About the project
Fujifilm cameras can imitate the character of film right as you shoot, and the exact combination of settings — a “recipe” — can be saved and reused. Enthusiasts around the world have spent years dialing in such recipes and sharing them on dedicated sites. Hundreds have accumulated.
It occurred to me to look at these recipes through the lens of machine learning. If each setting is treated as a separate dimension, then every recipe is a point in a multidimensional space — and you can run clustering algorithms on those points to see whether they fall into meaningful groups.
They do — and quite distinctly. That raised the next question: is there a link between these groups and the photographs themselves? My hypothesis was that each group of recipes has its own recognizable mood in the resulting images. To test it, I fed a language model sample photos from each group along with the text descriptions authors attach to their recipes, and asked it to find patterns.
The finding: the hypothesis held up — with a caveat. Groups do share a common mood. But that mood is largely inherited from the base film simulation rather than emerging on its own from fine-tuning. In other words, “character” is set first and foremost by the choice of film; the recipe only shades it. More below.
How it works technically
Each setting is a dimension. 14 recipe parameters (Highlight, Shadow, Color, white balance, dynamic range, grain and others) define the axes of the space, and each recipe becomes a point in it. Before analysis the data had to be cleaned up: merging synonyms (the same setting is named differently across cameras), decomposing composite fields (white balance → temperature + Red/Blue shifts) and rescaling everything to comparable ranges.
Grouping. Recipes were grouped with hierarchical clustering. The key discovery: on numeric settings alone the recipes barely split into clean groups — there is little structure in the data. But add the “film simulation type” feature and the groups become sharp and clean. Conclusion: the simulation type dominates over fine parameter tuning. Within each simulation we then found sub-groups — distinguished mainly by white balance, dynamic range and clarity.
The link to photographs. For each group, sample photos were passed to a multimodal model that described subjects and mood and selected the most representative frames. In parallel, keywords distinguishing one group from the others were extracted from the authors’ recipe descriptions. Group names and descriptions were generated from this data.
Technical details (for ML enthusiasts) — Expand
- Clustering: agglomerative, Ward’s method. The number of groups was chosen by maximizing the silhouette score. Without the simulation feature, silhouette ≈ 0.09 (almost no structure); with the one-hot simulation feature, ≈ 0.46. Within simulations, sub-group silhouette is 0.11–0.24 (fuzzy boundaries — settings vary continuously rather than in discrete clusters).
- Dimensionality reduction: PCA and UMAP. The first two PCA components explain only ~26% of the variance — the features are fairly independent — so a nonlinear UMAP with the simulation added as a weighted feature was used for the visual “maps”.
- Text analysis: group keywords were extracted via TF-IDF over the authors’ descriptions (a term frequent in one group and rare elsewhere gets more weight). Group names also use TF-IDF over recipe titles, so films “smeared” across many groups don’t dominate.
- Visual analysis: a Claude (vision) model per group. Similarity search uses nearest neighbours (Euclidean metric) in the same space.
Similarity across film boundaries
The similarity search works in a space where the film simulation type is the heaviest-weighted feature, so the “neighbours” are almost always recipes of the same film. But if you drop the simulation from the vector and compare recipes by numeric settings only, a hidden layer appears: 74% of nearest neighbours turn out to be from a different film.
In other words, beneath the split into simulations there is a second axis of similarity — the “mechanics” of a recipe. For example, McCurry Kodachrome (Classic Chrome) is, by raw settings, closer to Velvia v2 and to Superia-based recipes than to most other Classic Chrome recipes: they share a warm white balance, high dynamic range and light grain. This directly confirms the project’s central finding — the simulation dominates, but an independent structure by settings lives beneath it.
On this layer the distance metrics themselves start to behave differently:
- Euclidean distance (used in the search) gives a balanced list — overall closeness with an emphasis on large discrepancies.
- Manhattan distance sharply isolates “near-exact matches” and drops off steeply for the rest. It answers “how many settings need to change”, not “by how much” — handy for finding the recipe that reproduces a given one with the smallest edit.
- Cosine similarity ignores the “strength” of a style and compares only its direction. It finds relatives by character across film boundaries — recipes with the same deviation vector (muted, warm-shifted), even if the base film and the intensity differ.
About the catalog
The catalog is built from two sources. The main body — 184 recipes from Fuji X Weekly (Ritchie Roesch), the largest collection of X-Trans IV recipes. Added on top are 7 recipes by Joseph D’Agostino (josephdagostinophotography.com). Total: 191 recipes. Below is a film comparison table, then the groups themselves: each with a description, sample photos, typical settings and the list of recipes it contains.
What unites recipes within a group, and what sets them apart
Analyzing the spread of parameters within each group revealed a consistent pattern: white balance is the most variable parameter almost everywhere. Authors reach a similar visual result by different routes — some via warm Kelvin, others via Red/Blue shifts. Grain, by contrast, is usually stable — within a group, authors converge on one grain character.
The least homogeneous group is Kodak Contrast Classics (Acros): virtually everything varies, including WB ±1375K. It’s more of a “catch-all for everything Acros” than a tight cluster. Conversely, Cinematic Teal Glow (Eterna) is the only group where both Clarity = −5 and WB ≈ 4275K are stable: both authors arrived at nearly the same specific profile independently.
