Adding Grain To B&W Photos: Is there a filter I can use to add grain to B&W photos, or is high ISO the only way?

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Is there a filter I can use to add grain to B&W photos, or is high ISO the only way?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Why would you desire such an action?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For the digital file in an editor, there are options to "add noise" and other ways. I suspect you mean in-camera, though? There are "art modes" for that

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

CHG_CANON wrote:

Why would you desire such an action?

To give the scene a feeling of grittiness. In the film days I used Ilford HP5 a lot because I liked the grain it added. I would like to see that in my B&W photos today.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For the digital file in an editor, there are options to "add noise" and other ways. I suspect you mean in-camera, though? There are "art modes" for that

My Olympus has a "grainy film" filter in Art Mode. This is jpg sooc; I haven't experimented with editing or how exposure might affect the results. This was just a test for a group.

In-Camera Art Filter: grainy film by Linda Shorey, on Flickr

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Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Linda From Maine wrote:

For the digital file in an editor, there are optio... (show quote)

Thanks Linda. Yes I would like to do it in camera, I don’t think my M11 or Z 6II have art modes.

jamesl Loc: Pennsylvania

Mac wrote:

Is there a filter I can use to add grain to B&W photos, or is high ISO the only way?

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It depends on what editor you use. Some editors do have a grain adjustment to add grain so the shot looks more like it was shot with film. There are also plugins that will do it too. If you have the Nik Collection, the B&W Effects module offers it.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Mac wrote:

To give the scene a feeling of grittiness. In the film days I used Ilford HP5 a lot because I liked the grain it added. I would like to see that in my B&W photos today.

Try a classic grain film like Tri-X 400.

Working with Kodak Tri-X 400

Looking at film grain comparisons

BebuLamar

CHG_CANON wrote:

Try a classic grain film like Tri-X 400.

And you get real grain and not noise.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Mac wrote:

Thanks Linda. Yes I would like to do it in camera, I don’t think my M11 or Z 6II have art modes.

I would think under-exposing would be a good place to start, and high contrast light? This is going to be fun to follow!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

BebuLamar wrote:

And you get real grain and not noise.

See the links updated into my earlier reply.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

jamesl wrote:

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It depends on what editor you use. Some editors do have a grain adjustment to add grain so the shot looks more like it was shot with film. There are also plugins that will do it too. If you have the Nik Collection, the B&W Effects module offers it.

Thanks James. I would rather do it in camera because I don’t like to spend much time doing PP. Maybe that’s my only choice.

BebuLamar

CHG_CANON wrote:

See the links updated into my earlier reply.

I used Tri-X back when I was in the photgraphy class because that what the teacher told to use. It's OK but too grainny for my taste. Much grainnier than the Plus X I used to use as a kid (when I was a kid Plus X was the only film I could afford, Tri-X was too expensive).
In fact when I need to take pictures in low light I use the digital as the noise of digital is much less at very high ISO than film.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

BebuLamar wrote:

I used Tri-X back when I was in the photgraphy class because that what the teacher told to use. It's OK but too grainny for my taste. Much grainnier than the Plus X I used to use as a kid (when I was a kid Plus X was the only film I could afford, Tri-X was too expensive).
In fact when I need to take pictures in low light I use the digital as the noise of digital is much less at very high ISO than film.

My own tastes have changed a bit now after shooting several rolls of Tri-X over the past few years. I know I still prefer 'cleaner' B&W films, but I've learned to incorporate (appreciate) a classic cubic grain in certain genres captured in B&W. To our OP, I also prefer a 'real' film grain over anything added into a digital conversion.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Adobe Camera Raw has the ability to add a grain effect to images, whether color or monochrome. That means Lightroom can also do it.