FilmConvert has brought its Hazy diffusion-filter plugin to stills, so photographers can add a Black Pro Mist-style glow in Lightroom and Photoshop without putting glass in front of the lens.

FilmConvert has launched Hazy for Lightroom, a version of its diffusion plugin built for photographers. Hazy has been available to video editors for some time, where it’s used to recreate the look of physical diffusion filters in post. Now the same looks can be applied to stills.

The plugin works inside Adobe Lightroom Classic, Lightroom and Photoshop on both macOS and Windows, and it supports any file format Lightroom can open, including raw files.

Eleven diffusion looks

Hazy includes 11 presets inspired by real diffusion filters, ranging from the controlled highlight glow of a Black Pro Mist to the softer, all-over wash of a Bloom filter. Each can be fine-tuned with controls for intensity, spread and how the effect responds to highlights.

Because the effect is applied in editing rather than in camera, nothing is baked into the shot. You can apply a look, adjust it or remove it completely later, which is a big advantage over a physical filter that you have to commit to at the time of shooting.

Why it matters

Diffusion filters have become hugely popular with portrait, wedding and street photographers chasing a softer, more filmic look, particularly with modern lenses that are almost clinically sharp. The downside is that a physical filter affects every frame, and too much diffusion can’t be undone.

A plugin like Hazy gives you the look with a safety net. We’d still expect a good physical filter to behave slightly differently with real flare and point light sources, but for many photographers the flexibility will outweigh that. It’ll also be useful for anyone who shoots both stills and video and wants a consistent look across both.

FilmConvert Hazy for Lightroom specifications

FilmConvert Hazy for Lightroom price and availability

Hazy for Lightroom is available now from US$99 as a one-off purchase from the FilmConvert website, where there’s also a free trial.