Kodachrome Warm Earth (Classic Chrome, 26 recipes) is the largest group, yet no single parameter is fixed: it’s the “blurry center” of the simulation, where everything that didn’t fit a more specific sub-group landed. Use as a reference point, not as a template.
The D’Agostino recipes: how unique are they?
Comparison with nearest neighbours in the settings space showed the following:
- Kodachrome 64 + and Summer — practically identical to existing recipes (distance 0.00 and 0.26). Independent re-discoveries of the same settings.
- Classic Negative, Kodachrome 64 −, Kodak Portra — fit their groups but with a personal accent: increased sharpness, extremely lifted highlights, a strong warm WB shift.
- Noir (Acros) — stands out from its group: Sharpness +4, Highlight +4, DR100. Deliberate maximalism of contrast.
- Monochrome — the farthest from any neighbour (distance 6.23), occupying its own niche in a small group.
D’Agostino recipes are marked with an asterisk * in the recipe lists.
Film comparison
| Simulation | Contrast | Saturation | Color cast | Highlights | Shadows | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eterna Bleach Bypass | Extreme | Minimal | Silvery | Bright | Very deep | Urban, abstract, fine art projects, travel |
| Velvia | Extreme | Extreme | Oversaturated | Bright, dramatic | Very deep | Landscapes, nature, sunsets, abstract |
| Classic Negative | Very high | High | Warm (red-magenta) | Warm | Cool, deep | Portraits, weddings, bright natural light, reportage |
| Classic Chrome | Medium | Low | Cool (blue) | Neutral | Deep | Street photography, travel, documentary, photojournalism |
| PRO Neg | Low (Std) / Medium (Hi) | Low | Neutral, warm | Soft | Lifted (Std) / Medium (Hi) | Studio and outdoor portraits, fashion, weddings |
| Provia | Medium | Medium | Neutral, warm | Balanced | Balanced | General-purpose shooting, starting point, learning |
| Astia | Medium | Medium (low for skin tones) | Warm, soft | Soft, graceful | Smooth | Outdoor portraits, fashion, mixed lighting |
| Eterna | Very low | Very low | Neutral | Lifted, soft | Lifted | Video, color grading, cinematic style |
| Monochrome films | ||||||
| Acros | High | B&W | Neutral B&W | Textured | Deep with detail | Fine art B&W photography, landscapes, street photography, portraits |
| Monochrome | Medium | B&W | Neutral B&W | Balanced | Balanced | Neutral B&W shooting, editorial work, base for editing |
Classic Chrome was developed by analyzing hundreds of documentary and journalistic photographs rather than copying a specific film stock. The result is muted, rich tones with soft contrast and a characteristic shift of blue toward dark cyan. Skies don't oversaturate, oranges don't scream — everything works as a single, restrained palette. The simulation pulls magenta out of blue skies, producing that signature "cold" documentary look. It makes an excellent base for editing thanks to its controlled color character. Debuting in 2014, it quickly became iconic — and it was Classic Chrome that sparked today's recipe culture, as photographers realized color could be "dialed in" right in-camera. Tip: Classic Chrome shines in overcast conditions and soft light, where its restraint adds atmosphere; in bright sun it can look flat.
| Contrast | Medium |
| Saturation | Low |
| Color cast | Cool (blue) |
| Highlights | Neutral |
| Shadows | Deep |
| Grain | Subtle |
Street photography, travel, documentary, photojournalism
This collection draws inspiration from iconic film emulsions — from the legendary Kodachrome to the warm, gentle Portra — delivering a nostalgic, slightly faded palette with a characteristic golden shift and deep shadows. These presets are ideal for portraits and warm-light scenes: they flatter skin tones, enrich colors, and bring vintage charm to your images without pushing contrast too hard. With their smooth tonal gradation and natural grain, they shine when shooting in sunlight, during golden hour, or in the studio, wherever a lyrical, slightly retro atmosphere is what you're after.
Images are defined by a warm, slightly muted color palette with the reduced saturation and gentle contrast typical of Classic Chrome. Light is predominantly natural — golden hour or soft diffused daylight — with an emphasis on greens, ochres, and warm red-orange tones. Common subjects include natural scenes, flowers, backlit foliage, and quiet landscapes, all carrying a retro film character.
| Highlight | +0.1 |
| Shadow | -1.3 |
| Color | +2.4 |
| Sharpness | -1.1 |
| Clarity | -0.6 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +2.1 |
| WB Blue | -4.8 |
- Kodachrome 64
- Kodachrome 25
- Kodachrome 1
- Kodak Portra 160
- Kodak Portra 400
- Kodak Portra 400 v2
- Kodak Portra 400 Warm
- Reggie’s Portra
- Portra-Style
- Kodak Portra 800 v2
- Kodak Ektar 100
- Old Kodak
- Kodak Brilliance
- Classic Color
- Retro Gold
- Retro Gold Low Contrast
- Indoor Angouleme
- Kodak Portra do Sol
- Bright Summer
- Kodak Gold 200
- Kodak Portra 400
- Kodak Portra 400 v2
- Kodak Porta 160
- Kodachrome 64 - *
- Kodachrome 64 + *
- Summer *
This preset collection recreates the magic of mid-20th-century film photography — soft contrast, warm shadows, and a gently muted palette. They're a great match for portrait and lifestyle shooting, thanks to flattering skin rendering, a nostalgic mood, and natural, non-oversaturated color. They work particularly well in everyday situations, from studio sessions to travel, whenever you want to preserve the authenticity of the moment and leave digital sharpness behind.
