A truly old photograph is more than a sepia tint: decades add fading as silver oxidizes, yellowing as paper ages, grain from early emulsions, and physical damage — scratches from handling, dust baked in during development. This effect layers all of it, so a photo taken this morning looks like it was pulled from a shoebox in the attic.
The Age slider drives the chemistry (fading, yellowing, tonal collapse), while Scratches & dust adds the physical wear — and because damage is random, the Shuffle button re-rolls a fresh pattern until it falls exactly where it looks right. Perfect for family-history projects, props, period edits and giving digital photos a soul. Free, no signup, rendered on your device.
How to add the old photo effect to a photo
Tips for the best old photo look
- Push Age high but keep Scratches moderate — real old photos are more faded than damaged.
- Portraits and buildings sell the illusion best; anything visibly modern in frame (cars, phones) breaks it.
- Shuffle the damage a few times — a scratch that misses the face always beats one across it.
Old Photo effect — FAQ
What makes a photo actually look old?
Four aging processes: chemical fading (contrast collapses, blacks turn gray), paper yellowing (whites drift warm), coarse grain from early film, and physical damage — scratches, dust and specks. This effect simulates each one with separate control.
What does the Shuffle button do?
Scratches and dust are placed by a random seed. Shuffle re-rolls the seed so the damage lands in new positions — same sliders, different history. The seed is kept for export, so what you approve is exactly what downloads.
How is this different from the Vintage effect?
Vintage is a flattering retro color grade — warm, faded, pretty. Old Photo is a full aging simulation including physical damage. Vintage makes photos look stylish; Old Photo makes them look genuinely aged.