A professional desktop application for generating authentic film grain overlays with scientifically informed characteristics based on 37 real film stocks.
Professional interface featuring: Left - Film stock info panel with technical specifications, Center - Live grain generation canvas, Right - Precision toolbox with sliders and selectors, Bottom - Real-time performance metrics showing grain count and generation speed. (Screenshots predate the 2.2 grain-model rewrite; current output differs.)
- 37 Real Film Stocks: Complete database including Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, Agfa, and CineStill films
- Scientifically Informed: Grain amplitude driven by published RMS/PGI granularity where available
- Realistic Grain Characteristics: Film-specific sizes, shapes, densities, and clustering patterns
- Film-Specific Colors: Each stock has its own grain color signature
- Multi-threaded Rendering: Utilizes all CPU cores for fast generation
- Adjustable Density: 0.5x-5.0x multiplier (roughly 10K-1M grains depending on film and canvas)
- Fast Preview: Grain regenerates when a slider is released, with live value readouts
- Professional Quality: Up to 2048x2048 resolution output
- Exposure Compensation: -2 to +2 stops (simulates over/under exposure)
- Grain Size: 0.2x-5.0x size multiplier
- Grain Opacity: 20-100% visibility control
- Grain Density: 0.5x-5.0x multiplier (film stock dependent)
- Film Age & Storage: 0-10 years of simulated aging, fridge or room temperature
- Canvas Size: 512-2048px output resolution
- Transparent PNG: Perfect for overlay use in photo/video editing
- Composite Export: Upload your own image and save image + grain together
- High Resolution: Up to 2048x2048 output
- Professional Quality: Ready for commercial design work
This isn't just random noise - it's a grain model grounded in published film data:
- Shape-Based Rendering: Authentic crystal structures - Sigma (Fuji), Tabular (T-Max), Irregular (Tri-X), Cubic (HP5)
- ISO-Based Behavior: High ISO films (Delta 3200) show chaotic grain; low ISO films (Ektar 100) are ultra-uniform
- Grain Size Model: Log-normal distribution (~0.16-3.6 µm range) scaled by ISO and emulsion class. Manufacturer datasheets do not publish per-film grain size, so these are documented estimates (see
tools/ESTIMATION.md) - Density From Grain Size: Grain count is derived from each film's grain size instead of an invented grains-per-mm² figure, so finer emulsions place more, smaller grains
- Per-Channel Colour: Independent cyan/magenta/yellow variation for colour negative and slide films
- Pattern Distribution: Clustered vs random grain placement based on film chemistry
- Edge Type Rendering: Soft, sharp, hard, crystalline edges matching real film characteristics
- Authentic Clustering: Per-film cluster sizes (mostly 2-6 grains) and spatial patterns
- Contrast Characteristics: Film-specific opacity based on actual contrast levels
- Color Accuracy: Authentic color casts per film stock (CineStill 800T warm, Fuji green bias, etc.)
- Aging Simulation: Q10-based fog/colour-shift model with storage temperature effects (fridge vs room temp)
- Exposure Effects: Published push/pull data where available, otherwise class-based grain growth
Black & White Films (12):
- Kodak: Tri-X 400, T-Max 100/400
- Ilford: HP5 Plus, Delta 100/400/3200, FP4 Plus, Pan F Plus 50
- Fuji: Acros 100, Neopan 400/1600
Color Negative Films (19):
- Kodak: Portra 160/400/800, Ektar 100, Gold 200, UltraMax 400, Vision3 50D/250D/500T
- Fuji: Pro 160S/400H, C200, Superia 400, Natura 1600
- Agfa: Vista 200/400
- CineStill: 50D, 400D, 800T (with authentic halation effects)
Color Slide Films (6):
- Fuji: Velvia 50/100, Provia 100F/400X
- Kodak: Ektachrome E100
- Agfa: CT Precisa 100
Each film stock produces distinctly different grain characteristics:
| Fuji Acros 100 (B&W) | Fuji Pro 400H (Color) |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Fine, sharp sigma-crystal grains with tight clustering | Larger, softer color grains with organic distribution |
Notice the differences in grain size, shape, color, density, and clustering patterns - the same cues that distinguish these stocks on real film.
