Configuring OBS for Retro Gameplay: Integer Scaling, Deinterlacing, and Colour Range
Set OBS Studio's integer scaling, deinterlacing, and colour range correctly for 240p and 480i retro gameplay to avoid blur, combing, and washed-out blacks in your recordings.
Configuring OBS for Retro Gameplay: Integer Scaling, Deinterlacing, and Colour Range
Your retro footage looks wrong because OBS Studio defaults to broadcast video settings. It ships with a Partial colour range (16-235) and Yadif deinterlacing. Both damage pixel art. A 240p signal treated as 480i loses half its vertical resolution. 480i run through Yadif produces combing artifacts on every frame of motion. Fix it in three steps. Switch the YUV colour range to Full. Set the deinterlacer to Retro, or disable it when the source is already progressive. Enable integer scaling in the Upscale Filter menu. Skip any one of these and you are destroying image quality at the last step in the chain.
OBS 240p Capture Colour Range: Why Your Image Looks Washed Out
OBS Studio defaults to a Partial YUV colour range (16-235). That is the broadcast standard. Most retro scalers, including the RetroTINK 5X-Pro and OSSC, output Full RGB range (0-255) over HDMI. When OBS receives a Full range signal but interprets it as Partial, black levels rise to 16 and white clips at 235. You get a flat, washed-out image. Crushed shadows. Blown highlights.
Switch To Full Range
Go to Advanced Settings > Video > YUV Color Range. Set it to Full.
Verify With A Waveform Scope
Load the SMPTE colour bar pattern from the 240p test suite. The suite runs on SNES, Genesis, PS1, Saturn, Dreamcast, GameCube, and Wii. In OBS, open the waveform scope monitor. If the bars clip at 16 on the low end or 235 on the high end, the colour range is mismatched. A correct Full range capture shows black at 0 and white at 255 on the waveform.
OBS Deinterlacing PS2 480i Setting: Eliminating Combing Artifacts
The PlayStation 2 library is overwhelmingly 480i. OBS's default deinterlacer, Yadif 2x, doubles the frame rate by interpolating every other line. The result is combing artifacts on moving objects: horizontal tearing lines that shift each frame. Do not use Yadif for retro footage.
Choose Retro Deinterlacing
Open the source properties, locate the deinterlacing dropdown, and select Retro. This mode outputs a single frame rate by doubling each field. The image is softer but free of artifacts. That is the trade-off you want.
When To Disable Deinterlacing Entirely
If your upstream scaler already handles deinterlacing, disable OBS deinterlacing. The RetroTINK 5X-Pro applies motion-adaptive deinterlacing that reconstructs full vertical resolution from 480i without flicker or combing. Set OBS deinterlacing to Discard. Double deinterlacing adds latency and softens the image. The OSSC has no built-in deinterlacing: it passes the interlaced signal through, so OBS must deinterlace. The OSSC Pro offers bob, linear, and motion-adaptive deinterlacing modes.
| Mode | Output Frame Rate | Artifact Profile | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yadif 2x | Double (60 fps from 30 fps interlaced) | Combing on fast motion | Standard video, not retro gaming |
| Retro | Single (30 fps from 30 fps interlaced) | Soft but no combing | 480i game capture without upstream deinterlacing |
| Discard | Single (30 fps from 30 fps interlaced) | Lost field data | Sources already deinterlaced by RetroTINK 5X or OSSC Pro |
| Linear 2x | Double (60 fps from 30 fps interlaced) | Vertical line flicker | Test patterns, not gameplay |
Integer Scaling OBS Retro Pixel Art: Keeping Pixels Square
Integer scaling prevents uneven pixel sizes when upscaling retro resolutions. A 256x224 SNES source scaled to 1920x1080 without integer scaling produces rows of pixels that are 4 pixels tall in one row and 5 in the next. Columns stretch to 7 or 8 pixels wide. Some pixels are larger than others. The image shimmers.
Enable Integer Scaling Per Source
OBS Studio added integer scaling in version 30.2.0. Right click the source, select Transform > Edit Transform, and set the Upscale Filter to Integer Scaling. You must also set the source base resolution manually. Right click the source, select Properties, and enter the console's native resolution. Common values: NES 256x240, SNES 256x224, Genesis 320x224, PS1 320x240, PS2 640x448. With integer scaling enabled, OBS scales the image by whole multipliers: 4x for 240p to 960p, 5x to 1200p. Black borders fill the remaining screen area.
Verify With The Grid Pattern
Load the 240p test suite grid pattern. Each grid square should be exactly one pixel wide at the source. On the output they land at four or five pixels wide, uniform across the frame. If squares vary in size, integer scaling is not active.
OBS Chroma Subsampling 4:4:4 Retro: Preventing Colour Bleed
Chroma subsampling 4:4:4 preserves full colour resolution for every pixel. Most capture cards default to 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 subsampling, which halves or quarters colour information. On retro sources with sharp colour edges, 4:2:0 produces visible colour bleed: red text on a black background develops a fuzzy halo.
Set OBS To Full Colour Resolution
In Advanced Settings > Video, set the Color Format to I444 (4:4:4 planar) or RGB. Not all capture cards support 4:4:4 at 1080p60. Check your card's specifications. A card that lists 4:4:4 support at 1080p30 but not at 1080p60 will drop frames or refuse the signal. The RetroTINK 5X-Pro and RetroTINK 4K output 4:4:4 over HDMI. The OSSC outputs RGB full range, which is inherently 4:4:4. If your capture card cannot accept 4:4:4, the next best option is 4:2:2 with a sharpness filter turned off. OBS's default sharpening adds ringing halos that mimic chroma artifacts.
Common Questions
Why does my 240p capture look blurry in OBS?
OBS is likely treating the 240p signal as 480i and applying deinterlacing. Set the deinterlacing mode to Retro or Discard. Also enable integer scaling in the source's Upscale Filter to prevent uneven pixel scaling.
What deinterlacing mode should I use for PS2 480i in OBS?
Use Retro deinterlacing if your capture card or scaler does not deinterlace. If you use a RetroTINK 5X-Pro with motion-adaptive deinterlacing enabled, set OBS deinterlacing to Discard to avoid double processing.
Does OBS support 4:4:4 chroma subsampling?
Yes, OBS supports I444 and RGB color formats. Set Color Format to I444 or RGB in Advanced Settings > Video. Your capture card must also support 4:4:4 at your capture resolution and frame rate.
How do I check if my colour range is correct in OBS?
Load the 240p test suite colour bars pattern on any supported console. In OBS, open the waveform scope. Black should hit 0 and white should hit 255. If black clips at 16 and white at 235, change YUV Color Range from Partial to Full.
Can I use the same OBS settings for 240p and 480i sources?
Not exactly. For 240p, disable deinterlacing or set it to Retro, and enable integer scaling. For 480i, use Retro deinterlacing or rely on your scaler's motion-adaptive deinterlacing. Colour range and chroma subsampling settings apply to both.
