( Free · in the browser · no sign-up )
Add film grain to photos online.
Amount. Grain size. Monochrome. Analog texture. After sharpening.
A digital photo that is too clean can feel lifeless. Grain adds a fine, even texture, from almost invisible to a pushed-film look, with two controls.
You can also drag and drop one or multiple images in this area.•Accepted inputs: JPEG, PNG, WEBP, AVIF, HEIC, TIFF, GIF and BMP (HEIC and TIFF are converted on import). Export as JPEG, PNG and AVIF, and as WEBP when the browser supports that encoding.
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- 01No installation
- 02In-browser editing
- 03Preview before export
- 04No sign-up
( How it works )
Grain that looks like film, not like a flaw
- ( 01 / 03 )
1. Finish the edit first
Light, color, crop and sharpening first. Grain is applied after sharpening precisely so sharpening does not enhance it.
- ( 02 / 03 )
2. Choose amount and size
Amount from 0 to 100 sets how much each point varies in brightness. Size groups the grain into larger points, from 1 to 5 pixels, for high-resolution photos.
- ( 03 / 03 )
3. Check at 100%
A reduced preview hides grain. View the photo at real size before exporting, and remember that low-quality JPEG flattens the texture.
( The interface )
Current tool interface
( What it does )
How the grain is applied
- 01
Monochrome
The same value is added to all three color channels, so the grain changes brightness without creating colored specks, like the grain of black and white film.
- 02
Amount and Size
At 100, each point varies by up to about 12 levels up or down on a 0–255 scale. Size from 25 upward groups pixels into blocks of 2 to 5 px.
- 03
Last in the pipeline
Grain and vignette come after noise, color, curves, LUT and sharpening. None of those settings enhance or smooth the grain you chose.
( What people use it for )
What grain is good for
- ( 01 )
An analog look
Moderate grain, a warm or Vintage filter and a light vignette build a film aesthetic without a closed preset.
- ( 02 )
Hiding over-smoothing
Skin that became too smooth after noise reduction regains texture with a low grain value.
- ( 03 )
Black and white
In B&W monochrome grain looks natural and gives body to smooth skies and walls.
- ( 04 )
Matching a series
Photos from different cameras look more alike with the same texture on top.
( Questions? Answered )
Frequently asked questions
Are grain and noise the same thing?
They look alike, but noise is an irregular sensor flaw and grain here is an even texture applied on purpose. That is why it makes sense to reduce noise and then add grain.
What value should I use?
For a texture you only feel, between 10 and 25. For an overt film look, between 40 and 60. Above that the texture dominates the photo.
What is Size for?
On large photos, 1-pixel grain becomes too fine when the whole image is viewed. Grouping it into larger blocks keeps the texture visible on screen.
Does grain survive Instagram?
It shows weaker, because the network recompresses the image. Export at high quality and use a little more grain than seems enough on screen.
Can I apply the same grain to several photos?
Yes. Copy the settings from the finished photo and paste them on the others, or sync the Effects group with the selected photos.
( In depth )
What film grain was and what can be imitated
On film, grain was not an effect: it was the image itself. Knowing that helps you use the digital version with more judgment.
Silver crystals
A photographic film emulsion is full of silver halide crystals. Those that receive enough light become metallic silver during development and form the image. Because the crystals have random sizes and positions, the final image is made of irregular points: that is grain.
Faster films use larger crystals, which catch light more easily and produce more visible grain. Push-processing to compensate for low light increased grain further. That is why strong grain became associated with photojournalism, concerts and night photography.
Film grain versus digital grain
On film, grain shows most in the midtones and less in extreme highlights and shadows, and each emulsion has its own structure. An even digital grain adds the same variation across the whole photo. It is convincing at low and moderate values; at high values the eye notices that the texture does not follow the light.
Another difference: film grain sits in the same place in every print from a negative. Synthetic grain is computed from each pixel's position, so the same photo always gets the same pattern; what it lacks is the variation from one roll to another.
How much grain to use
The size at which the photo will be seen decides almost everything. On a phone screen the image is reduced and fine grain disappears; on a large print the same grain can become obvious. Judge it at real size and think about the destination.
A good practice is to add grain only after reducing noise and applying sharpening. That way the texture left is the one you chose, not a mix of sensor flaw and effect.
( Ready when you are )
Give the photo texture
Open the photo, finish the adjustments and add grain last, checking at 100%.