Images feature soft, muted colors with a warm earthy cast characteristic of the Classic Chrome film simulation. Light is often gentle, with a golden-hour or hazy quality, shadows are clean, and contrast is moderate. Typical subjects include natural landscapes, autumn foliage, children's portraits, and street scenes — all carrying a vintage tone and a slightly faded look.
| Highlight | -0.6 |
| Shadow | +0.2 |
| Color | +1.7 |
| Sharpness | -1.1 |
| Clarity | -1.8 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +0.8 |
| WB Blue | -0.9 |
This recipe collection brings back the magic of classic color film — from the iconic Kodachrome and Kodacolor to the experimental look of cross-processing. Warm, slightly faded tones with soft contrast make these perfect for portraits, street scenes, and documentary work where you want a vintage feel without aggressive grain. Slightly reduced Clarity and lifted shadows hold detail in the highlights, delivering that genuine analog-era film feeling — romantic, a little overcast, and full of soul.
The images feature a muted, slightly faded palette with an emphasis on warm earthy tones and rich blue skies. Lighting is predominantly soft daylight, with a retro film look characterized by a subtle matte quality and reduced shadow contrast. Typical subjects include American suburbs, nature, vintage objects, and street scenes in the spirit of classic slide film.
| Highlight | +0.4 |
| Shadow | +1.9 |
| Color | +1.3 |
| Sharpness | +0.1 |
| Clarity | -2.8 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | -1.8 |
| WB Blue | -1.4 |
This recipe recreates the distinctive aesthetic of classic color film — soft, slightly faded color with muted saturation. Lifted shadows combined with minimal contrast produce a gentle, nostalgic look with delicate grain, ideally suited to portrait work and scenes shot in bright daylight. A warm white balance with a yellow-orange bias gives the images a sunny, subtly vintage mood, as if the photograph had been sitting in sunlight for a decade.
The images feature a faded, muted color palette with warm pinkish-brown and dusty green tones, emulating aged Elite Chrome film with a fading effect. Lighting is often soft and low-contrast, with subdued shadows and slightly lifted blacks. Typical subjects include industrial railway scenes, suburban America, nature, and floral close-ups, all carrying a subtle retro melancholy.
| Highlight | +0.0 |
| Shadow | +2.0 |
| Color | -2.0 |
| Sharpness | -4.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +4.0 |
| WB Blue | +8.0 |
Classic Negative is the most "film-like" of the color simulations in character. It applies separate tonal curves to different colors, so reds, blues, and greens each receive different contrast simultaneously — exactly how real color negative film behaved. This produces a rich, slightly uneven image with warm highlights and cool shadows. High contrast and saturation keep colors vivid, but without any digital "plasticky" feel. It's especially flattering for people — skin tones get warmth, greens stay green rather than going yellow. The inspiration is Fujicolor Superia, the affordable everyday film that came in its signature green boxes and filled family photo albums throughout the 1990s — hence its nostalgic, slightly imperfect character. The simulation arrived in 2019 on the X-Pro3 and instantly became a community favorite. Tip: it loves contrasty light and saturated scenes — it comes alive wherever there's something worth "painting." Compatibility note: among X-Trans IV cameras, only the X-T3 and X-T30 lack this simulation — they were the only bodies that never received the firmware update (they also lack the Clarity and Color Chrome Blue settings). On the rest of the generation (X100V, X-Pro3, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, etc.) the simulation is available.
| Contrast | Very high |
| Saturation | High |
| Color cast | Warm (red-magenta) |
| Highlights | Warm |
| Shadows | Cool, deep |
| Grain | Subtle |
Portraits, weddings, bright natural light, reportage
This collection embodies the classic color negative aesthetic — warm, slightly diffused shadows and soft contrast — making it ideal for portraits and everyday shooting in natural light. The recipes nod to legendary stocks like Kodak Royal Gold and Fujifilm Superia, lending images a vintage charm with characteristic magenta and reddish tones. These presets are a reliable choice for anyone who values the nostalgia and organic quality of analog photography, without the need for complex post-processing.
The images feature a muted vintage palette with warm earthy tones, soft blue skies, and restrained contrast characteristic of Classic Negative. Lighting is predominantly natural — ranging from bright midday sun to dramatic sunsets and overcast haze — lending the shots a nostalgic, cinematic film atmosphere. Typical subjects include small-town American architecture, natural and coastal landscapes, and close-up plant shots with soft bokeh.
| Highlight | -0.0 |
| Shadow | +1.4 |
| Color | +0.7 |
| Sharpness | -2.0 |
| Clarity | -3.4 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +1.4 |
| WB Blue | -3.6 |
This preset collection recreates the character of Fujicolor film rendering — its signature warm tone and rich colors — making it an ideal choice for portraits, street photography, and documentary work. Reduced sharpness and contrast paired with expanded dynamic range deliver a soft, enveloping render with good shadow and highlight detail. The settings work beautifully in mixed light, naturally warming cool tones and adding depth and dimension to your subject.
