How to Add Grain in Lightroom

Method 1: Effects panel grain

Built into every version of Lightroom and saved with your edit.

1. 1

   Lightroom Classic: open the Develop module and expand the Effects panel. Lightroom desktop or mobile: open Edit, then Effects.

2. 2

   Raise Grain Amount. 15–25 is subtle; 35–50 is clearly visible.

3. 3

   Adjust Size: smaller values give finer grain; above about 40 it starts to look like a smaller film format.

4. 4

   Adjust Roughness: higher values make the pattern less uniform and more organic.

Lightroom renders grain relative to image size, so check it at 1:1 zoom and in an exported file.

Method 2: Save it as a preset

Apply the same grain to a whole shoot in one click.

1. 1

   After setting grain on one photo, create a preset (in Classic: Develop > New Preset).

2. 2

   Tick only the Effects > Grain settings so the preset does not change exposure or color.

3. 3

   Apply the preset to other photos, or sync settings across a selection.

Method 3: Finish in the browser

For reproducible grain with tone-specific control.

1. 1

   Export your edited photo from Lightroom without grain.

2. 2

   Open it in imagegrain and choose a grain recipe or film stock look.

3. 3

   Adjust shadow, midtone, and highlight grain separately, then export JPEG, WebP, or PNG.

Useful when you want less grain in highlights than in shadows, or identical grain across Lightroom and other apps.