CreatiVision
Free Guide

How to Make Fake CCTV Footage

Fake CCTV footage is perfect for pranks, short films, memes, horror content, and creative social media posts. Our free tool transforms any video or photo into authentic-looking security camera footage — complete with night vision, timestamps, scanlines, and a blinking REC indicator.

Open CCTV Generator — Free

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Upload Video or Photo

Upload an MP4, WebM, MOV video or a JPG/PNG/WebP image. Videos up to 50MB are supported. The tool works with any content — selfie videos, screen recordings, clips from your camera roll.

Static camera angles (tripod shots) look the most authentic as real CCTV footage.

2

Enable Night Vision

Toggle on Night Vision mode to convert your footage to grayscale with an authentic green tint. Adjust the tint intensity with the slider — lower values (5-10%) look subtle and realistic, higher values (20-40%) create a dramatic look.

Night vision at 10-15% intensity looks the most like real infrared security cameras.

3

Add Scanlines & Grain

Enable Scanlines for that classic CRT monitor look, and add Grain/Noise for realistic analog camera texture. Adjust spacing and intensity to your liking.

Wider scanline spacing (6-8px) looks like older CRT monitors. Tighter spacing (2-3px) is more subtle.

4

Configure Overlays

Toggle the blinking REC indicator, live timestamp, and customize the camera name (e.g., "CAM_01_PARKING_LOT"). Choose your date format: US, EU, or ISO.

Realistic camera names use locations: CAM_03_HALLWAY, CAM_12_ENTRANCE, PARKING_B2_EAST.

5

Export Your Footage

For photos: click "Save Frame" to download a PNG. For videos: click "Record Video" to start capturing, then "Stop" to download. The recorded video includes all effects and overlays.

Record 5-15 second clips for social media — they perform best on TikTok and Reels.

Pro Tips

For horror content, use high grain + narrow scanlines + slow camera movement

Bodycam style: keep the camera shaky and use wider night vision tint

For maximum virality on TikTok, add dramatic text overlays in your editing app after export

Record yourself "discovering" the CCTV footage for a great prank setup

Layer multiple clips in your video editor and switch between "camera angles"

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this for TikTok and Instagram?

Absolutely! CCTV filter content is trending on both platforms. Export your footage and upload directly.

Does the timestamp update in real time?

Yes, the timestamp shows the current time and updates every second, just like a real security camera.

What video format is exported?

Videos export as WebM (Chrome/Firefox) or MP4 (Safari), depending on browser support. Images export as PNG.

Can I use this for a film or short movie?

Yes! Many filmmakers use CCTV effects for found footage, horror, and thriller scenes. The tool is free for all uses.

Ready to Try It?

Follow this guide in our free editor — no signup, works in your browser.

Open CCTV Generator