The images are characterized by a muted, slightly flat color rendering with the warm highlights and cool shadows typical of Classic Negative. Light is often soft and golden in sunset and sunny shots, with a subtle reduction in contrast and a vintage feel. Natural scenes, retro details, and urban subjects predominate, all carrying a nostalgic, film-like atmosphere.
| Highlight | +0.1 |
| Shadow | -0.2 |
| Color | +1.9 |
| Sharpness | -0.7 |
| Clarity | -0.9 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | -1.6 |
| WB Blue | -0.1 |
- Chrome Slide
- Fujicolor Reala 100
- Fujicolor Superia 100
- Scanned Superia
- Pulled Fujicolor Superia
- Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled
- Fujicolor C200
- Fujicolor C200 v2
- Fujicolor Analog
- Fujicolor Super HG
- Fujicolor Super HG v2
- Color Negative 400
- AgfaChrome RS 100
- Agfa Ultra 100
- Agfa Vista 100
- Classic Negative
- Amanda’s Classic Negative
- Low Key
- Expired Velvia
- Classic Negative *
This recipe collection recreates the warm, rich palette of classic color films — from the golden tones of Fujicolor 100 to the punchy Superia Xtra 400. Slightly reduced Clarity and gentle contrast give the images a touch of nostalgia and cinematic quality, evoking the atmosphere of summer days and street photography. They're ideal for portraits, landscapes, and documentary work in bright daylight, where natural color and artistic warmth are what matter most.
The images feature a warm, golden tonality with muted, slightly faded colors and the soft contrast characteristic of classic negative film. Light is often low and directional — sunset or backlit — casting a warm glow across foliage, snow, and architecture. Scenes range from desolate winter landscapes to cozy nighttime city shots, all tied together by a retro mood and a natural, subtly nostalgic palette.
| Highlight | -1.4 |
| Shadow | +0.4 |
| Color | +0.7 |
| Sharpness | -1.3 |
| Clarity | -3.2 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +1.2 |
| WB Blue | -5.2 |
This trio of presets takes a refined approach to the film aesthetic — soft shadows, restrained contrast, and a creamy palette combine to create a lyrical, gently vintage mood without tipping into excess pastels. They're particularly well suited to portraits, landscapes in difficult light, and everyday scenes where atmosphere is everything: they bring out shadow detail gracefully, adding a sense of airiness to the frame and a natural coolness to the highlights. The Bleach Bypass recipe offers a more contrasty alternative for those after a sharp, graphic quality, while Vintage Analog and Creamy Color are perfect for a soft, enveloping look — even on an overcast day.
The images are defined by a muted, faded palette with warm earthy and greenish tones characteristic of the Classic Negative film simulation. Light is soft and diffused, with a misty haze over landscapes and low contrast in the shadows. Typical subjects include foggy autumn scenery, natural details, architecture, and quiet waterside scenes, all carrying a nostalgic, analog mood.
| Highlight | +2.7 |
| Shadow | +2.7 |
| Color | -4.0 |
| Sharpness | -2.0 |
| Clarity | -1.3 |
| Dynamic Range | DR100 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | -0.3 |
| WB Blue | +3.7 |
Eterna was designed for cinematographers who need maximum flexibility in post. The profile is intentionally flat: lifted shadows, restrained highlights, minimal contrast, and very muted colors — somewhere between a Log profile and standard color. For unedited stills it looks dull, but that's exactly what videographers need. In photography, Eterna provides a "cinematic frame" — the feeling of an undeveloped frame, a soft film stock waiting to be color graded. It pairs well with warm light sources. The reference is Fujifilm's Eterna motion picture film, used for shooting feature films. The simulation debuted in 2018 on the flagship X-H1, Fujifilm's first camera with a serious video focus. Tip: photographers use Eterna for its subdued, cinematic palette in everyday shooting — it forgives difficult mixed light situations where more vivid simulations would fall apart.
| Contrast | Very low |
| Saturation | Very low |
| Color cast | Neutral |
| Highlights | Lifted, soft |
| Shadows | Lifted |
| Grain | Subtle |
Video, color grading, cinematic style
This group of recipes recreates the warm, nostalgic look of motion picture film — soft contrast and golden shadows that are perfect for portraits and reportage with a historical undertone. Lifted highlights and shadows give the images a cinematic depth and dimensionality, while the smooth, flowing tonal transitions work especially well during golden hour or under soft studio light. These are the presets photographers reach for when they want a calm, contemplative feel — perfect for weddings, portrait series, and atmospheric documentary work where the authenticity of past decades matters.
The photos have a soft, filmic quality with muted, slightly faded colors and warm golden light, particularly in backlit scenes. Subdued greens, beiges, and earthy tones dominate, with pleasing bokeh and low shadow contrast. Typical subjects include nature, desert landscapes of the American Southwest, Spanish Colonial architecture, and cozy indoor still lifes in natural light.
| Highlight | +1.7 |
| Shadow | +2.0 |
| Color | +1.8 |
| Sharpness | -1.1 |
| Clarity | -2.8 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +4.2 |
| WB Blue | -5.7 |
This group of recipes recreates the aesthetic of classic motion picture film — warm, slightly languid color and soft contrast — making it ideal for portrait and reportage shooting in any lighting condition. Muted colors and visible grain create a nostalgic mood reminiscent of archival footage and exposed film stock; these presets are particularly effective indoors and in flat daylight. With a shift toward the shadows and preserved highlight detail, these filters handle high-contrast scenes well and bring out the character of portraits with a piercing, almost cinematic expressiveness.
