videobeaux/docs/programs/effects/digital_boss.md

digital_boss

Description

Applies a “busted Game Boy–style digital boss” effect to the video — producing harsh bitmap artifacts, limited 8-bit tonal mapping, flicker, false edges, and unstable block transitions reminiscent of corrupted handheld-console graphics.
The effect aims to evoke a glitched, retro, boss-fight visual language.

Purpose

digital_boss is intended for creators who want to:

• simulate broken handheld-console graphics,
• add 8-bit or pseudo-Game-Boy stylistic decay,
• impose limited palettes, blocky edges, or sprite-like motion,
• create glitchy boss-battle ambience,
• stylize footage for music videos, live visuals, or retro-digital art.

How It Works

1. Palette Reduction
   The image is remapped into a restricted tonal palette similar to classic handheld consoles.
2. Block Artifacting
   Block-based distortions mimic corrupted tiles or unstable frame buffer graphics.
3. Edge Reinforcement
   Contours are emphasized in a way similar to sprite outlines or tile boundaries.
4. Temporal Instability
   Slight flicker or jitter introduces the feel of a malfunctioning digital system.
5. Encoding
   Output uses global Videobeaux encoding settings (codec, CRF, pixel format, presets).

Program Template

videobeaux -P digital_boss \
  -i input.mp4 \
  -o output.mp4

Arguments

• (No additional program-specific arguments; uses global videobeaux options only.)

Real World Example

videobeaux -P digital_boss \
  -i myvideo.mp4 \
  -o digital_boss_styled.mp4

Program Output

Technical Notes

• Compression interacts strongly with this effect — higher CRF may enhance the gritty retro look.
• Because the effect uses hard palette steps, gradients may posterize or flicker dramatically.
• Best used on footage with strong shapes, characters, or silhouettes.
• High-motion content will exaggerate jitter and tile instability.

Recommended Usage

• Retro boss-fight sequences or video-game-themed edits.
• Concert visuals or projection loops with digital-grunge aesthetics.
• Glitch-art animation, collage, and experimental video.
• Stylized narrative inserts to break realism.
• Layering with bad_predator, blur_pix, or hash_fingerprint for extreme digital corruption.

Quality Tips

• Lower CRF (higher quality) preserves cleaner tile boundaries; higher CRF increases noisy decay.
• Combine with convert_dims to produce Game-Boy-like square aspect ratios.
• Pre-apply gamma_fix for more even tonal distribution before palette reduction.
• If the effect feels too clean, pair with bad_animation for extra jitter or cadence disruption.
• Chain before heavy compression if you want the compression to participate in the aesthetic.