What Blend Mode is Best for Film Grain?

Various blend modes can be used to achieve the desired outcomes. Especially when it comes to creating a video that appears to have film grain. As you’re looking at ways of adding character, and depth of style to your existing video footage. Consider the use of film grain overlays to achieve the desired effects. The impact of adding film grain to your films is incredible. But what blend mode is best for film grain? And how can film grain overlays help you to achieve the desired outcome?

What is Film Grain?

Film grain is represented by the nostalgic view of physical texture that was originally evident as a result of particles that were found on processed celluloid film.

While film grain was a largely random outcome of old films, digital films omit any real appearance of film grain. Eliminating the nostalgic appearance that many filmmakers have come to love.

Thus, some have sought ways of blending or adding film grain overlays in order to achieve the desired look.

Applying Film Grain with Adobe

The application of film grain in Adobe can help you to achieve the nostalgic look that sets a tone for your film that can take your audience back in time. In fact, if you’d like to apply film grain in Adobe, various blending modes can be used to achieve the desired results.

As we look to answer the question, “What blend mode is best for film grain?” It’s most important to outline the different blend modes that are available to you as well as the overlays that can be used to achieve the appropriate outcome for your film.

Adobe Premiere provides many film grain overlays that can deliver the intended results. Using an overlay blend mode, the film grain can be applied to your project and appropriately blended in to achieve the desired finished look.

Film Grain Overlay Packs

A quick search online will provide you with access to many different film grain overlays that can be used to enhance your videos.

Several free film grain overlays are available from Shutterstock Tutorials. And the process of adding them into your footage and then using the blend mode to overlay them is quite simple. 

If you’re looking for a very short, but free film grain overlay, you can capture a free film grain download from Holy Grain that provides about 5 seconds of film grain that can be looped for use in your projects. 

Additional Options

Another option is to download free film grain overlays from Grainzilla. This site provides many different options to assist you with achieving the nostalgic cinema views that you desire.

You can download free overlays or consider paying for the look that is most suitable for your project. They have a lot to choose from and once you have the files. You can use your blend overlay mode to achieve the desired appearance for your project. 

Deciding what blend mode is best for film grain is typically about finding the right film grain overlay template for your project.

And then using the blend overlay mode to apply the grain and create your desired outcome. It’s not hard, but it might take some time to find the perfect film grain overlay for your project.