Nostalgia
Warm, golden vintage film with lifted shadows, enhanced saturation, and dreamy soft focus that captures the spirit of consumer film from the 70s through 90s
Nostalgia Example 1
Color Palette
Golden Sun
#FFB84D
Warm Pink
#FFB3A7
Sky Blue
#6FB3E0
Warm Sand
#D4A574
Burnt Sienna
#C97E54
Why Choose Nostalgia?
Golden-hour optimized with strong warm bloom (70%) and peachy-warm color grading
Glowing, flattering skin tones with very strong protection (80%) and saturation boost (118%)
Faded vintage aesthetic with lifted shadows (+10) and raised blacks (+12)
Dreamy soft focus from increased glow softness (30%) and reduced clarity (45%)
Warm Kodak-inspired colors with magenta tint and warm color matrix
Perfect for portraits, lifestyle, travel, and sun-soaked memories
Golden hour just ended but you're still chasing that warm glow. Nostalgia brings it back with sun-soaked warmth, dreamy softness, and that faded print aesthetic of vintage consumer film. This is the preset for moments that feel like memories.
Golden hour just ended but you're still chasing that warm glow. Nostalgia brings it back with sun-soaked warmth, dreamy softness, and that faded print aesthetic of vintage consumer film. This is the preset for moments that feel like memories even as they're happening, transforming everyday captures into timeless photographs that could have been pulled from a shoebox of vacation photos from decades past.
Nostalgia delivers warm, golden-peachy color grading with the faded aesthetic of vintage consumer film. It's designed for sun-soaked moments and golden hour magic, creating photographs that feel like cherished memories.
Color science emphasizes golden-peachy warmth with reds shifting peachy-golden, yellows intensifying, and blues leaning cyan-teal like vintage Kodak. Very strong skin protection (80%) with high saturation boost (118%) ensures luminous, sun-kissed faces. Strong bloom (70%) creates pronounced golden-orange glow around light sources, while moderate halation (20%) adds warm halos around bright highlights. This makes backlit portraits especially magical.
Lifted shadows (+10) and raised blacks (+12) create the 'faded print' aesthetic where nothing goes truly dark. Film grain emulates ASA 800 consumer stock with colorful chromatic variation. Strong clarity reduction (45%) and softening (50%) create that dreamy, plastic lens aesthetic of disposable cameras.
When Nostalgia Shines
Perfect Scenarios
- •Golden hour portraits – Made for this; glowing skin, sun glow enhanced by bloom, lifted shadows preserve face detail in backlighting
- •Beach and summer photography – Sun-soaked vacation aesthetics with warm sand tones, blue-cyan water, and that nostalgic summer feeling
- •Backlit scenes with sun behind subject – Dramatic bloom creates halo effect around hair and edges while skin stays beautifully rendered
- •Lifestyle content for social media – Warm, nostalgic aesthetic that's Instagram-ready with that timeless vintage quality
- •Travel photography capturing wanderlust – Transforms everyday travel moments into romantic, memory-like images with golden warmth
- •Outdoor family gatherings and events – Warm light at parks, beaches, outdoor weddings with soft, flattering character
- •Children and family photography – Timeless aesthetic perfect for cherished memories; soft focus is forgiving and romantic
- •Fashion and editorial with vintage inspiration – Vintage-inspired editorial work with dreamy quality and sun-kissed warmth
- •Dappled light through trees – Warm filtered light enhanced by bloom; lifted shadows maintain detail in shaded areas
- •Late afternoon outdoor scenes – Warm angled light before golden hour gets the Nostalgia treatment beautifully
Lighting It Loves
Nostalgia thrives in golden hour. That's when it truly shines, creating magic-hour glow with sun-kissed skin and dreamy atmosphere. Backlit scenarios are especially beautiful with sun behind subjects creating dramatic bloom and glow. Late afternoon sun with warm, angled light works beautifully. Even overcast days can work when you want to add warmth; the preset brings sun-soaked character even to flat light. Avoid harsh midday sun or cool blue lighting unless you want extreme warmth as a creative choice.
How to Get the Look
Starting Point Settings
- •Exposure: Can overexpose slightly (+0.3 to +0.5 EV) for airy, sun-soaked look; preset is designed for bright, lifted exposure
- •White balance: Lock to Daylight (5500K) or Cloudy (6500K) for extra warmth; Auto WB works but lock for consistency across a series
- •Camera approach: Look for sun flares, backlight, and warm light sources to maximize bloom and glow characteristics
- •Scene selection: Best at golden hour or in warm, backlit scenarios; preset enhances what's already there rather than creating warmth from nothing
Quick Adjustments
If overall look is too warm or orange
Reduce temperature by -300K to -500K for cooler rendering while maintaining character, or reduce tint by -3 to -5 magenta to pull back the Kodak warmth.
If too soft or blurry for your taste
Increase micro-contrast from 45% to 60% for more texture definition, or reduce glow softness from 30% to 15-20% for less diffusion. This tightens the image while maintaining the vintage character.
If shadows too washed or faded
Reduce shadow lift from +10 to +5, and reduce blacks from +12 to +8 for more depth. This brings back some darker tones while maintaining the lifted aesthetic.
