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How to get an analog film effect on photos

Planted on: January 20, 2026

Recent growth on: January 20, 2026

General editing techniques

  • Turn up highlights and shadows, while lowering overall exposure
  • Turn down clarity and texture for that dreamy effect
  • Add grain
  • Avoid pure white and pure black

iPhone Specific Tips

  • Use 2x zoom
  • Shoot slightly underexposed
  • Add a photographic style: amber, tone 6, color 20, palette 100
  • Use a third party app which removes Apple's over-sharpening

My flow

  1. Optional: Use a film-style filter in Liit app for example. Justin inspired me to use this app
  2. Balance the contrast and exposure for your specific picture
  3. Turn up the highlights, and also the shadows a little bit
  4. HSL: Shift the blues toward cyan. Shift red hue towards orange.
  5. Up the vibrance & saturation
  6. Up the temperature for more warmth, and decrease the tint to get more of a green cast
  7. Add blur, use de-focus, or reduce clarity
  8. Add grain, preferably no noise but a proper film grain overlay
  9. Add glow
  10. Optional: a bit more sharpening to bring back some detail