There is an undeniable charm to vintage analog film. The organic grain, the warm nostalgic tones, and the gentle roll-off in the highlights tell a story that digital precision simply cannot match. I spent months studying old film stocks, analyzing the colors of Kodak Portra and Fujifilm Superia, to build these presets.
This collection of presets brings that timeless, vintage aesthetic straight to your digital workflow. I designed them to mimic the beautiful color shifts, subtle light leaks, and characteristic matte shadows of 35mm film. They are my go-to choice when I want to give my shots a nostalgic, authentic feel.
To capture the organic texture of classic film, these presets are built as universal XMP files that hook directly into Lightroom's modern color-grading pipeline. You get 100% consistent grain, tone curves, and vintage color palettes whether you edit on Lightroom Classic on your computer or the Lightroom CC mobile app on your smartphone.
Recreating the Magic of 35mm Film
Analog film photography has a soul that digital sensors often miss. While digital cameras aim for absolute precision, older cameras embraced imperfection. That is exactly what makes film photography feel so human.
Here are the key characteristics of film that these presets apply, and how to fine-tune them:
Classic Analog Film Lightroom Preset Settings & Slider Values
Exposure: +0.15 | Contrast: +12 | Highlights: -40 | Shadows: +30 | Whites: +12 | Blacks: -18 | Texture: +8 | Clarity: +15 | Saturation: -5 | Vignette: -10
For other analog simulations, check out our authentic Fuji Film presets.
1. Organic Grain Structure
Unlike digital noise (which looks pixelated and harsh), film grain is soft and clumps together naturally. I've custom-designed the grain engine settings in each of these presets. If you are uploading to Instagram, you might want to increase the grain size slightly so it doesn't get smoothed out by compression algorithms.
2. Pastel Color Palettes
Classic films like Kodak Portra are famous for rendering high-key, pastel skin tones. If your portrait background is too saturated, the subject gets lost. These presets gently pull down background saturation while shifting orange highlights to feel creamy and warm.
3. Faded Dynamic Range
Digital HDR looks artificial. Film rolls naturally compress highlights and shadows. When editing, let some highlight areas fade into soft white and allow some shadows to lose detail. That's how authentic film captures light!
Installation Guide
Setting up these presets on your phone or computer is very simple:
- Download the ZIP file containing the XMP preset files.
- If you need step-by-step instructions for your specific device, follow my guide on how to install Lightroom presets for instant setup help.
What's Included
This analog-inspired pack comes loaded with vintage film presets designed to bring character and grain to your digital frames:
- Portra-Style Presets (optimized for warm skin tones and soft, pastel greens)
- Superia-Style Presets (featuring punchy contrast, rich greens, and cool highlights)
- Classic Chrome Presets (desaturated, clean editorial looks with deep reds)
Preset Style & Color Tone
Expect warm, golden highlights, slightly faded shadows with a hint of green or blue tint, and a very natural tone curve. The saturation is dialed back to give that classic, non-digital look. I've also built in realistic grain structures that scale beautifully depending on your image resolution.
Best Photos for This Preset
These presets are incredibly versatile. They look outstanding on street photography, lifestyle portraits, warm outdoor travels, and casual candid shots of friends. They also work brilliantly on urban architecture and vintage cars.
After downloading, extract the ZIP file and import the XMP presets into Lightroom.
