Fujifilm recipes

The analog soul inside the digital camera

By Tomas Derner

January 6^th, 1983

As a photographer, I am constantly on the lookout for ways to add some analog magic to my photographs. And that's why I have decided to create this section of my website dedicated to Fujifilm simulation recipes. Here, I will be showcasing different Fujifilm recipes that I have personally used and tested to achieve the desired analog feel straight out of the camera.

I have been using some of the amazing recipes provided by Ritchie Roesch, the creator of FujiXweekly.com for years and I have achieved amazing results with them. On the top of the extensive list available from FujiXweekly I also collected some of my top favourite simulations from other photographers like Kevin Mullins and his B&W Padilla, award-winning lifestyle blogger from Malaysia Yvan Yolo and last, but not least I also created my own simulations which are not based on any film stocks, but I simply like the look.

I know that as Fujifilm users, we all have different preferences and styles, but I hope that by sharing my favourite recipes and its variations, you will find some inspiration and new ways to use your camera.

PADILLA

For the past two years, I've made the Padilla Fujifilm recipe my go-to setting for black and white photography. I discovered this recipe on YouTube, where Kevin Mullins showcased his favorite recipes of 2020. I was immediately drawn to its organic look and deep blacks. Since then, I've shot thousands of images using this recipe, but my most memorable experience was during my trip to Bangladesh, where I used the recipe exclusively. In fact, I only had to pull up the raw image a handful of times throughout the trip, usually due to over or underexposure mistakes. Despite being "just" JPEGs straight out of the camera, these images have won numerous international awards and have been printed in large formats.

Typically, I prefer to overexpose the recipe by +1/3 to +1. However, if the scene is too contrasty, I may lower the highlights slightly. Otherwise, I leave the recipe untouched.

Film Sim.: Monochrome + R
Grain Effect: Strong (large - if supported)
White Balance: Auto
Dynamic Range: DR Auto
Highlight: 0
Shadow: +3
Sharpness: +1
High ISO NR: 0
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +0 to +2/3 (typically)

Created by: Kevin Mullins

Stories created using this setting: Road to Chittagong, Peripheries, Cox Bazar, Coal Porters

Supported cameras: all with Monochrome + R

MY CLASSIC NEG.

I recently developed a coloured film recipe based on the Classic Negative Fujifilm film simulation. While most of the pictures from my trip to Bangladesh at the beginning of 2022 were in black and white using the Padilla recipe, I wanted to convert some of them to colour using Fujifilm's X Raw studio software. After some experimentation, I ended up creating a profile that I used more frequently than I anticipated. In fact, I shot the entire Laundromat series using this profile, and I'm thrilled with the results.

This recipe is particularly well-suited to brighter scenes, although it can work in other situations as well. For example, the Laundromat series was shot entirely indoors using only available light, and the simulation worked brilliantly in my opinion. However, if necessary, you can always try changing from Kelvin to auto-white balance and see how it works for the scene. Recently I added a revised version of the recipe (details and comparison below).

Overall, I highly recommend experimenting with this simulation and seeing how it can enhance your photographs. Good luck and have fun!

Version 1:

Film Sim.: Classic Neg.
Grain Effect: Weak, large
Color Ch. Effect: Strong
Color Ch.FX Blue: Weak
WB: 4460K, +4 Red & -4 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR100
Highlight: 0
Shadow: +1
Color: -2
Sharpness: +1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +3 (you can do without)
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +0 to +1/3 (typically)

VERSION 2

Film Sim.: Classic Neg.
Grain Effect: Strong, small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: Auto, 0 Red & -1 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR100
Highlight: -1
Shadow: +1
Color: -1
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: 0
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +0 to +1/3 (typically)

Supported (tested) cameras: X - Pro 3 (X-Trans IV sensor)

KODAKCHROME II

Lightroom edits: Contrast -22, Highlights +34, Shadows +67, Whites +19, Blacks -10, plus S curve

This particular recipe is based on the Classic Chrome Fujifilm simulation and was developed by Ritchie Roesch from FujiXweekly. The website features many different versions of the recipe, tailored to different sensor types. If you can't find the settings in your camera, don't worry, just check Ritchie's site to find the version that suits you best. The recipe is called KodakChrome II, inspired by the legendary KodakChrome film stock, which was famously used by Steve McCurry.