The images have a soft, low-contrast look with muted, slightly faded colors and the distinctive cinematic palette of Eterna. Shadows are deep but not crushed, highlights are restrained, and the overall tone leans toward warm earthy and dusty green hues with a nostalgic film character. Typical subjects include city streets, vintage objects, nature and flowers, and night scenes with cool light and warm accents.
| Highlight | +2.4 |
| Shadow | +2.7 |
| Color | +1.4 |
| Sharpness | -2.3 |
| Clarity | -2.3 |
| Dynamic Range | DR100 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | -1.4 |
| WB Blue | +2.1 |
This pair of recipes recreates the look of warm motion picture film with a characteristic teal shift in the shadows — a perfect choice for cinematic shooting with an atmospheric, subtly nostalgic mood. Reduced Clarity and gentle light-to-shadow transitions create a dreamy, slightly overexposed quality that works especially well for evening scenes, portraits under artificial light, and urban photography. With expanded Dynamic Range and a pleasing film grain, these presets retain highlight detail and give your images an authentic cinematic look.
The images feature a muted cinematic palette with cool teal-green shadows and warm golden-amber highlights. The tonal rendering is soft, with reduced contrast and slightly faded highlights characteristic of the Eterna film simulation. Typical subjects include evening and nighttime urban scenes, nature in diffused light, and interiors with warm light sources.
| Highlight | -1.0 |
| Shadow | +3.0 |
| Color | +1.5 |
| Sharpness | -2.5 |
| Clarity | -5.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | -2.5 |
| WB Blue | -6.5 |
Bleach Bypass is a chemical process in which the silver is not washed out of the film, leaving it layered on top of the color dye. The result: extreme contrast, crushed shadows, blown highlights, and minimal color — essentially black-and-white with a ghost of chroma. In cinema the technique was famously used in Saving Private Ryan and L.A. Confidential. Fujifilm's simulation faithfully reproduces this effect — it's the harshest of all the color simulations. It works best wherever color gets in the way of composition — urban environments, architecture, abstract subjects. The simulation arrived in 2020 on the X-T4. Tip: exposure discipline is essential — the high contrast makes highlights clip easily; protect the highlights and look for textured, graphic subjects. Note: not every X-Trans IV camera has this simulation natively — it debuted on the X-T4 and is available on newer bodies (X-T30 II, X-E4, X-S10, etc.), but is absent on the X100V, X-Pro3, X-T3 and X-T30. On those cameras the same look is reproduced manually via recipes.
| Contrast | Extreme |
| Saturation | Minimal |
| Color cast | Silvery |
| Highlights | Bright |
| Shadows | Very deep |
| Grain | Subtle |
Urban, abstract, fine art projects, travel
This preset collection recreates the distinctive visual character of the bleach bypass process — muted, faded colors with a cool silver cast and minimal contrast. They're ideal for atmospheric, nostalgic shooting: moody portraits, urban scenes, and cinematic setups where you want dramatic highlight rolloff and the soft, grainy quality of aged motion picture film. These presets are especially effective in mixed or cold light conditions, amplifying the retro aesthetic and giving your images a slightly blurred, dreamlike quality.
The photos feature a muted, slightly desaturated palette with a distinctive bleach bypass effect — reduced saturation, increased contrast, and dark silvery shadows. The light is soft, often with a warm faded tone shifting into cool, washed-out skies. Typical subjects include urban and rural architecture, natural landscapes, portraits, and still life shots with a vintage, documentary feel.
| Highlight | -0.3 |
| Shadow | +0.1 |
| Color | +1.1 |
| Sharpness | -1.5 |
| Clarity | -2.4 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | -1.7 |
| WB Blue | -5.3 |
This group of recipes recreates the distinctive look of the bleach bypass process while retaining the metallic sheen of the original film — cold, contrasty, and veiled in a subtle silver haze. The settings produce lifted highlights with deep shadows and accentuated Clarity, making them ideal for portrait and fine art photography where expressiveness and a degree of nostalgic drama are called for. These recipes are particularly striking under studio light or in contrasty daylight conditions, where you need to emphasize texture and three-dimensionality.
