5 Editing Tips to Make Digital Photos Look Like Film

5 Editing Tips to Make Digital Photos Look Like Film

Jun 3

Written By Emily Olson

1. Add Grain – But Not Too Much

Film has natural grain due to its chemical composition. In digital editing:

Add fine to medium grain in Lightroom or your editing app.
Keep it subtle—film grain adds texture, not noise.

Tip: Adjust grain size and roughness for a more realistic film feel.

2. Shift the Colors in the Shadows and Highlights

Film often has subtle color casts due to the emulsion process.

In Lightroom → Color Grading, add warm tones to highlights and green or teal to shadows.
Try split toning for a moody or cinematic look.

3. Lower the Contrast Slightly

Digital images tend to be super crisp and contrasty. Film is a bit softer.

Pull down contrast and lift the blacks for a matte feel.
Use the Tone Curve to gently fade the shadows and soften highlights.

4. Desaturate Colors Selectively

Film tones are often muted compared to digital.

In HSL panel, lower saturation on blues and greens slightly.
Skin tones should stay warm and natural (slightly orange/yellow).

5. Use Presets Based on Real Film Stocks

Film emulation presets can shortcut the look:

Try presets that mimic Kodak Portra, Fuji Pro 400H, Cinestill 800T, or Ilford HP5.
Sites like VSCO, Mastin Labs, and Fuji X Weekly offer authentic profiles.