How can I create a gritty, grainy look while keeping detail?
Asked 10/23/2018
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2 answers
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I want to recreate a gritty, grainy, slightly fuzzy look that still keeps a lot of fine detail. Is this something best done in-camera, or is it mainly a post-processing effect? If it matters, I’m open to either digital editing or film-based approaches.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
9
The effect is called Grain and you can find it in pretty much any photo editor, from Photoshop and Gimp to Instagram and Telegram. In my example I'm going to use Gimp.
The original Picture is from Slartibartfast's hall of fame submission (May 2018):
To add some basic grain in Gimp, use the Filters -> Noise -> HSV Noise:
You may wanna sharpen (Filters -> Enhance -> Sharpen) it after for more edges:
Tweak the sliders as per your liking. Also see this answer for a more detailed explanation on how to apply grain in Gimp using layer masks. Apps like Telegram for example simply call it Grain in their image editor, and the slider simply adjusts the noise level.
Originally by user77945. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user77945
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this look can be created either in post or in-camera, depending on how authentic you want the grain to be.
For digital photos, the simplest method is to add grain/noise in an editor. Most apps and programs have a grain or noise tool. In GIMP, for example, you can use Filters → Noise → HSV Noise, then optionally add a little sharpening afterward to bring back edge definition. The balance of added grain plus light sharpening is what helps keep the image gritty without losing all fine detail.
For a true film look, use a high-speed black-and-white film with naturally visible grain, then push it: rate the film at a higher ISO than box speed, underexpose accordingly, and extend development time. That combination increases apparent grain and contrast.
So: digital = easiest and most controllable in post; film = more authentic grain if you want the real analog effect.
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