The photos feature a muted, desaturated palette with cool blue shadows while preserving the richness of pink and red accents. The light is contrasty, with deep shadows and flat highlights that create a cinematic bleach bypass effect. Typical subjects include Spanish architecture, bougainvillea blossoms against the sky, railway scenes, and street shots with a subdued dramatic quality.
| Highlight | +2.5 |
| Shadow | -1.0 |
| Color | +0.0 |
| Sharpness | +0.5 |
| Clarity | +2.5 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | -3.0 |
| WB Blue | +4.5 |
The PRO Neg family was built with one purpose: to flatter the subject. The base version (Std) is one of the softest and flattest simulations in the lineup — it holds back shadows, reduces contrast, and lets studio lighting fully shape the image. PRO Neg Hi adds contrast, making it suited for outdoor and environmental portraits where the photographer can't control the light. Skin tones render naturally, without excess warmth or an overly smooth, plastic quality. The neutral color balance makes both simulations a reliable foundation for portrait work in any conditions. The reference stock is Fujicolor PRO 160NS, the professional studio film photographers relied on for shooting people under controlled lighting. Tip: choose Std when you're building the light yourself and want a soft, neutral base; go with Hi for outdoor and reportage work where you need ready-made depth without post-processing.
| Contrast | Low (Std) / Medium (Hi) |
| Saturation | Low |
| Color cast | Neutral, warm |
| Highlights | Soft |
| Shadows | Lifted (Std) / Medium (Hi) |
| Grain | Subtle |
Studio and outdoor portraits, fashion, weddings
This group of recipes simulates classic professional color negative film — natural, gently rendered color with a delicate approach to the shadows — making it ideal for portrait and reportage work across a range of lighting conditions. These presets give images a warm, slightly soft character with pleasing grain, particularly well suited to city scenes, street photography, and night shooting. The settings prioritize highlight retention with a gentle approach to shadow development, making them a versatile tool for photographers working in changing conditions.
| Highlight | +0.5 |
| Shadow | +0.2 |
| Color | +0.9 |
| Sharpness | -0.9 |
| Clarity | -2.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | -1.1 |
| WB Blue | +0.7 |
This line of presets captures the sensuality of the film aesthetic — soft contrast and warm color shifts that are ideal for portraits and landscapes in natural light. Smooth shadow and highlight handling, subtle grain, and a gentle cooling of the blue channel evoke the atmosphere of a 1970s vintage film stock — nostalgic, but not overdone. These recipes particularly shine when shooting in overcast conditions or during soft-light hours, where they fully reveal the depth of the palette and bring out the textural quality of the scene.
The images have a soft, muted color rendition with warm, slightly faded tones reminiscent of analog film. Light is mostly soft and diffused, contrast is moderate with a gentle shadow lift (chrome bypass), and colors are understated and pastel. Typical subjects include everyday still lifes, nature, urban details, and portraits with a retro mood.
| Highlight | +2.8 |
| Shadow | +2.8 |
| Color | +0.8 |
| Sharpness | +0.5 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | -2.0 |
| WB Blue | -0.8 |
This classic negative film simulation captures the aesthetic of archival printing — soft contrast and muted color. It suits portrait and lifestyle shooting where naturalness and a nostalgic character are what you're after: reduced saturation and a warm white balance shift create the atmosphere of a vintage photograph. The preset works especially well on GFX cameras and is ideal for capturing meaningful moments where emotional authenticity matters more than technical perfection.
The photos feature soft, muted colors with a slight cool blue-green shift in the skies and warm pastel tones on surfaces. The light is bright and daylit, but contrast is restrained, creating a vintage film atmosphere with a nostalgic character. Typical scenes include California suburban America: gas stations, palm trees, retro signage, brick architecture, and nature under a faded sky.
| Highlight | -2.0 |
| Shadow | +0.0 |
| Color | -4.0 |
| Sharpness | -2.0 |
| Clarity | -3.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | -3.0 |
| WB Blue | -4.0 |
These presets recreate a distinctive cinematic style with lifted highlights and deep shadows characteristic of the bleach bypass technique — perfect for building a contrasty, slightly gritty film look with cool color rendering. Reach for them when shooting portraits, fashion, and urban scenes where you need a dramatic atmosphere and strong graphic quality without excess saturation. They perform well in mixed light and in a digital workflow, giving images the feel of genuine film material with characteristic grain.
The photos feature soft, muted color rendering with warm earthy tones and pastel hues characteristic of negative film. The light is mostly diffused or soft golden hour, with reduced contrast and gentle transitions. Typical scenes include autumn nature with yellow and red foliage, forest trails, streams, and urban architecture in warm evening light.
| Highlight | +2.0 |
| Shadow | +2.5 |
| Color | -1.5 |
| Sharpness | +1.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | +8.0 |
| WB Blue | -8.5 |
This simulation recreates the classic negative film aesthetic — a clean, low-contrast palette with natural tonal rendition. It suits portrait work in any lighting condition thanks to its gentle shadow handling and smooth tonal range that preserves detail in both highlights and shadows. Particularly well suited to documentary and lifestyle photography where you need an honest, non-oversaturated interpretation of the scene with just a barely perceptible warm shift.