For a long time, KodakChrome II was my go-to film simulation. I shot the entire Ecuador series with this recipe (Cotopaxi, Chimborazo) and even some wedding reportages. The recipe is not particularly strong, and it is very flexible. You can use it in most light situations. However, to achieve the look I like, I prefer making some small tweaks in Lightroom. I mostly pushed the blacks, applied an S curve, and boosted the highlights to get the look I wanted. For this reason, these days, I prefer "My Classic Negative," as I don't have to do anything in post.

Overall, I highly recommend experimenting with KodakChrome II and other film simulations. The flexibility of this recipe makes it a great starting point, and with some small tweaks in post-processing, you can create some stunning images.

Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: +1
Shadow: +2
Color: +1
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: +1
Clarity: -2
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Ch. Effect: Strong
Color Ch. Effect Blue: Weak
WB: Auto, +3 Red & -4 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Comp.: +1/3 to +2/3

Lightroom edits (not always): Contrast -22, Highlights +34, Shadows +67, Whites +19, Blacks -10, plus S curve

Created by: FujiXweekly

Stories created using this setting: Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Veru & Jenda, Inside Chernobyl, Sleeping in Chernobyl and many more.

Supported (tested) cameras: X - Pro 3 (X-Trans IV sensor)

PORTA 400

Porta 400 is one of the most famous retro film stocks, known for its warm and sunny vacation vibes. There are many different versions of this recipe available online, but I personally prefer the one from FujiXweekly. I first used it during our vacation in Portugal in 2022, and I was thrilled with the results. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to complete the photo story from our trip, but I plan to fix that soon :).

What I love about this recipe is that it also works well for mountain pictures, creating a retro exploring vibe. I find that it pairs nicely with a diffusion filter, which brings out nice blooms in the highlights. Just be careful not to overdo it with a strong diffusion filter, as this effect can't be taken back in post-processing.

Overall, I highly recommend giving this recipe a try. It's perfect for capturing those warm, sunny vacation vibes, as well as creating a retro exploring atmosphere in your mountain shots. With a diffusion filter, you can take the look even further and add some beautiful highlights blooms. So grab your camera and give it a go!

Film sim: Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: -1
Shadow: -2
Color: +2
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: -2
Clarity: +2
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Ch. Effect: Strong
Color Ch. Effect Blue: Weak
White Balance: Daylight, +3 Red & -5 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

Created by: FujiXweekly

Supported (tested) cameras: X - Pro 3 (X-Trans IV sensor)

TOULOUSE

One of my favourite Film Simulation modes is Porta 400, but sometimes the images felt a bit contrasty. I like the gentle washed out look of analog films, so I decided to try creating recipe based on Eterna film simulation which has dynamic range and native washed out look.

I tested this recipe quite a lot at the beginning of the year during my trip to Porto and more extensively during our Easter holiday in Toulouse, so I have decided to name this simulation Toulouse. The preliminary name was "My Eterna", but this simulation is very far from the Eterna, so I decided to not use that name to not confuse anyone who would want to use this recipe.

To create this recipe, I started with the Eterna Film Simulation mode and then made the following adjustments:

Film sim: Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR-400
Highlight: +3
Shadow: +2
Color: +2
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: +1
Clarity: 0
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Ch. Effect: Strong
Color Ch. Effect Blue: Strong
White Balance: Daylight, +4 Red & -7 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)

Created by: Me

Supported (tested) cameras: X - Pro 3 (X-Trans IV sensor)

These adjustments give the images a soft, faded look with muted colors and washed out blacks. The overall effect is very nostalgic, and it's perfect for creating images that look like they were taken from a bygone era.

I tested this recipe on a variety of subjects while I was in Portugal and Toulouse earlier this year (examples below). I managed to various types of shots including landscapes, street scenes, and portraits. I was particularly impressed with how well it worked for capturing the soft light and muted colors of the Portuguese countryside. I also found that it was great for creating atmospheric street scenes with a vintage feel.

If you're looking for a Film Recipe that will give your images a nostalgic look with washed out blacks, I highly recommend trying out this variation on Eterna. It's a great way to add a touch of personality to your photos and to create images that will stand out from the crowd.

Here are some additional tips for using this Film Recipe:

To use a Black Pro Mist filter with this Film Recipe, simply screw it onto the front of your lens. I recommend using a 1/4 Black Pro Mist filter, as it will give you a subtle effect without being too overpowering.