Contact
Support is provided by Matti Media LLC, the developer of RasterLab.
Email support@rasterlab.app. Include the details listed under Reporting a problem so we can help faster.
Getting started
- Open RasterLab and allow Camera access. Allow Microphone if you want sound in videos.
- Swipe left anywhere on the viewfinder to jump to a random shader, or open the filter browser to search the catalog by name, console or style.
- Swipe right to step back through the shaders you have already tried.
- Tap the shutter for a photo, or hold or tap the record control for video. The filter you see is what gets saved.
- Allow Photo Library access when asked so captures can be saved to Photos.
Frequently asked questions
Are the filters applied after recording?
No. RasterLab renders the shader on the GPU during preview and writes that filtered output directly while recording. There is no separate export or processing step, and the saved video matches the preview.
How many shaders are included?
The bundled catalog contains 1,024 shader presets ported from RetroArch‑style sources, covering console and handheld emulation, arcade and monitor CRTs, home video, film and artistic looks. Preview thumbnails ship for 1,020 of them; the remaining four show a placeholder until selected.
Why does a shader look different in the browser thumbnail than on the live preview?
Thumbnails are precomputed images generated from a fixed test pattern. The live preview renders the real shader against your camera feed at your current resolution and frame rate, so detail such as phosphor masks and scanline spacing will differ.
What do the Performance, Balanced and Quality presets do?
They set the target frame rate: 30, 60 and 120 frames per second. Complex multi‑pass shaders may hold a steadier rate on Performance. Quality only reaches 120 Hz on ProMotion‑capable devices. You can switch presets without restarting the camera.
Can I record Live Photos with a filter?
Yes. Filtered Live Photos keep the filtered motion clip alongside the still. Live capture uses the same real‑time pipeline as video.
Can I edit a video or photo I already have?
Existing photos can be edited through RasterLab's editing extension inside the Photos app (tap Edit, then the extensions menu). You can also share media into RasterLab from other apps using the Share sheet.
Does RasterLab work on iPad or Apple Watch?
The app supports iPhone and iPad on iOS 26 or later. The RasterLab Remote watch app (watchOS 10.6 or later) acts as a remote shutter and status display for the iPhone app; it does not render shaders on the watch.
Is my footage uploaded anywhere?
No. Captures are rendered and saved on your device. The app's privacy manifest declares no data collection and no tracking. See the privacy policy.
Troubleshooting
The preview is black or frozen
- Check Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera and make sure RasterLab is enabled.
- Close other apps that may be using the camera, then reopen RasterLab.
- If another app recently used the camera (for example a video call), lock and unlock the device and try again.
Recording stopped or the app was interrupted
RasterLab writes recordings in recoverable fragments. If a call, a low‑memory event or a crash interrupts a take, the next launch offers to Save, Restore or Discard the recovered clip. Nothing is imported into Photos until you choose Save.
Frame rate drops or the device gets warm
- Switch to the Balanced or Performance preset.
- Prefer single‑pass shaders for long recordings; multi‑pass CRT emulations are the most demanding.
- Thermal throttling is handled by iOS. Let the device cool and performance returns on its own.
Videos have no sound
Enable Microphone access under Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, then start a new recording. Recordings made before the permission was granted have no audio track.
Captures do not appear in Photos
Grant Add Photos Only or Full Access for RasterLab under Settings → Apps → RasterLab → Photos. Recovered clips are only imported after you choose Save.
Lock Screen, Control Center or Siri shortcuts do nothing
- Add the RasterLab control in Settings → Control Center or in the Lock Screen customization gallery.
- Siri and Shortcuts actions require the Siri permission to be granted once; you will be prompted the first time.
The Apple Watch remote shows "not connected"
Make sure the RasterLab iPhone app is open in the foreground, Bluetooth is on and the watch is unlocked. Watch Connectivity needs the phone app to be running to accept commands.
Permissions and what they are for
| Permission | Required? | Why RasterLab asks |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | Capture filtered photos and videos. |
| Microphone | For video audio | Record sound with your videos. |
| Photo Library | To save and edit | Save captures and open existing media in the editor. |
| Location (while using) | Optional | Tag captures with location so Photos can organize them by place. |
| Siri & Shortcuts | Optional | Allow quick‑capture actions from Siri, Shortcuts and widgets. |
Reporting a problem
When you report an issue, please include your device model, iOS version, the RasterLab version from Settings → Apps → RasterLab, the shader name if the problem is filter‑specific, and the steps to reproduce.
Send the report to support@rasterlab.app.