Film grain, dust and scratches create different signals. Grain covers the frame, dust appears as scattered marks, and scratches imply wear or a physical surface. Combining all three without restraint can obscure the photograph.
Give each element a role
Use NexTools Grain & Noise to build a grain texture, then add dust or scratches only where the concept needs them. For a portrait, keep important facial details clear. For a retro poster background, a stronger edge scratch may be acceptable behind empty space.
Layer and compare
Place the exported overlay above the image in an editor and tune opacity. Check both light and dark areas: pale dust may disappear on white, while dark scratches may become too heavy over shadows. View the result at final size and compare it against an untextured version.
An overlay should be reversible. Save the clean image and texture separately so the treatment can be changed without damaging the original.
