Skip to main content
Daydream app logoDAYDREAM

Daydream Basics

Which Film Should I Pick?

Shane Labelle

· 3 min read

Start with Daydream: it's balanced and suits almost any photo. Reach for Nightcall after dark, Noir for black and white, and Nostalgia for warm, golden memories.

Balanced

Daydream: the one that works for everything

A natural film look with a soft glow and fine grain. It starts from neutral daylight color with a little warmth, so it suits almost any scene.

Pick it for everyday photos, people and travel, or any photo you're not sure about.

Make it yours: lower Glow to 0 to 5 for a cleaner look, or push Film Grain to ASA 1600 for grittier street photos. More on Daydream

Before and after Daydream, a real Daydream render. Drag the line.

After dark

Nightcall: for night and city lights

An original look inspired by CineStill 800T. A tungsten white balance turns the shadows cool and the lights warm, and a red halation glows around every bright light.

Pick it for night streets, neon, cafés and anything lit by lamps.

Good to know: in daylight, that tungsten balance turns everything blue. Warm the Temperature toward 3800K to tame it, or push Halation to 25% or more for a bolder glow. More on Nightcall

Before and after Nightcall, a real Daydream render. Drag the line.

Black and white

Noir: for light, shadow and shape

True black and white film. High density gives deep, rich tones, and a strong vignette and ASA 800 grain finish the darkroom look.

Pick it for portraits, hard light and deep shadows, or any photo where shape matters more than color.

Make it yours: push Density to +40 or +50 for a moodier look, or lower Softening to 20% for a sharper, documentary feel. More on Noir

Before and after Noir, a real Daydream render. Drag the line.

Warm and golden

Nostalgia: for sun and summer memories

Golden-hour warmth in every shot. A warm haze lifts the shadows, an aged-film color drift adds warmth, and stronger softening makes it dreamy, like the everyday film of the '70s to '90s.

Pick it for sunsets, summer, family photos and memories.

Make it yours: lower Expire to 5 to 10 for less color drift, or lower Softening to 25 to 30 for sharper detail. More on Nostalgia

Before and after Nostalgia, a real Daydream render. Drag the line.

Still not sure?

Start with Daydream. You can switch films any time without losing anything: tap another film to see it, and Undo takes you back.

If none is quite right, tune one in the Lab and save it as your own preset. How Daydream works shows you where everything is.

Try Daydream Film

Join the free iOS beta and develop your first photo today.

By joining, you agree to the Beta Tester Agreement.