Guides
Plain-language walkthroughs for getting the retro look you want — what defines each aesthetic, and exactly which sliders to move.
High contrast photography, and how to actually get it
Contrast is the difference between the darkest and lightest parts of a picture. Everything interesting about it follows from that one sentence.
How to make phone photos look like film
Film is not a color palette, it is a set of behaviors. Here is how to rebuild them on a photo from your camera roll.
AI photo filters vs real camera-look filters
One sends your photo to a server and paints a new one. The other does the math on your own device and keeps the photo you actually took. The gap matters more than the marketing lets on.
Why digital camera photos are trending again
A scratched-up point-and-shoot is suddenly worth more than it cost new. The reason says more about the present than the past.
Huji Cam vs Dazz Cam: which one actually wins
Both apps nail the disposable-camera vibe. Here is how they actually differ, where each one frustrates people, and the one thing both get wrong.
How to make your photos look like an old digital camera
The early-digicam look is five small imperfections stacked together. Add them in the right order and a modern photo stops looking modern.
Digicam vs film vs disposable vs CCD: which retro look should you use?
The same photo run through every look, plus a simple way to choose based on your subject and mood.
How to fake the disposable camera effect online
The flash, the grain, the slightly-wrong color: here is how to get the one-time-use camera feel from a normal photo.
Best retro filter settings for portraits, street, and night
A practical, slider-by-slider cheat sheet for the situations where retro filters either shine or fall apart.