Skip to content
ArcBrush ArcBrush Docs

Film Grain

Film Grain
Filter

Adds physically-modeled film grain with seven calibrated stock presets and per-channel control over grain size, intensity, and tonal response.

The Film Grain node applied to a source image: original (left) and result (right).
Side-by-side comparison: the original image on the left and the same image after the Film Grain node on the right.

Seven stock presets are calibrated against published datasheets (Kodak Vision3 250D and 500T, Portra 400, Tri-X 400, Cinestill 800T, Fuji Eterna 250, Ilford HP5+). Choosing one overwrites the controls below it. The per-channel sliders follow how real color negatives behave, with the loudest grain on the blue layer.

Grain size is measured at 1080p and scales with image height, so a preset looks the same on a 1080p preview and a 4K export.

New Film Grain nodes start at Seed 1, so two new nodes share a pattern. A Seed of -1 gives each node, and each frame of a batch, its own pattern, derived from the node’s permanent identity, so it survives reopening the document and never matches another node’s. A fixed Seed draws the same grain on every frame of a batch; set the same explicit Seed on two nodes for matching grain.

Parameters

Section titled “Parameters”

Pins

ImageImage
InputRequired
MaskMask
InputOptional
ImageImage
Output

Stock

StockChoice
Default: Custom Range: Custom / Kodak Vision3 250D (5207) / Kodak Vision3 500T (5219) / Kodak Portra 400 / Kodak Tri-X 400 (B&W) / Cinestill 800T / Fuji Eterna 250 / Ilford HP5+ (B&W)

Film stock preset. Any preset other than Custom overwrites the controls below; Custom leaves them as they are

Intensity

Master IntensityNumber
Default: 0.50 Range: 0.00–2.00

Overall grain strength. 0 = no grain, 1 = pronounced, 2 = extreme

R IntensityNumber
Default: 0.42 Range: 0.00–2.00

Red channel grain weight

G IntensityNumber
Default: 0.46 Range: 0.00–2.00

Green channel grain weight

B IntensityNumber
Default: 0.85 Range: 0.00–2.00

Blue channel grain weight. Color negatives have the loudest grain on the blue layer

Grain

SizeNumber
Default: 0.20 Range: 0.05–1.00

Grain particle size in pixels at 1080p:

  • Fine 35mm: 0.15-0.25.
  • Coarse 400-speed B&W: ~0.4.

Scales with image height so presets look consistent across resolutions.

R SizeNumber
Default: 1.00 Range: 0.50–2.00

Red channel relative size multiplier

G SizeNumber
Default: 0.88 Range: 0.50–2.00

Green channel relative size multiplier

B SizeNumber
Default: 0.76 Range: 0.50–2.00

Blue channel relative size multiplier

SaturationNumber
Default: 0.70 Range: 0.00–1.00

Grain chroma. 0 = monochrome (B&W stocks). 1 = full per-channel color grain

IrregularityNumber
Default: 0.40 Range: 0.00–1.00

Grain clumpiness. 0 = uniform distribution. 1 = clumpier 'old film' look

Response

Shadow ResponseNumber
Default: 0.70 Range: 0.00–2.00

Grain visibility in shadow tones. Tri-X is shadow-heavy; Vision3 suppresses shadow grain

Mid ResponseNumber
Default: 1.00 Range: 0.00–2.00

Grain visibility in midtones

Highlight ResponseNumber
Default: 0.40 Range: 0.00–2.00

Grain visibility in highlights

Advanced

SeedInteger
Default: 1 Range: -1–2147483647

Random seed for the grain pattern. -1 gives each node and each batch frame its own grain

Apply in Linear LightToggle
Default: true

Apply the grain in linear light.

  • On (default): heavier in shadows and lighter in highlights, as real film behaves.
  • Off: the same strength across all tones. Predictable but less realistic.

Mask

Mask FromChoice
Default: Luminance
Color image connected to the mask input

How the connected color image is read as a mask

  • LuminanceRead the image's brightness as the mask. The default.
  • AlphaRead the image's transparency as the mask.
  • RedUse the red channel as the mask.
  • GreenUse the green channel as the mask.
  • BlueUse the blue channel as the mask.
Mask FitChoice
Default: Stretch
Mask connected

How the mask is mapped when it doesn't match the image

  • None (native size)Center the mask at its native size, with no resizing. Unmasked regions are unaffected.
  • StretchStretch the mask to exactly match the image dimensions. May distort the mask shape.
  • Fit (letterbox)Scale the mask to fit inside the image, preserving aspect ratio. Letterboxes where needed.
  • Fill (crop)Scale the mask to fill the image, preserving aspect ratio. Crops edges if aspect ratios differ.

Usage Tips

Section titled “Usage Tips”
  • Pick a stock preset for the look, then tweak from there.
  • Lower Saturation toward 0 for monochrome grain on a color image, like a B&W stock.
  • Raise Irregularity above 0.5 for vintage Super-8 or hand-processed looks.
  • Connect a mask to grain only part of the frame, such as the sky or a face.
Section titled “Related Nodes”