1. Choose a source that can survive distortion
Matcha Filter changes the whole frame. A source with a clear subject, readable silhouette, and moderate camera movement usually produces a stronger result than a dark, highly compressed, or already heavily filtered clip. The effect is animated, so use video when you want the complete look. A photo is useful for testing the palette or making a cover frame.
The upload control accepts the formats your browser can decode. MP4 with H.264 video is the safest general choice. Chrome and Edge commonly handle MP4 and WebM; Safari also handles many MOV files. A file extension alone does not guarantee support because the codec inside the container matters.
Selecting a file creates a temporary object URL inside the current tab. It is not sent to Matcha Filter, Cloudflare, Google Analytics, or an image-processing API.
2. Preview the video before changing controls
Press Play and watch several seconds. Matcha Filter uses time-based flow, so a paused frame cannot show how the liquid displacement travels. Look at subject edges, eyes, text, and straight background lines. Those areas make excessive motion easy to spot.
The default settings are intended as a clear starting point rather than a universal preset. Bright outdoor footage, low-light video, animation, screen recordings, and portraits react differently. Tune for the source in front of you.
3. Tune Filter strength
Filter strength controls how far the result moves from the source. It combines color remapping, painterly smoothing, edge darkening, and distortion influence. At lower values, the original color and fine texture remain visible. At higher values, olive-yellow tones, tonal steps, and painted surfaces dominate.
For faces, start around 60 to 80 and check the eyes and mouth. For landscapes, objects, or abstract footage, stronger settings often hold up well. If text must remain readable, lower the strength or place captions after exporting the effect.
4. Shape Liquid motion
Liquid motion sets the speed and distance of the animated displacement. Lower values create a slower surface drift. Higher values produce more obvious bending and can make the subject feel unstable. Motion is not the same as playback speed; the clip continues at its normal rate while the shader's flow field changes.
Use moderate motion when the source camera is already moving. Two strong motions can compete and make the frame difficult to read. Static shots can accept more filter movement because the effect supplies the visual energy.
5. Add Film grain last
Film grain adds changing fine texture after the main image treatment. It can keep smooth color regions from appearing sterile and makes consecutive frames feel less digitally identical. Too much grain increases file complexity, hides small detail, and may look harsher after social-platform compression.
Set the other controls first, then raise grain while watching an even area such as a wall, sky, or skin. Stop when the surface feels alive but does not sparkle distractingly.
6. Hold to compare with the original
Press and hold the comparison control on the preview. The canvas temporarily shows the source frame without changing your settings. Release it to return to the processed view. Compare several points in the timeline rather than judging only the opening frame.
The Original download button always points to the unchanged local file. Applying Matcha Filter does not overwrite it. Removing the media from the studio only revokes the temporary browser URL; it does not delete the file from your device.
7. Export a photo or video
Photo export writes the current processed canvas as a PNG. Video export uses the browser's MediaRecorder with the best available WebM codec. The tool rewinds the source, plays it from the beginning, renders every frame, and records the canvas. Because this happens in real time, a 30-second clip takes about 30 seconds to export.
Keep the tab visible and the computer awake during export. Background throttling can reduce frame delivery. The downloaded file is normally WebM with VP9 or VP8 video. If a destination requires MP4, convert a copy after export with a trusted desktop editor or local command-line tool.
The tool attempts to copy the source audio track into the browser recording. Browser and codec support differ, so verify the downloaded file before deleting or moving your source.
Troubleshooting
The file does not open
The browser may not support the codec. Convert a copy to H.264 MP4, reload the page, and try again. Very large files can also exceed available memory, especially on mobile.
The preview is slow
Close other graphics-heavy tabs, connect the device to power, and try a shorter 1080p source. The studio limits the working canvas to a practical pixel budget, but decoding high-resolution video still uses hardware resources.
The export has no sound
Your browser may not expose audio tracks through video capture. The video effect is still valid. Add the original audio back in a local editor, or try current Chrome or Edge.
The result looks too green
Lower Filter strength. The palette is intentionally matcha-toned, but the source should remain readable. The removal workspace can also reduce a finished color cast without claiming to reconstruct missing visual information.
Open Matcha Filter or continue with the technical explanation of the effect.