What is a shadow mask?

A perforated metal sheet inside a color CRT that ensures each electron beam only strikes phosphors of its own color. It is why old screens showed a fine RGB dot pattern when you looked closely.

CRT glass was physically curved, so the image bowed slightly at the edges. Along with the scanlines and phosphor glow, that subtle barrel distortion is one of the strongest cues that separates a real CRT look from a scanline overlay.

CRT Shadow Mask applied to the same source image — The same source image before and after applying CRT Shadow Mask.

Original source image before CRT Shadow Mask — The same source image before and after applying CRT Shadow Mask.

CRT Shadow Mask Photo Filter Online

Display the image through glowing phosphor triads and scanlines. Control the strength, compare the result, and download a finished image from your browser.

Upload a photo for the CRT Shadow Mask effect

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Supported formats include JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF, RAW, PSD. Maximum file size: 11 MB.

What you can do with the CRT Shadow Mask effect

Review the available effect capabilities before you begin.

Apply the CRT Shadow Mask effect to any photo
Fine-tune the effect strength to taste
Preview your photo live as you edit
Download your edited photo in high quality
Apply CRT Shadow Mask to many photos at once

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About the CRT Shadow Mask effect

An RGB phosphor triad pattern and scanline structure are overlaid with slight bloom and barrel curvature, reproducing an image displayed on a cathode-ray tube.

How to use CRT Shadow Mask

Upload a photo, adjust the CRT Shadow Mask intensity, compare its processed preview with the source, and download the finished result.

Why use the CRT Shadow Mask effect?

CRT Shadow Mask, tuned to your photo

Use the intensity control to balance the CRT Shadow Mask treatment with the detail and character of your original photo.

A fast CRT Shadow Mask workflow

A reduced CRT Shadow Mask preview keeps adjustments responsive. Free downloads are clean and web-size; Premium or a credit unlocks the original resolution.

Secure CRT Shadow Mask processing

CRT Shadow Mask uploads are processed on secure servers and automatically removed under the normal Pixoate retention policy.

How it works

An RGB phosphor triad pattern and scanline structure are overlaid with slight bloom and barrel curvature, reproducing an image displayed on a cathode-ray tube.

Processing

CRT Shadow Mask runs as a classic image effect and does not use an AI action.

Best for

retro gaming graphics, synthwave and vaporwave design, music artwork, and nostalgic tech content.

Less suited to: high-resolution detail work, since the scanline and mask structure hide fine information.

Ways to use CRT Shadow Mask

CRT Shadow Mask questions

What is a shadow mask?: A perforated metal sheet inside a color CRT that ensures each electron beam only strikes phosphors of its own color. It is why old screens showed a fine RGB dot pattern when you looked closely.
Why add curvature?: CRT glass was physically curved, so the image bowed slightly at the edges. Along with the scanlines and phosphor glow, that subtle barrel distortion is one of the strongest cues that separates a real CRT look from a scanline overlay.