The photos feature soft, muted tones with warm golden and pastel hues characteristic of negative film. The light is often diffused or backlit, with gentle shadow-to-highlight transitions and reduced saturation. Natural and coastal scenes predominate, with a subtle haze that lends a calm and gently nostalgic mood.
| Highlight | +1.0 |
| Shadow | +2.0 |
| Color | -4.0 |
| Sharpness | +1.0 |
| Clarity | -2.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | +1.0 |
| WB Blue | -2.0 |
Neopan Acros is one of the finest B&W film stocks ever made, discontinued in 2018. Fujifilm recreated its character in a digital simulation, preserving its structured fine grain, shadow detail, and expressive highlights. Unlike standard Monochrome, Acros is more dramatic and contrasty — it's "character" B&W, not neutral B&W. It supports color filter simulation: Red boosts sky contrast, Yellow softens skin, Green brings out foliage. It's the best option for expressive in-camera B&W work. The simulation debuted in 2016 on the X-Pro2 and is considered technically the most complex in the lineup: Fujifilm calculates the grain pattern based on ISO and local brightness, just as it would vary on real film. Tip: chase light and texture — Acros rewards contrasty scenes, shadows with detail, and graphic compositions.
| Contrast | High |
| Saturation | B&W |
| Color cast | Neutral B&W |
| Highlights | Textured |
| Shadows | Deep with detail |
| Grain | Structured, fine |
Fine art B&W photography, landscapes, street photography, portraits
This collection of recipes captures the spirit of classic black-and-white film — deep blacks, luminous highlights, expressive grain, and just the right amount of contrast. Lifted shadows, high Clarity, and expanded Dynamic Range give each shot a dimensional, refined quality, ranging from infrared-style cross processing to the subtlety of split toning. Perfect for portraits, architecture, and documentary work where you need maximum expressiveness of form and texture, without the distraction of color.
Black-and-white images with strong contrast and the distinctive tonal character of Acros — deep shadows, clean highlights, and subtle grain. Subject matter leans heavily toward arid desert landscapes of the American Southwest, minimalist compositions with expansive skies, and detailed natural textures of forests and trees. Light is often harsh and midday, lending a graphic, high-clarity quality with strong, defined lines.
| Highlight | +2.1 |
| Shadow | +2.7 |
| Color | +1.0 |
| Sharpness | +0.6 |
| Clarity | +2.3 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +3.0 |
| WB Blue | +3.9 |
A set of monochrome recipes united by the dark, contrasty aesthetic of black-and-white film with pronounced grain. These presets are a natural fit for portraiture, documentary, and street photography — anywhere you need rich blacks and smooth midtone gradation. Reduced Clarity and a gentle contrast curve lend a slightly melancholic, cinematic mood that works especially well in challenging natural light and at high ISOs.
Black-and-white images with soft midtones and delicate highlight and shadow rendering, characteristic of the Acros simulation. Light is often diffused or backlit, producing silhouettes, flares, and graphic shadows falling across walls. Typical subjects include urban architecture, street details, nature, and understated portraits with a subdued, slightly matte tonality.
| Highlight | +0.7 |
| Shadow | +2.0 |
| Sharpness | -1.7 |
| Clarity | -2.3 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | -1.3 |
| WB Blue | -3.0 |
Velvia launched in 1990 and revolutionized landscape photography. Its hyper-real saturation, deep dark greens, and intense reds became the benchmark for nature and wildlife publications. In the digital simulation, Fujifilm reproduces this extreme character: colors look "too real," more vivid than reality itself. For portraits it's unsuitable — skin tones go unnatural. But for sunsets, mountain landscapes, or a blooming meadow, it delivers that emotional "wow" you simply can't achieve any other way. Velvia is one of Fujifilm's oldest simulations, present in cameras long before the recipe craze began. Tip: it performs best with a slight underexposure — this deepens the colors and saves the highlights from blowing out; avoid portraits, as skin tones will go red.
| Contrast | Extreme |
| Saturation | Extreme |
| Color cast | Oversaturated |
| Highlights | Bright, dramatic |
| Shadows | Very deep |
| Grain | Subtle |
Landscapes, nature, sunsets, abstract
This group of presets, built on the legendary Velvia emulsion, is made for photographers who want deep color saturation and dramatic contrast. With a boosted blue channel, pronounced grain, and high Clarity, these recipes are ideal for landscape and adventure photography — especially on sunny days when nature's colors are already vivid and just need that extra punch. Golden hour sunsets, mountain landscapes, and bold urban scenes will come alive in full saturation, taking on a cinematic and slightly retro-exotic character.
The photos feature deep, saturated colors with an emphasis on lush greens, vivid blue skies, and warm red-orange tones, all characteristic of the Velvia simulation. Contrast is high, shadows are dense, and the color palette can lean into strong shifts — greens and magentas in night and urban shots. Typical scenes include dramatic natural landscapes, retro subjects with textured patina, and close-up plant detail.
| Highlight | +0.1 |
| Shadow | +0.0 |
| Color | +1.7 |
| Sharpness | +0.9 |
| Clarity | +1.8 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | -0.6 |
| WB Blue | +0.6 |
Monochrome is the standard, balanced black-and-white profile with no strong character of its own. Unlike Acros, it doesn't chase drama and contrast: smooth gradients, even transitions from shadow to light, predictable results. This makes it a clean foundation for further editing — it doesn't impose an aesthetic. It supports color filters: Yellow gently darkens the sky and softens skin, Red increases contrast, Green emphasizes vegetation. Choosing between Acros and Monochrome is choosing between expressiveness and neutrality. It's Fujifilm's oldest B&W mode, available on all X-series cameras from the very beginning — unlike Acros, which requires a more recent processor. Tip: if you plan to finish your B&W in post, use Monochrome as a clean starting point; for a ready-to-use result straight from the camera, Acros is more expressive.
| Contrast | Medium |
| Saturation | B&W |
| Color cast | Neutral B&W |
| Highlights | Balanced |
| Shadows | Balanced |
| Grain | Subtle |
Neutral B&W shooting, editorial work, base for editing
This group of recipes recreates the classic aesthetic of black-and-white film photography — pronounced contrast and characteristic grain — making it well suited to portraits, architecture, and street photography. Average settings with lifted shadows (+2.4) and brightened highlights (+1.3) preserve shadow detail while keeping the highlights airy, and added Clarity and Sharpness give the images a three-dimensional, graphic quality. A calibrated white balance with a bias toward blue (-4.6) and red (+1.2) delivers a natural, neutral tone that allows the texture of the subject to come through at its fullest.
