Apply Sepia to images and videos online
Step into the feeling of an old photograph where time seems to slow down. Sepia transforms any image into a warm vintage print with soft brown tones and a gentle sense of memory and history.
Before
After
Ideas for using the effect
Warm vintage palette
Shifts colors into soft browns, beiges, and golden hues, evoking the look of aged photographic paper.
Faded film effect
Simulates natural photo aging: reduced contrast, softly lifted highlights, and gently muted shadows.
Analog photography mood
Recreates the feel of hand-processed film photography, as if the image was developed in an old darkroom.
Nostalgic atmosphere
Adds emotional depth and a sense of memory, making modern scenes feel timeless and reflective.
Made with this effect
More inspiration on Instagram @effect_app
Use Sepia in Photoshop, Figma or on your desktop
One account, the same effect everywhere.
In Photoshop
Apply it to a layer in Photoshop 2022 and later, on macOS or Windows. The plugin renders on your own GPU and hands the result back as pixels on a new layer.
get the Photoshop plugin →In Figma
Run it on images and frames without leaving the canvas. The Figma plugin is this same editor, pointed at whatever you have selected.
get the Figma plugin →On desktop
Install the macOS or Windows app when you want a window of its own, with your account and your presets already there.
download the desktop app →Frequently Asked Questions
What is sepia?
Sepia is a photographic tone that gives images a warm brownish color. It originally comes from early photography, where prints were chemically treated to improve longevity and create a distinct warm tint. Today, sepia is used as a stylistic filter to recreate a vintage, nostalgic look.
What does the sepia effect do?
It converts an image into a warm monochromatic palette with brownish-golden tones, inspired by early photographic toning processes.
Is this historically accurate?
Yes — it is based on real chemical toning techniques used in 19th and 20th-century photography to preserve prints.
What types of images work best?
Portraits, architecture, family photos, and street scenes with strong light and shadow separation.
Can it be combined with other effects?
Yes — it pairs especially well with film grain, soft blur, and vintage paper textures.
Why does sepia feel nostalgic?
The warm tones and reduced contrast naturally evoke memory and history, which is why sepia is strongly associated with the past.
How do I make a sepia photo in Photoshop?
Photoshop's Photo Filter or a Black & White layer with a tint gets you a brown image. The Photoshop plugin applies the Sepia preset to a layer in Photoshop 2024 and later, with the fading and aged-paper feel already balanced.