If you love photos that feel warm, timeless, and a little bit nostalgic, you are not alone. The film look has become one of the most searched editing styles for a reason. It gives digital photos a softer finish, gentler contrast, and color that feels lived in instead of overly polished. The best part is you can create that film feel in Lightroom with a few key tools and a consistent workflow.
In this guide, you will learn how to get a film look in Lightroom using the Basic panel, glow settings like texture and clarity, RGB tone curves, film grain (including 35mm and 120 style grain), and the Calibration panel. If you want to save time and get consistent results fast, we will also share our favorite film-inspired presets, including Portra 400, Fuji 400, Kodak Gold, and our Film Bundle.
Looking for more styles beyond film? You can browse all Lou & Marks Film Collections.
What a Film Look Really Means
A true film look is not just grain. Film is a combination of tone, color, texture, and softness working together. Most film edits share a few common traits:
- Softer contrast and smoother transitions between highlights and shadows
- Highlights that feel gentle instead of bright and harsh
- Blacks that are slightly lifted for a faded, analog feel
- Color that shifts subtly, often warmer highlights and slightly cooler shadows
- Organic texture that looks natural, not like digital noise
When these pieces work together, your photos feel more emotional and less clinical. Film looks like a memory, not a screenshot.
Why Film Is So Popular Right Now
Film is having a moment, but it is more than a trend. The film look connects to nostalgia and that retro, analog feeling many of us grew up with. Think disposable cameras, old photo albums, and snapshots that were imperfect in the best way. Film reminds people of real life, not just curated life.
Creators and influencers also love film edits because they stand out in a feed full of crisp, high contrast digital images. Film style color and softness feel intentional without looking over edited.
Another reason film looks are so loved is how flattering they can be without heavy retouching. Film edits often use softer contrast, slightly reduced clarity, and organic grain. That combination can soften harsh digital sharpness and help images feel smoother overall. It is not about changing someone’s face. It is about creating a gentle, natural finish that feels like real film.
Step 1: Start in the Basic Panel
The Basic panel is your foundation. If you skip this step, your curves, grain, and calibration will never look quite right. A film look is built on balanced exposure and calm tones.
Exposure and Contrast
- Exposure: Film often feels slightly underexposed compared to bright digital edits. Start by setting exposure so your highlights are protected.
- Contrast: Lower contrast a bit. Film usually has softer contrast, especially in the midtones.
Highlights and Shadows
- Highlights: Pull highlights down to avoid harsh, blown whites. Film highlights feel gentle.
- Shadows: Lift shadows slightly if needed, but avoid making the image flat.
Whites and Blacks
- Whites: Reduce whites a touch if the image feels too bright or sharp.
- Blacks: Raise blacks slightly for a faded film feel, or keep them deeper for a richer film look.
Presence: Vibrance and Saturation
- Vibrance: Film color is usually controlled, not neon. If your photo feels too loud, lower vibrance slightly.
- Saturation: Use saturation sparingly. Tiny changes go a long way for film.
Quick tip: Film lives in the midtones. If your midtones look harsh, your film look will feel digital no matter what you do later.
Step 2: Create Film Glow with Texture and Clarity
When people say they want a film look, they often mean they want softness, glow, and that dreamy finish that makes highlights feel airy. In Lightroom, the easiest way to create this is with texture and clarity.
Texture
Texture controls fine detail. Lowering texture slightly can make an image feel smoother and more film-like, especially in portraits and lifestyle photos.
- Try reducing texture a small amount for a softer finish.
- If your image already looks soft, keep texture closer to zero.
Clarity
Clarity affects midtone contrast and can quickly make photos look crispy. Film rarely feels crispy. Slightly lowering clarity can create a gentle haze and glow.
- Lower clarity a little for softness.
- Do not overdo it. Too much negative clarity can make photos look muddy.
Dehaze (Optional)
Dehaze is powerful. For film looks, you usually want to avoid heavy dehaze. If an image looks too hazy or washed out after your curve and clarity changes, a tiny touch of dehaze can bring back balance.
Goal: Soft, not blurry. Glowy, not gray.
Step 3: Use the Tone Curve to Build Real Film Contrast
The Tone Curve is where the film magic really starts. If you want a film look that feels intentional and not like a filter, learn the curve. You do not need extreme adjustments. Film curves are subtle and smooth.
RGB Curve Basics
Start in the main RGB curve:
- Lift the black point: Raise the bottom left point slightly to create lifted blacks.
- Soften highlights: Lower the top right point slightly to keep whites gentle.
- Add a mild curve: If needed, add a soft S curve for shape without harsh contrast.
This creates that classic film feeling: soft shadows, calm highlights, and smooth transitions.
Color Curves: Red, Green, Blue
Color curves are how you create that film color personality. Think of them as tiny color shifts that feel natural.
- Red curve: Add warmth in highlights by lifting the top right slightly. If skin tones look too red, pull it back.
- Blue curve: Lower blue slightly in highlights to create creamy warmth. Lift blue slightly in shadows for cooler shadow depth.
- Green curve: Small adjustments can shift greens toward earthy or fresh tones. Keep this subtle.
Tip: If your curves feel too strong, they are too strong. Film is quiet, not loud.
Step 4: Film Grain Settings for Different Looks
Grain is one of the quickest ways to make an edit feel film-inspired, but only if it looks organic. Grain should support the image, not take it over. It also helps to choose the type of grain you are trying to emulate. 35mm and 120 film have very different grain patterns.
35mm Film Grain: Textured and Nostalgic
35mm is the classic everyday film format. It is the look many people associate with disposable cameras, point and shoots, and casual analog photos. 35mm grain is usually more visible and slightly tighter.
