How to Add a Vintage Effect to Your Photos

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Dear Nnenna,

Since you asked about vintage photo effects, here are three quick and easy ways to make your photos look like they’re from 1975. I used iPhoto, Aperture, and Flickr’s Aviary. The first two are for Mac (you!) and Flickr/Aviary is for Mac or PC.

In my opinion, the fastest, easiest way to add a vintage look to your photos is to use the Antique filter in iPhoto’s effects. I think it’s the best instant vintage filter out of every photo editing application I’ve ever used, and if I was still using iPhoto — I upgraded to Aperture in 2010 — it’s the one I’d be using. It basically adds a warm tone and a vignette, which is what I do in Aperture.


The effect on all the outfit photos in this post was created in Aperture. To give your photos a subtle vintagey feel, use Sepia Tone and Vignette. I used .2 (20%) sepia and a mid-stregth Vignette, but you can adjust until you see something you like. Export and done!


Last, for a strong vintage effect try Flickr’s new Aviary editor. This is the Strato filter, which is located under Effects. I also like Ventura and San Carmen. If you like Flickr’s light version of Aviary, the Aviary site has excellent browser applications, including a vector editor.


Hope one of these is useful to you! One day I’ll do GIMP and the more in-depth Aperture method (the one used in this post), but those definitely aren’t the quick ways– they require a little more in-depth photo editing knowledge and a lot more steps.

Alex


Diane von Furstenberg dress (many seasons past) | Seychelles Aquamarine sandals (still available in nude) | Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Pochette with long strap | vintage cuff

Comments

  5. says

    I love yellow on you! So pretty. I use Google’s Picasa to edit my photos, and they have a similar vintage filter that I’ve been playing with lately.

  7. Glamamom says

    GORGEOUS!  Hello yellow!  I love that you explained how to add the vintage effect bc I seriously have NO editing skills.  You rock.

  8. says

    Thanks for putting this post together Alex! :)

    Ahh, yes, I can totally do the iPhoto one- that looks easy enough! Also, is the Flickr aviary editor free?

  13. says

    So recently I’ve been spending more time on GIMP, especially because I discovered Pugly Pixel. But I haven’t had the courage/ patience to really edit my photos. But now I simply MUST, Alex. I wanna have purty pictures like yours!