Black-and-white shots with a rich tonal range — from deep, saturated shadows to soft, bright skies. Light is often backlit and graphic, with silhouettes of foliage and branches standing out expressively against overcast skies. Scenes range from natural landscapes and waterfalls to street details and architecture, conveying a calm, documentary-contemplative mood.
| Highlight | +1.1 |
| Shadow | +2.5 |
| Color | +0.0 |
| Sharpness | +0.5 |
| Clarity | +1.3 |
| Dynamic Range | DR100 |
| Grain Effect | Strong |
| WB Red | +1.0 |
| WB Blue | -3.8 |
Provia is the neutral reference point in the Fujifilm lineup — the equivalent of a "standard" color profile. It doesn't do anything extreme: moderate contrast, moderate saturation, clean white balance. There's a slight warm cast — a yellowish-green characteristic of Fujifilm — but it's barely noticeable under real-world conditions. Where other simulations create a mood, Provia simply records the scene. This makes it the ideal starting point for anyone getting to know their camera, and a reliable fallback for everyone else. The reference stock is Fujichrome Provia 100F, a professional reversal film with honest, balanced color; it's the default mode on all Fujifilm cameras. Tip: use it when accurate representation matters more than a stylized look — or when you already know you'll be editing the shot.
| Contrast | Medium |
| Saturation | Medium |
| Color cast | Neutral, warm |
| Highlights | Balanced |
| Shadows | Balanced |
| Grain | Subtle |
General-purpose shooting, starting point, learning
This selection recreates the character of legendary film emulsions — from color negatives to positive slide films — with their characteristic tonal softness and warm, subtly muted palette. These recipes are ideal for portrait and documentary photography: they handle highlights gently, preserve shadow detail, and bring a nostalgic, meditative mood to images with natural grain. Choose this simulation for soft light, street photography on overcast days, or studio sessions where smooth skin rendering is a priority and aggressive contrast is the last thing you need.
These images are characterized by natural, neutral color rendering with soft, understated tones typical of the Provia film simulation. Light is mostly soft and diffused, with realistic color representation spanning warm sunset and autumn hues to cool winter scenes. Tonality is balanced and true-to-life, free from aggressive contrast, making it well suited to landscapes, portraits, and everyday street subjects alike.
| Highlight | -0.4 |
| Shadow | +1.6 |
| Color | +1.4 |
| Sharpness | +0.4 |
| Clarity | -1.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR400 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | +0.2 |
| WB Blue | -2.2 |
Astia was developed for fashion film photography: soft skin tones, vibrant blues and greens, graceful highlight transitions. The digital simulation preserves this logic: reds and oranges (skin, sunsets) are pulled back and softened, while blue skies and green foliage gain saturation and pop. This makes Astia unique — it's simultaneously "gentle" and "vivid," depending on what's in front of the lens. The soft highlight rolloff lets you shoot in harsh midday light without blowing out faces. It's one of the hardest profiles to replicate convincingly in post. The reference stock is Fujichrome Astia 100F, a reversal film prized for its delicate skin tone rendering. Tip: an underrated choice for outdoor portraits — skin stays soft while the background (sky, foliage) remains lively and saturated; it works exactly where Velvia would have turned faces red.
| Contrast | Medium |
| Saturation | Medium (low for skin tones) |
| Color cast | Warm, soft |
| Highlights | Soft, graceful |
| Shadows | Smooth |
| Grain | Subtle |
Outdoor portraits, fashion, mixed lighting
A group of presets for fans of a subdued, romantic aesthetic, with the gentle contrast and slightly open shadows characteristic of Astia. Lifted highlights and subtle warm-leaning color correction make these ideal for portraits, love stories, and fashion photography in natural light. Despite modest grain and a slight softening of Clarity, the presets retain a sense of airiness and smooth skin tones, delivering that genuine film look with a nostalgic quality that is so valued in wedding and lifestyle photography.
These shots feature soft pastel color rendering with a warm bias and muted midtones characteristic of Astia. Some frames lean into strong red-pink redscale tones — particularly the mountain sunset scenes — while others retain clean blue skies and delicate pastel walls. Light is predominantly bright daylight, and compositions are often minimalist with large open expanses of sky.
| Highlight | +0.7 |
| Shadow | +1.0 |
| Color | -1.3 |
| Sharpness | -1.0 |
| Clarity | -1.0 |
| Dynamic Range | DR200 |
| Grain Effect | Weak |
| WB Red | +0.3 |
| WB Blue | -1.3 |