- Amount: medium to moderately high
- Size: small to medium
- Roughness: medium
35mm grain looks best when paired with slightly reduced clarity and lifted blacks. If the image is too sharp, the grain can look harsh instead of nostalgic.
120 Film Grain: Creamy and Refined
120 film is medium format, known for smoother tonal transitions and a more polished look. The grain is still there, but it often feels softer and more refined. In Lightroom, you want it to be present but not obvious.
- Amount: low to subtle
- Size: medium to slightly larger
- Roughness: low
This style is beautiful for portraits, weddings, and editorial vibes where you want softness and elegance.
Grain Recipes You Can Try
Soft Portrait Film: subtle 120-inspired grain
- Amount: low
- Size: medium
- Roughness: low
Vintage Retro Film: visible 35mm-inspired grain
- Amount: medium
- Size: small to medium
- Roughness: medium
Disposable Style Film: bolder 35mm feel
- Amount: moderately high
- Size: small
- Roughness: higher
Common Grain Mistakes
- Grain that is too small and sharp, which looks like digital noise
- Adding grain without softening clarity or contrast first
- Over-graining bright highlights, which can look crunchy
- Using grain as decoration instead of texture
Step 5: Use the Calibration Panel for Film Color
If tone curve is the heart of film contrast, calibration is the hidden shortcut to film color. The Calibration panel changes how Lightroom interprets color at a base level. It can help you get those subtle shifts in greens, blues, and warm highlights that feel like real film stock.
You do not need big changes here. Start small and adjust slowly.
Red Primary
- Adjusting red primary can influence warmth and skin tone balance.
- If your image feels too cool or flat, a small shift can bring life back.
Green Primary
- Green primary helps shape how greens and yellows feel.
- This is key for outdoor photos, foliage, and earthy film looks.
Blue Primary
- Blue primary often affects shadow tones and overall color mood.
- This is a common place to create cooler shadows or creamy highlights depending on how your curve is set.
Tip: Calibration works best when you already have your exposure and curves in a good place. Think of it as seasoning at the end, not the whole recipe.
Step 6: Put It All Together with a Simple Film Workflow
If you want consistent film edits, follow the same order every time. Here is a simple workflow that works for most images:
- Set exposure and protect highlights in the Basic panel
- Lower contrast slightly and shape shadows and blacks
- Add softness with a small texture and clarity adjustment
- Build film contrast in the RGB tone curve
- Add subtle color shifts using red, green, and blue curves
- Choose grain style based on mood, 35mm or 120
- Finish with Calibration for film color personality
This order keeps your edits clean and prevents you from chasing your tail in the sliders.
Want the Film Look Faster? Try Our Film Presets
You can absolutely build a film look manually, and it is worth learning. But if you want speed and consistency, film presets are the easiest way to get that look across an entire shoot. A well-made film preset already includes the curve shaping, glow balance, calibration, and grain style that create a true film finish.
Here are a few Lou and Marks film favorites that customers love for everyday edits, portraits, and content creation:
Kodak Portra 400 Film Preset
Inspired by soft, creamy film tones with gentle contrast and flattering color. Portra-style edits are known for natural warmth, smooth highlights, and an elevated look that still feels effortless.
- Soft contrast and creamy highlights
- Clean, timeless film color
- Perfect for portraits, lifestyle, and golden light
Fuji 400H Film Preset
If you love fresher greens and a slightly cooler, modern film feel, Fuji-inspired edits are a go-to. They often feel clean and crisp without going harsh.
- Fresh greens and balanced tones
- Beautiful outdoor color
- Great for travel, lifestyle, and everyday content
Kodak Gold 200 Film Preset
Kodak Gold is pure nostalgia. Warm tones, sunny color, and that familiar vintage glow that feels like summer memories and old photo prints.
- Warm, golden color
- Classic retro film vibe
- Amazing for family photos, travel, and casual moments
The Film Bundle
Want options for different lighting and moods? Our Film Bundle is designed to give you multiple film-inspired looks so you can match your edit to the moment. From soft and creamy to warm and nostalgic, it is the easiest way to build a film style you can repeat.
- Multiple film-inspired styles in one bundle
- Consistency across sessions and seasons
- Perfect if you want variety without starting from scratch every time
You can shop all our film preset collection and our full Lightroom Preset Catalog.
Quick Tips for Making Film Presets Look Their Best
Even with presets, tiny adjustments make the difference between a good edit and a gorgeous one. Here are a few easy tips:
- Adjust exposure first: Most film looks are sensitive to exposure. Get brightness right before changing anything else.
- Fine-tune white balance: Warm it slightly for golden film or cool it slightly for fresh Fuji vibes.
- Use grain intentionally: Choose a softer 120 feel for refined edits or a 35mm feel for nostalgic texture.
- Keep contrast gentle: If the photo feels crunchy, pull contrast down and soften highlights.
- Let it feel real: Film looks best when it is not trying too hard.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to get a film look in Lightroom is about building a feeling. It is softness without haze, texture without noise, and color that feels like a memory you can almost step back into. Start with a calm Basic panel, shape tone with curves, add glow with texture and clarity, choose a grain style that fits the mood, then finish with calibration for that film color personality.
And if you want that film look in one click, with the kind of consistency you can trust across your photos, our film presets are designed to make it easy. Portra 400, Fuji 400, Kodak Gold, and our Film Bundle are all built to deliver that warm, analog-inspired finish while still leaving room for your unique style. You can view all our film-inspired Lightroom presets if you're ready to start editing.
