Digital cameras are undeniably convenient, but there's something so charming about film photography. Lately, countless photographers have been dusting off their film cameras and adding a vintage flavour to their portfolios. The film aesthetic is unique, characterised by vivid colours, the occasional flare, and a whole lot of grain. Film grain adds to the mood and impact of some of our favourite photos in history, so it's no surprise that modern-day photographers are trying to replicate it.
While we recommend experimenting with film photography at some stage, you can add film grain to your digital photos in the meantime. Here's how to make your photos look vintage!
What is grain in photography?
Have you ever flicked through film photos or seen them framed? You would have come across grain — the granulated, textured look that's one of film photography's biggest trademarks. If you closely inspect a film photo, you'll notice it has a sandy, gritty appearance, which is where the term "grain" comes from.
When working with film, you'll capture grainy photos if you're shooting in dark, low-light conditions or using a faster speed film — in other words, film with a higher ISO.
Can I add film grain to my digital photos?
The answer is yes! As amazing as digital cameras are at producing clean, crisp, high-quality images, the vibrant colours and grainy texture of film are nostalgic. Now that the film aesthetic is becoming more mainstream, modern photographers are experimenting with adding film grain to photos taken with their DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and even smartphones — with great success.
If you want to try this technique for yourself, here are a few ways to mimic the effect of film photography without picking up a film camera.
Use readymade filters
Are you uploading your images to a social media site? Chances are the platform you're using has built-in filters that can give your photos a vintage feel. Instagram, for example, has a range of retro-inspired filters that can add a grainy, gritty texture to your images. Milk*Two adds a subtle grainy overlay, while Grainy III adds specks or dust flecks for an on-trend yet old-school finish.
Download an editing app
Another option is to edit your photos on an app before sharing them. There are many to choose from — Mextures, Tezza, Film, Moldiv, and Colourtone are great options, and many can add grit and grain to videos too. If you're using a camera app that allows you to choose different film stock, go for something with a high ISO, like 800.
Rely on photo editing software
Editing programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom will give you the greatest control over your grainy photos. You can add as much or as little grain as you like, and tweak the settings until you achieve your desired result. We recommend doing this as the final step of post-processing.
If you're using Photoshop, there's a dedicated "Add Noise" function, which is a good starting point. To dial it up, experiment with the strength of the grain effect or choose the "Gaussian" option for a more natural, vintage look.
If you have Lightroom, navigate to the Effects panel and click Grain. You'll see three sliders: Amount, Size, and Roughness. Imagine you're adding sand or crystals to your photo — that will give you an idea of what those adjustments mean. Play around with those sliders until you've replicated the grain effect you're envisioning. To make a photo less grainy, use those same sliders in reverse.
Grain vs. noise: what's the difference?
These terms are often used interchangeably, but professional photographers will tell you they're very different.
When you take photos on a digital camera or smartphone, you might end up with "noise." Image noise looks similar to grain, and it usually crops up on images shot in dark conditions or with a high ISO — because digital sensors convert light into pixels, and those factors can interfere with that process.
Film cameras, on the other hand, embed light-sensitive crystals into the film emulsion, and grain is the organic result. The higher the ISO, the more crystals there are and the grainier your photo will be.
The key difference is that film grain is a desirable aesthetic, whereas noise isn't. Luckily, advanced DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are capable of drastically reducing noise. If you typically shoot in low light, it's worth investing in a full-frame camera to save yourself time during editing.
Otherwise, you can address noise in post-production. If you shot in RAW (which we always encourage), software like Lightroom or Camera Raw has noise reduction options. Photoshop also has filters and plugins that can help clean up noisy images.
Experiment with film photography today
Film photography may remind us of a bygone era, but its charming, vintage-inspired look is booming in popularity. If you're interested in playing around with film grain, shop film cameras online and score free shipping on all Australian orders over $100. Or head to your local Ted's Cameras store to see our selection of models for yourself.