If bloom overwhelms the image
Reduce bloom intensity from 70% to 50-60% for more restrained glow. Keep enough for character but dial back the drama when shooting scenes with many bright areas.
If skin tones too saturated or glowing
Reduce skin saturation boost from 118% to 110-112% for more natural skin rendering. This tones down the sun-kissed glow while maintaining flattering warmth.
Film Stock Inspiration
Primary Inspiration
Kodak Gold 200, Lomo 800, Kodak Portra 800, Cinestill 50D
Resembles / Inspired By
- •Kodak Gold 200 – The iconic consumer film with warm golden tones and forgiving latitude that defined generations of family photographs
- •Lomo 800 – Experimental color film known for saturated colors, visible grain, and unpredictable character that creates unique images
- •Kodak Portra 800 – Professional portrait film that creates glowing skin tones and works beautifully pushed or in low light
- •Cinestill 50D – Daylight cinema film with unique bloom characteristics from removed remjet backing for cinematic glow
Style Notes
Nostalgia draws inspiration from consumer-grade color negative films that families used to shoot vacations, holidays, and everyday memories. Films that, when printed and aged, took on that warm, faded quality we associate with nostalgic photographs.
Kodak Gold 200 is the primary reference: the quintessential warm consumer film with golden-peachy tones and that distinctive magenta-leaning warmth in the color science. The lifted shadows that prevented underexposed family snapshots from going too dark, and skin tones that rendered with peachy-golden warmth are captured in Nostalgia's color grading. The lifted blacks specifically reference how printed consumer film photos rarely had true black.
Lomo 800 contributes the enhanced saturation and colorful grain. The dreamy soft focus and bloom characteristics reference disposable cameras and toy cameras—optical 'flaws' that create character. Portra 800 adds the professional skin tone protection and flattering warmth. Cinestill 50D contributes bloom and glow characteristics.
Nostalgia captures the spirit of these films in real-time digital photography, giving you that authentic vintage film aesthetic without the cost, wait time, or workflow complexity of shooting actual film.
"Inspired by Kodak Gold 200 (warm consumer film), Lomo 800 (saturated colors and colorful grain), Kodak Portra 800 (glowing skin tones), and Cinestill 50D (bloom characteristics)"
Who Nostalgia Is For
Choose Nostalgia if you...
- •Shoot primarily in golden hour or warm natural light and want to maximize that sun-soaked, magic-hour aesthetic
- •Love vintage warmth and want that faded film print character with lifted shadows and peachy-golden color grading
- •Specialize in portraits, lifestyle, or travel photography where flattering glowing skin tones and romantic atmosphere matter
Skip Nostalgia if you...
- •Shoot in cool or blue lighting conditions—the warm color grading will fight against cool light rather than complement it (try Daydream instead)
- •Need crisp, sharp rendering—Nostalgia's soft focus and reduced clarity create dreamy quality that may be too soft for detail-critical work (try Noir for sharp B&W)
- •Want balanced, neutral aesthetics—Nostalgia is intentionally warm and stylized (try Daydream for versatile neutral starting point)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adjust Nostalgia or is it fixed?
Every parameter is adjustable. The defaults are calibrated for golden vintage aesthetics, but you can tweak warmth, bloom, shadows, grain, softness, everything. Found the perfect balance for your style? Save it as a custom preset. This is how you build a collection that's uniquely yours.
What's the best lighting for Nostalgia?
Nostalgia excels in golden hour. That's when it truly shines, creating magic-hour glow with sun-kissed skin and dreamy atmosphere. Backlit scenarios with sun behind subjects work beautifully, as do late afternoon warmth and dappled light through trees. For best results, shoot when warm natural light is present.
Which film stocks inspired Nostalgia?
Nostalgia draws from Kodak Gold 200 (warm consumer film character), Lomo 800 (saturated colors and colorful grain), Kodak Portra 800 (glowing skin tones), and Cinestill 50D (bloom characteristics). The preset captures the warm, nostalgic spirit of these films.
Is Nostalgia good for portrait photography?
Yes. Nostalgia excels at portraits in golden hour and warm natural light. Very strong skin protection (80%) with high saturation boost (118%) creates luminous, glowing skin tones. Best for golden hour portraits, lifestyle content, and any portrait work where warm, nostalgic aesthetic is desired.
How is Nostalgia different from Daydream?
Nostalgia emphasizes warm, dreamy golden hour aesthetic with pronounced softness, while Daydream focuses on balanced natural rendering suitable for any lighting. Choose Nostalgia when you specifically want sun-soaked warmth and faded vintage look. Choose Daydream when you need versatile everyday film emulation.
Why is Nostalgia so soft and dreamy?
Nostalgia recreates the aesthetic of consumer film cameras, disposable cameras, and toy cameras from the 70s-90s with plastic lenses. The soft focus (30% glow softness), reduced clarity (45%), and moderate final softening (50%) mimic those optical 'flaws' that created character. If you prefer sharper rendering, reduce glow softness and increase micro-contrast.
Ready to shoot with Nostalgia?
Join the waitlist to be the first to access Nostalgia and all our film presets when Daydream launches on iOS.