Add Grain to Your Photos
Give your images an authentic film grain look. Upload a photo, adjust the intensity and grain type, then download — all processed in your browser, no upload required.
Free online grain effect tool — no sign-up, no watermarks, no file size limits. Works on desktop and mobile. Your photos stay private and never leave your device.
Drop an image here or click to upload
Supports JPG, PNG, WebP
How to Add Grain to a Photo
Upload Your Photo
Drag and drop or click to upload any JPG, PNG, or WebP image.
Adjust the Grain
Use the intensity slider and choose between fine, medium, or coarse grain textures.
Download the Result
Pick JPEG, WebP, or PNG, adjust quality, and export. File size is shown before you download — no surprises.
Add Grain Without Bloating File Size
Most grain tools export huge files because random noise is hard to compress. Grainy is different — our algorithm uses spatially-correlated noise that mimics real film grain and compresses efficiently. Combined with JPEG or WebP export and an adjustable quality slider, you get authentic grain at a fraction of the file size.
Compression-Friendly Grain
Our grain algorithm generates smooth, interpolated noise instead of harsh per-pixel randomness. This means JPEG and WebP can compress the result efficiently — keeping your grainy photos small enough to share, email, or upload anywhere.
Export as JPEG or WebP
Choose JPEG for the smallest file size or WebP for a modern alternative. Both formats handle grain naturally — unlike PNG, which can balloon to 10x the original size when noise is added. A quality slider lets you dial in the exact size-to-quality tradeoff.
Automatic Size Control
Oversized photos (over 4096px) are automatically scaled down before processing. You see the estimated file size before downloading, so there are no surprises. The result: grainy photos that look great without wasting storage or bandwidth.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I add grain to a photo online?
- Upload your image to Grainy, adjust the intensity slider and choose a grain type (fine, medium, or coarse), pick your export format (JPEG, WebP, or PNG), then download. The entire process takes seconds and runs in your browser.
- Is this grain effect tool free?
- Yes, Grainy is completely free to use with no sign-up required. There are no watermarks, no file size limits, and no restrictions on how many photos you can process.
- Are my photos uploaded to a server?
- No. All image processing happens locally in your browser using the Canvas API. Your photos never leave your device, making Grainy completely private and secure.
- What is the difference between fine, medium, and coarse grain?
- Fine grain adds subtle, single-pixel noise that mimics high-speed film stock. Medium grain uses 2-pixel blocks for a more noticeable texture. Coarse grain uses 4-pixel blocks for a dramatic, stylized look similar to pushed film or old photographs.
- What image formats are supported?
- You can upload JPG, PNG, and WebP images. For export, you can choose between JPEG (smallest file size, ideal for sharing), WebP (great balance of quality and size), or PNG (lossless, largest files). JPEG and WebP include a quality slider so you can fine-tune the file size.
- How do I keep the file size small?
- Export as JPEG or WebP instead of PNG — grain adds noise that makes PNG files very large. Use the quality slider to reduce file size further. Images larger than 4096px are automatically resized to keep processing fast and exports manageable.
- Why do grainy photos usually have large file sizes?
- Random pixel noise is the worst case for image compression — every pixel is different, so there are no patterns to compress. Grainy solves this with spatially-correlated noise that blends smoothly between points, just like real film grain. This gives JPEG and WebP compressors patterns to work with, resulting in dramatically smaller files compared to tools that use pure random noise.
- Can I use Grainy on my phone?
- Yes, Grainy is fully responsive and works on any device with a modern browser — including iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and desktop computers.