Sepia is the warm brown tone of very old photographs. It makes a photo feel like a memory, which is why it suits family portraits, old houses and anything you want to look timeless. Here is how to add a sepia filter online free, with no app and no account.
Add a sepia filter in three steps
- Open the free Sepia filter and upload your photo.
- Set the three sliders (see below) and watch the preview.
- Download the result.
The three settings
- Sepia Tone Intensity (10 to 100). Lower values leave a hint of the original colour for a soft vintage tint. Higher values give a full brown antique print.
- Amber Warmth Multiplier (0.5 to 1.5). Below 1 the brown is cooler and greyer. Above 1 it turns golden and warmer.
- Vintage Contrast (0.8 to 1.6). Sepia can make a photo look flat. A little extra contrast brings back the shape of faces and buildings.
Sepia or black and white?
Black and white is cool and graphic. It suits street photos, strong shadows and modern portraits. Sepia is warm and soft. It suits family photos, weddings, heritage places and anything that should feel nostalgic. If you are not sure, try both: the free black and white converter is one click away.
Photos that look good in sepia
- Family portraits, especially with grandparents or in traditional clothes.
- Old buildings, forts, temples, havelis and narrow lanes.
- Wedding candids, for an album page that feels like it came from another decade.
- Still life: books, tea, letters, old cameras.
- Travel photos of old towns and markets.
Photos with lots of neon, plastic or screens look odd in sepia, because the scene itself is clearly modern.
Tips for a convincing old photo
- Start with intensity around the middle and contrast a little above 1, then adjust.
- For a fuller antique look, add a soft dark edge with the free vignette tool.
- For a 90s film look with grain and a date stamp instead, try the vintage film camera.
Common questions
Can I undo sepia later? Keep your original. The tool gives you a new image and does not change the photo on your phone.
Is my photo stored? No. Photos are processed in memory and not kept on our servers.
Like the old-photo look? Copy a free prompt from the Retro collection, or download Trendy AI Lab and make vintage AI portraits in the app with a plan.
Coming soon