're using DaVinci Resolve, all it takes is a few clicks to load the .drx files into your PowerGrade folder. From there, you can simply drag them into your node tree and start grading. If you're using one of our Universal LUT Editions, you can import the .cube files into your preferred NLE the same way you would with any other LUT.

Whether you're brand new to color grading or already deep into your workflow, you’ll be up and running in less than a minute. Everything’s structured to save you time and keep the process smooth from the very first drop.

Absolutely — Retrofi wasn’t just built overnight. It was developed through years of testing, shooting, grading, and obsessing over how real film behaves in the wild. Every grade was shaped through side-by-side comparisons with 16mm and 35mm footage, referencing scans, stills, and frame-by-frame studies of both motion and color. The goal wasn’t to mimic film in theory, but to translate how it actually feels in practice — the way it rolls off in the highlights, the way it holds shadows, and the emotional tone it carries even in the quietest scenes.

What started as a personal toolkit slowly evolved into something bigger. After spending years experimenting with nodes, building looks for other filmmakers, and refining the process through real-world use, Retrofi became a full system — not just for grading, but for storytelling. Every pack reflects that obsession. Each node was built with intent, not just aesthetics. Every extra — from the grain overlays to the sound design — was added to support a larger creative vision.

If you want to read the full backstory behind how Retrofi came to life, you can check out the full development story here: Click here to read it.

Using the grain overlays is simple and fully customizable. Just drag and drop the overlay file onto a video track above your footage in your timeline. Then set the blend or composite mode to one of the following, depending on the desired effect:

• Add — for a bright, punchy grain that feels baked into the image
• Overlay — for a more subtle, contrast-based blend
• Screen — for a softer, more diffused look
• Difference — for experimental or stylized effects

You can also adjust the speed of the overlay to match the rhythm of your edit. Speeding up the grain creates a more aggressive, twitchy feel, while slowing it down adds a dreamy, ambient motion. Stack multiple overlays together, mix formats (16mm + scratches, for example), or fade them in and out using keyframes. There’s no single correct way to apply them — just trust your eye and go with what fits the scene.

The PowerGrade version of Retrofi is built specifically for DaVinci Resolve and offers the most control and customization. It uses Resolve’s node-based grading system, allowing you to open the structure, adjust curves, modify grain, disable halation, or completely rework the grade if you want to. It’s a full, editable film emulation system designed for professional Resolve users.

The Universal LUT version is designed for creators working in other software like Premiere Pro, Final Cut, CapCut, After Effects, Photoshop, or any editor that supports .cube LUTs. These LUTs are carefully adapted from the original PowerGrades to preserve the tone, contrast, and emotional feel of each look. They’re faster to apply and compatible with almost every platform.

If you're in Resolve and want full creative control, use the PowerGrade version. If you're in another editor and want a drag-and-drop film look with matching textures and grain, go with the Universal LUT edition.

Yes, Retrofi is fully compatible with log footage. Whether you're shooting in S-Log, C-Log, V-Log, BRAW, Canon RAW, or ProRes Log, you can apply Retrofi grades or LUTs without any issue. For best results, we recommend using a basic Rec709 conversion before applying the look — or applying the look as part of a structured node tree where your log input is handled first.

Each pack is designed to respond naturally to the contrast and color dynamics of log formats. The look will adapt based on exposure and lighting conditions, much like real film does. If you're working in a non-Resolve workflow with our Universal LUTs, just make sure to apply the LUT to an adjusted image (either through your own conversion or using the LUT on top of a Rec709 version).

Yes. Our Universal LUT editions are compatible with many mobile editing apps that support custom LUTs. This includes platforms like CapCut, VN Video Editor, LumaFusion, VideoLeap, and others. Simply import the .cube LUT file into your app (if supported), or use the included textures and overlays directly as drag-and-drop video layers above your footage.

Some mobile apps may have limitations on blend modes or LUT previewing, so performance can vary depending on your device and software. For best results, use apps that allow manual LUT import and give you control over layering, opacity, and blending.

No plugins are required. All Retrofi packs are built to work natively inside your editing software without any third-party tools or extensions. The PowerGrade versions are designed entirely within DaVinci Resolve using native nodes, and the Universal LUT editions use standard .cube files, textures, and video layers that any editor can import and apply.

Whether you're on the free version of Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut, or CapCut, you won’t need to download anything extra to use the pack as intended.

Retrofi is designed to get you as close to the feel of real film as possible without physically shooting on celluloid. The grades are modeled after the tonal behavior of actual 16mm and 35mm stocks, using frame-by-frame analysis and side-by-side comparisons. We simulate halation, grain, contrast response, and even soft highlight rolloff to mimic the aesthetic and emotional quality of analog footage.

That said, no digital effect can fully replicate the chemical unpredictability of real film. Retrofi is not meant to be a perfect replica — it's meant to deliver the texture, mood, and cinematic weight of film in a way that's fast, flexible, and intuitive for digital workflows. If you're aiming for a film-inspired look that feels handcrafted and emotionally driven, this will get you there.

Yes, all Retrofi packs are designed to work together. You can mix and match looks from different collections depending on the tone of your project. For example, you can use the Muted Indie PowerGrades with Noir textures or combine the Teal & Orange LUT with overlays from the Retrofi Original Pack.

The grain overlays, transitions, and sound design elements can also be stacked and used across any timeline. Each pack offers its own mood and color system, but they were all built from the same philosophy — so they stay consistent even when combined.

Retrofi was built for filmmakers and editors working on narrative-driven, emotionally rich visual content. It’s ideal for short films, music videos, documentaries, fashion films, personal reels, client projects, and branded content that needs a cinematic edge.

If you’re tired of sterile, overly digital-looking footage and want to give your work more texture, tone, and storytelling power, Retrofi will fit right in. Whether you're shooting handheld indie scenes, stylized studio setups, or even mobile footage, the tools in each pack are designed to elevate your visuals and help you build a cohesive aesthetic.