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Photo editing guide

How to Add Film Grain in GIMP

GIMP has no dedicated film grain tool, but its noise filters on a separate Overlay layer produce convincing grain, and because the grain lives on its own layer you can adjust strength at any time.

Published October 3, 2026 · Updated October 3, 2026 · Written by Maximilian Braun

Method 1: Overlay noise layer

The most film-like approach in GIMP.

  1. 1

    Create a new layer (Layer > New Layer).

  2. 2

    Set the foreground color to #808080 (50% gray) and fill the layer with it (Edit > Fill with FG Color).

  3. 3

    Set the layer Mode to Overlay (or Soft Light).

  4. 4

    Apply Filters > Noise > RGB Noise, uncheck Independent RGB for monochrome grain, and use a low value.

  5. 5

    Optionally soften with Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur at about 0.5 px, then lower layer opacity.

A 50% gray layer is invisible in Overlay mode, so only the noise you add to it changes the picture.

Method 2: Grain texture PNG

Consistent grain without building it by hand.

  1. 1

    Generate a grain PNG at your image's size with the imagegrain overlay generator.

  2. 2

    Open it as a layer (File > Open as Layers).

  3. 3

    Set the layer Mode to Overlay or Soft Light and adjust opacity.

Recommended GIMP grain settings

Gray fill#808080
Layer modeOverlay or Soft Light
RGB NoiseLow values, Independent RGB off
Blur0.3–0.8 px Gaussian

Menu names and value ranges can change between GIMP versions.

Tips for natural-looking grain

  • Work at full resolution and add grain last, after scaling.
  • Export to JPEG at quality 85 or higher so compression does not erase the grain.
  • Use a layer mask to reduce grain on faces or bright highlights.

Skip the setup in GIMP

Add adjustable film grain to photos directly in your browser, with nothing uploaded, then export JPEG, WebP, or PNG.

35mm Film Grain OverlayOpen the photo grain editor

Film grain in GIMP: FAQ

Does GIMP have a film grain filter?

Not a dedicated one. Use the noise filters on a gray Overlay layer, or import a grain texture PNG.

Why does my grain layer look gray?

The layer mode is still Normal. Set it to Overlay or Soft Light so the 50% gray becomes invisible.

Is there a faster free option than GIMP?

Yes. imagegrain applies adjustable film grain directly in the browser with no install and no upload.