Make a Live Grungy Grain Photo Effect in Photoshop

Photoshop Photo Effects

Adding grain to photos is a great way to introduce texture, mood, and a raw, film-inspired aesthetic. In this Photoshop tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a live, non-destructive grungy grain effect that adds character and depth to your images. Perfect for portraits, street photography, or creative edits, this method uses a single adjustment layer and smart filters—giving you full control over the final look while keeping your original image intact. The result is a bold, tactile finish that mimics film grain and dirt textures, ideal for creating stylized visuals with a strong editorial edge.

Step 1

Open your image in Photoshop.

Step 2

Go to Layer > New > Layer. Name the layer "Grungy Grain" and click OK.

Step 3

Go to Edit > Fill. Under Contents, select the "50% Gray" option and click OK.

Step 4

Go to Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object.

Step 5

Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.

Step 6

Expand the "Effects" tab, apply the following settings, and click OK in the Camera Raw Filter window.

Step 7

In the Layers Panel, set the blending mode of the "Grungy Grain" layer to Overlay.

Step 8

Click the "Create new fill or adjustment layer" icon, and from the dropdown menu select "Threshold".

Step 9

With the main effect finished, you can now edit it live in different ways. Double-click the "Threshold" layer thumbnail, adjust the level to your liking, and click OK.

Step 10

You can also select the "Grungy Grain" layer and click the arrow icon to expand the Smart Filters list.

Step 11

Double-click "Camera Raw Filter", make your changes in the "Effects" tab, and click OK.

Step 12

Or double-click the "Filter Blending Options" icon to change the mode from Normal to any of the available options and see the changes instantly.