Film Grain Effect: what it does
Grain gives digital photos the texture of film, hides banding in skies and smooth gradients, and makes over-smooth phone photos look more natural. Choose the amount, the grain size and the type: mono grain looks like black and white or colour film, colour grain looks like digital camera noise. The grain size is relative to the photo, so the download looks like the preview at any resolution. Your photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
How to use it
- Drop a photo into the box, paste it with Ctrl+V, or tap to choose one from your phone.
- See the effect straight away. The thumbnails show every other effect on your photo too.
- Adjust the settings, and hold “Hold to compare” to see the original.
- Download at full resolution as JPG, PNG or WebP.
Tips
- Subtle grain (20–35) is usually enough; heavy grain suits black and white photos best.
- Grain is easy to lose when a social app compresses your photo. Slightly coarser grain survives better.
- Banding in a sky or a gradient? A little mono grain hides it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add grain to a photo?
Add the photo, set Amount and Grain size, pick mono or colour grain, and download. The preview shows the grain at the same scale as the full-size file.
What is the difference between mono and colour grain?
Mono grain changes only brightness, like film. Colour grain varies red, green and blue separately, like the noise of a digital camera at high ISO.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. The grain is added by your browser on your own device.