How to Decrease Quality of Video: A Guide to Making Your Footage Look Terrible

In the world of video production, the goal is usually to create high-quality, visually stunning content. However, there are times when you might want to intentionally decrease the quality of your video. Whether you’re going for a retro aesthetic, trying to save storage space, or just want to annoy your audience, this guide will provide you with a variety of methods to achieve that low-quality look.

1. Lower the Resolution

One of the simplest ways to decrease video quality is to reduce the resolution. High-definition videos are typically shot at 1080p or even 4K, but if you want to degrade the quality, consider dropping it down to 480p or even 240p. The lower the resolution, the more pixelated and blurry your video will appear.

2. Increase Compression

Video compression is a double-edged sword. While it can help reduce file size, excessive compression can also degrade video quality. Use a high compression ratio when exporting your video, and you’ll notice artifacts, blockiness, and a general loss of detail. The more you compress, the worse it will look.

3. Reduce Bitrate

Bitrate plays a crucial role in video quality. Lowering the bitrate will result in a loss of detail and increased pixelation. If you’re exporting your video, choose a low bitrate setting. This will make your video look grainy and less sharp, especially in fast-moving scenes.

4. Add Noise and Grain

Introducing noise and grain to your video can instantly make it look older and lower quality. You can do this in post-production by adding a noise filter or grain overlay. The more noise you add, the more your video will resemble an old VHS tape or a low-budget film.

5. Use a Low-Quality Camera

If you’re shooting new footage, consider using a low-quality camera or even a smartphone with a poor camera sensor. The limitations of the hardware will naturally result in lower-quality video. You can also try shooting in low light conditions to further degrade the image.

6. Apply Heavy Filters

Filters can be a great way to alter the look of your video, but if you want to decrease quality, go overboard. Apply heavy filters that distort colors, reduce contrast, and blur details. The more extreme the filter, the worse your video will look.

7. Downsample the Audio

While this guide focuses on video quality, don’t forget about the audio. Downsampling the audio to a lower bitrate or sample rate can make your video feel even more low-quality. Combine this with poor video quality, and you’ll have a truly unpleasant viewing experience.

8. Introduce Artifacts

Artifacts are distortions or errors that occur during video compression or transmission. You can intentionally introduce artifacts by repeatedly compressing the video or using outdated codecs. The result will be a video filled with blocky, distorted images that look far from professional.

9. Use a Low Frame Rate

High frame rates (like 60fps) result in smooth, fluid motion, but if you want to decrease quality, consider using a low frame rate (like 15fps or 24fps). This will make the video look choppy and less polished, especially during fast-moving scenes.

10. Overexpose or Underexpose the Footage

Improper exposure can ruin the quality of your video. Overexposing the footage will wash out the colors and details, while underexposing will make the video dark and hard to see. Either way, the result will be a low-quality look that’s far from ideal.

11. Add Digital Glitches

Digital glitches can give your video a broken, low-quality appearance. You can create glitches by corrupting the video file or using glitch effects in post-production. The more glitches you add, the more chaotic and low-quality your video will appear.

12. Use a Low-Quality Codec

The codec you use to encode your video can have a significant impact on quality. Choose a low-quality codec with poor compression efficiency, and your video will look blocky and pixelated. Avoid modern codecs like H.265 and opt for something older and less efficient.

13. Crop and Zoom Excessively

Cropping and zooming can reduce the overall quality of your video by cutting out important details and stretching the remaining pixels. If you want to degrade the quality, crop the video to a small portion of the frame and zoom in as much as possible.

14. Add VHS Effects

If you’re going for a retro look, consider adding VHS effects to your video. This can include scan lines, tracking errors, and color bleeding. These effects will make your video look like it was recorded on an old VCR, instantly lowering its quality.

15. Use a Poor Lighting Setup

Lighting is crucial for video quality, so if you want to decrease it, use a poor lighting setup. Shadows, uneven lighting, and harsh contrasts can all contribute to a low-quality look. Avoid using professional lighting equipment and rely on natural light or cheap, dim lamps.

16. Record in a Noisy Environment

Background noise can distract from the main content and make your video feel less professional. If you’re recording new footage, choose a noisy environment with lots of distractions. The more background noise, the lower the perceived quality of your video.

17. Use a Low-Quality Editing Software

The software you use to edit your video can also impact its quality. If you want to decrease quality, use a low-quality editing program with limited features and poor rendering capabilities. This will result in a final product that looks amateurish and low-quality.

18. Add Unnecessary Transitions

Overusing transitions can make your video look tacky and low-quality. If you want to degrade the quality, add as many flashy, unnecessary transitions as possible. The more transitions you use, the more disjointed and unprofessional your video will appear.

19. Ignore Color Correction

Color correction is essential for achieving a polished look, so if you want to decrease quality, skip this step entirely. Leave your footage with uneven colors, poor contrast, and an overall unrefined appearance.

20. Use a Low-Quality Export Setting

Finally, when exporting your video, choose the lowest quality settings available. This includes low resolution, high compression, and a low bitrate. The export settings you choose will have a significant impact on the final quality of your video, so go as low as possible.

Q&A

Q: Why would anyone want to decrease the quality of their video? A: There are several reasons, such as creating a retro aesthetic, saving storage space, or intentionally making the video look amateurish for artistic purposes.

Q: Can decreasing video quality save storage space? A: Yes, reducing resolution, increasing compression, and lowering the bitrate can all significantly reduce file size, saving storage space.

Q: What’s the easiest way to make a video look low-quality? A: Lowering the resolution and increasing compression are two of the simplest and most effective ways to decrease video quality.

Q: Can I decrease video quality without using editing software? A: Yes, you can achieve low-quality video by using a poor camera, shooting in bad lighting, or recording in a noisy environment.

Q: Will decreasing video quality affect the audio? A: Not necessarily, but you can also downsample the audio to further degrade the overall quality of the video.