Retrofi — Complete Noir Film Emulation Toolkit

Retrofi Noir

Retrofi Noir is a black-and-white film emulation pack for DaVinci Resolve, inspired by the shadowy world of classic noir cinema. It includes 3 meticulously crafted PowerGrades that channel the spirit of vintage black-and-white film stocks, designed to give your footage bold contrast, textured grain, and a haunting cinematic edge.

But this pack is more than a look. It’s a masterclass in lighting, and a complete noir filmmaking toolkit.

Noir was born in the 1940s and 50s, a cinematic response to postwar unease and existential dread. Its defining trait wasn’t just the lack of color, but the obsessive use of shadow. Directors and cinematographers used light surgically, carving out faces from darkness and creating tension with nothing but a sliver of illumination. Every frame was composed like a photograph. Every shadow held meaning.

By working in monochrome, you start to see your footage differently. Light becomes the story. Negative space becomes just as important as what’s shown. Retrofi Noir trains your eye to think in shape, contrast, and silhouette. It pushes you to become more intentional with lighting, framing, and mood — the foundation of real visual storytelling.

Included in the pack:

• 3 cinematic black-and-white PowerGrades for DaVinci Resolve

• 3 matching LUTs extracted from the PowerGrades for use in other apps or workflows

• 3 monitoring LUTs for use on set

• Authentic grain and glow baked in

• Stylized noir transitions with flash cuts and smears

• Cinematic sound effects to heighten drama and tension

• Grainy textures to layer over your footage

• A visual guide with setup tips and inspiration

• A tutorial on in-camera settings to help you capture the film look before color

• Retrofi logo PNGs for client credits or packaging

Who it’s for
Filmmakers, editors, and colorists who want to strip away the noise and focus on pure tone and tension. Whether you're shooting a moody narrative short, a gritty music video, or just experimenting with visual storytelling, Retrofi Noir gives you the tools to speak in shadows.

🎞 How to Use Overlays & Transition Overlays (Quick Guide)

1. Drag the overlay onto a track above your footage.

2. Set the composite mode:

   • Try Add (common for light leaks, flares, grain)

   • Try Screen for softer glow effects

   • Try Overlay for contrast-based blending

   • Try Difference for experimental/grungy looks

3. Adjust the speed or length:

   • Speed them up for punchier transitions

   • Slow them down for moodier moments

   • Cut or trim as needed — there are no rules

4. Optional tweaks:

   • Add a Gaussian blur for smoother blending

   • Use opacity keyframes to fade in/out

   • Stack multiple overlays for layered effects

🎬 There’s no right or wrong — just what looks best in your scene.