Note: Density multiplier set to 5x for demonstration purposes to clearly show grain characteristics. Images are from an earlier build; the 2.2 model renders different (finer, less opaque) grain.
Download the installer for your platform from Releases:
- macOS:
.dmg - Windows:
.msi - Linux:
.AppImage,.deb, or.rpm
Release builds are unsigned. On macOS, right-click the app and choose Open the first time you launch it; on Windows, SmartScreen may ask you to confirm.
macOS:
# Double-click this file in Finder:
🎬 SIMPLE INSTALLER.commandWindows / cross-platform:
# Double-click this file in Explorer, or run:
python "🎬 INSTALL FILM GRAIN GENERATOR.py"- Node.js 20+ (Download)
- Rust & Cargo (Install)
- Python 3.8+ (used by the cross-platform installer; usually pre-installed on macOS)
The installer will check for these and guide you through any missing requirements.
- Launch FilmGrainPro
- Select a film stock (e.g., "Kodak Tri-X 400")
- Adjust settings on the Basic tab:
- Grain Density Multiplier: 0.5x-5.0x grain count
- Grain Size Multiplier: 0.2x-5.0x grain size
- Grain Opacity: 20-100% visibility
- Optional — Advanced tab: exposure compensation (-2 to +2 stops), film age (0-10 years), storage temperature, canvas size (512-2048px)
- Click "Regenerate Grain" to see results (double-click a slider to reset it, or click its value to type an exact number)
- Export: "Save Grain Only" writes a transparent PNG; upload an image on the Output tab to composite it with the grain instead
The left-hand info panel shows the selected stock's sourced metrics (ISO, graininess, morphology, push range) where published.
- Add authentic film look to digital photos
- Match grain to specific film stocks you've used
- Create consistent grain across photo series
- Add film grain to digital footage
- Match specific cinema film stocks (Vision3, etc.)
- Create vintage or artistic effects
- Texture overlays for graphic design
- Authentic film aesthetic for branding
- Print design with realistic film grain
- Backend: Rust (high-performance grain generation)
- Frontend: JavaScript + HTML/CSS
- Framework: Tauri (cross-platform desktop)
- Rendering: Multi-threaded parallel processing
- Data: JSON-based film stock database
- Multi-core: Uses all available CPU threads (Rayon)
- High-Density Generation: Up to ~1M grains at the top density multiplier on fine-grained stocks
- Fast Preview: Rendering runs off the UI thread, and stale results are discarded if settings change mid-render
- Memory Efficient: Tiled compositing into a single RGBA buffer
- Advanced Clustering: Per-film grain grouping based on film chemistry
tools/SIMULATION_MODEL.md- how the sourced data drives renderingtools/DATA_REQUIREMENTS.md- which fields are datasheet, derived, or estimatedtools/ESTIMATION.md- the ISO/morphology model for unmeasurable fieldstools/SOURCES.md- source list and confidence levels
- macOS: 10.15+ (Catalina), Windows: 10/11, or Linux: any modern distro with WebKitGTK
- Memory: 4GB RAM
- Storage: 100MB free space
- CPU: Any modern multi-core processor
- Memory: 8GB+ RAM (for high grain densities)
- CPU: 4+ cores (for faster rendering)
Contributions are welcome! Areas for improvement:
- Additional film stock data
- New grain algorithms
- UI/UX enhancements
- Performance optimizations
This project is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - free for personal and educational use. Commercial use requires permission.
See the LICENSE file for complete terms.
- Film stock data compiled from technical specifications and community research
- Grain simulation algorithms based on photographic science literature
- UI design inspired by professional photo editing software
- Issues: GitHub Issues
- Discussions: GitHub Discussions
- Changelog: RELEASE_NOTES.md
Made with ❤️ for film photography enthusiasts and digital artists
Create authentic film grain overlays that actually look like real film - because your art deserves better than generic noise.