Simulating Film Grain For Video Using Photoshop

I've been using PS to color correct video since I got my 5D2 back in December, and have received numerous inquiries about how to do it since I began posting here and on Vimeo. While Photoshop gives you amazing flexibility and control regarding color, many of its filters and effects do not allow for random variation from frame to frame, so tasks like adding realistic film grain with the press of a button are basically impossible. If you run the film grain texture filter, or any other type of noise, the result is a static screen effect in which the grain does not organically change with each new frame.

I realized an easy fix would be to create my own film grain animation in Photoshop, render it as a movie, then overlay it onto my footage in a new Photoshop document. I don't claim to be an expert at film grain, and many of you are probably much more tuned in to the various grains associated with particular film stocks, etc. But the idea is, one could create or simulate any particular grain structure, build a library of different ones, then use them in Photoshop or anywhere else, for that matter.

I started by creating a film grain pattern larger than my actual frame, then duplicating, rotating and varying over about a hundred frames, adding little bits of gunk and spots here and there. Then rendered it out as a movie which could then be over-laid onto raw video with various layer modes and opacities. You have to remember that this is about being SUBTLE, which means you might actually not notice it any more than you would notice film grain on a new release DVD. The effect is more subliminal than anything, but every little detail helps in the overall appearance. Naturally, it's going to be most authentic when applied to 24P video shot at something near 1/48 second per frame.

Ok, so I know this seems like a lot of work. And the argument is, why do it in Photoshop if AE or COLOR already allows you to do it with filters, plugins, etc? I've said it before... a lot of photographers KNOW how to use Photoshop. They like it. It is comfortable. And believe it or not, it is amazingly powerful with video, if you know what you're doing.

So here's a test, executed fairly quickly using a short clip from a corporate documentary style ad I am working on for an automotive battery company.

http://www.frederickswanston.com/exider ... grain4.mov

Photoshop for Video

Old habits die hard. Using Photoshop to makes something look better is second nature. I've spent my entire career using it to fix photography, create special effects and illustrations, and even animate web graphics. But editing high definition video just seemed like something you should be doing with expensive high-end software and hardware systems.

Managing motion in Photoshop is nothing new - I've created my share of animated GIFS using simple animation frames. I've even assembled sequential jpegs to create movie clips.

But video? It required a paradigm shift, or at least that's what had to happen in my head before I thought that Photoshop could be a serious production tool in a high definition video workflow. But I thought I would try it, and this was my first result.

Bicycle Dolly - - Canon 5D Mark II from Bryan Keith Nixon on Vimeo.

It can only be done with Photoshop CS3 or CS4 Extended, which is an upgrade from the standard product. When you upgrade to Extended, you get a few things, but mainly, the ability to import any Quicktime movie as a video layer. It looks like any other layer, except there's a little filmstrip icon on it. The video layer is then represented in the video timeline, which is different than the frame timeline I was familiar with.

The easiest way I've found to begin is to start within Photoshop - just open a Quicktime movie from the file menu. It automatically places your movie on a video layer. Next, convert to smart object. Then go to town. You can add color correction layers, gradient blends, smart filters, textures, etc. For the most part, the results will be predictable across the entire video. Some of them can be varied over time if you learn how to manage the timeline. Then just export your movie with the compression settings of your choice.

You may wonder if the process is destructive. It's not. Photoshop doesn't harm a pixel.

I've simplified this a bit, but it's not that complicated. I've had a few Vimeo friends ask me to do a tutorial, and I may take the time to put something together soon. But I'm not an expert yet. I'm just a creature of habit, who hasn't had a lot of success learning how to use Final Cut and Color, or other traditional tools for improving video. With the advent of DSLR's capable of capturing beautiful HD, a lot of still photographers are starting to dabble in video. Maybe Photoshop is the answer for them, too.

Shot using a Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50mm 1.8 with polarizer, mounted to an old Raleigh bicycle.

Snow Day

It snowed in Atlanta this March! the kids and I went out for a little fun in the snow, and I documented it with the 5D Mark II.

I know it's probably a little long for general consumption, as it was really intended for my family to enjoy. But there are some nice shot in there if you care to stick around for the duration!


Snow Day 2009 - Canon 5D Mark II from Bryan Nixon on Vimeo.

One Headlight

Making a watchable film is no easy task. And "watchable" means that strangers will stick around till the end, not just your friends and family. I posted this one on Vimeo a few weeks back, as well as a link to Cinema 5D, a forum for Canon 5DM2 enthusiasts. To my surprise, it was well received. It occurred to me that the seemingly mundane aspects of one person's daily activities might be interesting to someone else on the other side of the globe. My beat-up truck is so common to me, but perhaps more interesting to someone in France? I've enjoyed participating in the forum. I look forward to new works from other people, and the opportunity to comment.


One Headlight - Canon 5D Mark II from Bryan Nixon on Vimeo.

Vimeo, the classy alternative.

I hate youtube almost as much as I love it. It's simply the best way to find almost any video ever made when you only have about five seconds. Adding support for HD makes it even more appealing. But let's face it, youtube has become the least common denominator, overrun by a million crappy cellphone videos of people behaving badly.

When I first realized youtube was supporting HD, I quickly uploaded a couple samples from my 5D Mark II. Uploading to youtube always seems more complicated than it should be, and when you add the fact that they don't give you any kind of progress bar, it can be frustrating waiting for a huge HD file to upload. Is it done? Did it crash? And then you find out that the upload failed for some reason, and you have to try again.

Next, you test your video. Youtube defaults to regular quality - - you have to select HD to view it. Maybe I've become spoiled in a very short amount of time, because anything less than HD now looks like complete ass. Were all youtube videos this bad before and I just didn't realized it until my eyes were opened to HD? I don't know. But it seems to me that the regular quality version of a youtube HD file should look a little better than it does. I would rather look at a small but good quality render than one that is big and crappy. But youtube thinks the masses want big and crappy. Go figure.

But what bothers me most about posting a video to youtube is the way your video seems to degrade over time. Am I the only one this has happened to? I upload an HD file. It looks pretty good. Wow, HD on youtube. Two weeks later the same file is all compressy and pixelated. What changed? I didn't change anything. So all of a sudden people think I make crappy videos.

The Canon 5D Mark II is all about glorious image quality for both stills and of course video. And I have finally come to the conclusion that youtube is NOT the place to showcase my prized captures. So I've decided to join the Vimeo community. As near as I can tell, it is geared more towards quality. It's easy to sign up, easy to upload, and seems to have consistent, high quality replay.

Here is my very first Vimeo offering:


Paper Dragon Illusion with Canon 5D Mark II from Bryan Nixon on Vimeo.


Check back soon for more.

Agency Shootin'

I am an Associate Creative Director for Frederick Swanston, and ad agency in the Atlanta area. Like most agencies, we source out our photography, but occasionally shoot things in-house. When we do, I'm the guy. We have an upcoming small-budget corporate video project, so I talked the partners into purchasing the new Canon 5D Mark II. Imagine my surprise when they green-lighted it! We received our 5DM2 shortly after Christmas, and I've been obsessed with it ever since.

I'm not sure how much time I am going to devote to this blog. But if all goes according to plan, I will be sharing some of my experiences as I hone my skills. I've opened an account on vimeo.com, having been disappointed with the wierd quality and general nastiness of youtube.