How to Use Shader Filter Plugin in OBS Studio

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to install and use the “Shader Filter” plugin in OBS Studio to apply custom visual effects—such as retro CRT looks, blurs, rounded corners, and color grading—to your streams and recordings. You will learn how to add the filter to your sources, load pre-made shaders, and customize their parameters to elevate your stream’s visual production.

Step 1: Install the OBS Shader Filter Plugin

Before you can apply custom effects, you need to install the plugin.

  1. Go to the official OBS Resources forum or GitHub and search for the obs-shader-filter plugin.
  2. Download the latest release compatible with your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
  3. Run the installer, or if downloading the zip archive, extract the contents directly into your OBS Studio installation folder (usually C:\Program Files\obs-studio on Windows).
  4. Restart OBS Studio to load the plugin.

Step 2: Add the Shader Filter to a Source or Scene

You can apply shaders to individual sources (like webcams and game captures) or entire scenes.

  1. Open OBS Studio and navigate to the Sources or Scenes dock.
  2. Right-click the source or scene you want to modify and select Filters.
  3. In the Filters window, click the + (Plus) icon under the Effect Filters section (bottom left).
  4. Select User-defined shader from the list.
  5. Name the filter (e.g., “CRT Effect”) and click OK.

Step 3: Load a Custom Shader

The Shader Filter plugin works by reading code files (usually with a .shader or .effect extension) that dictate how pixels are rendered.

  1. In the filter properties window, check the box labeled Load shader text from file.
  2. Click the Browse button next to the “Shader file path” field.
  3. Navigate to the folder where the plugin’s default shaders were installed (usually inside the obs-plugins\win-dshow\shaders folder, or wherever you saved your downloaded shaders).
  4. Select a shader file (e.g., crt-easymode.shader, rounded_rect.shader, or vignette.shader) and click Open.

Step 4: Customize the Effect Settings

Once the shader file is loaded, the visual effect will immediately apply to your preview screen. You can fine-tune the look using the parameters that appear in the properties window.