JTPX 1204 – North Salt Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 “Elite Chrome 200 Color Fade”
I recently ran across some old slides that I had forgotten about, and one of those color transparencies was a frame of Kodak Elite Chrome 200 that was beginning to fade and change color. The picture wasn’t especially good, but it looked interesting because of how the image was transforming. Elite Chrome was a version of Ektachrome, which has been dubbed Fade-a-chrome, as it’s very prone to fading and discoloration, especially if not stored correctly, which this particular picture wasn’t. You can see the fading Elite Chrome 200 photograph below.
I wondered if I could create a film simulation recipe that mimics the look of fading Elite Chrome 200. I experimented with the settings a bunch, but couldn’t get it to look right. After showing my wife, Amanda, she suggested that the digital picture looked too crisp, too detailed. I made some more modifications, and found myself much closer. Not perfect, but very close. I made more changes and adjustments, but unfortunately I couldn’t get it to look better, so I went back to those settings that were very close to being right, which is the recipe here.
DGNO Locomotive – Dallas, TX – Canon AE-1 & Kodak Elite Chrome 200 35mm film
One addition to this film simulation recipe that you’ve never seen in any of my other recipes is Image Quality. I have always used Fine, because it’s the highest quality setting, but in this case Fine was, well, too fine. I set it to Normal instead so as to better mimic the transparency. While I’m sure this particular recipe is not for everyone, those looking for something that resembles film from decades ago might appreciate it, as it has an analog aesthetic, and a look that’s a bit unusual, perhaps a bit lomographic (did I just make up a word?).
Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: 0
Shadow: +2
Color: -2
Noise Reduction: +2
Sharpening: -4
Grain Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Image Quality: Normal
White Balance: 8300K, +4 Red & +8 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to -2/3 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Kodak Elite Chrome 200 Color Fade recipe on my Fujifilm X-T30:
Green Locomotive – North Salt Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Tank Rider – North Salt Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Tracks By The Refinery – North Salt Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
American Joe – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Neighborhood Patriotism – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Sidewalk Tricycle – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Red Flag – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Peek – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
One Eye Open – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Evening Bike – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Fence & Path – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Out Flowing – North Salt Lake, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Mountain Sky – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Wet Red Rose – Layton, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Rose Blossom Fence – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
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Cracking job!
Thank you!
Oh! I like this one very much. One of my gripes with digital photography is that it can look almost too perfect. It had never occurred to me to move away from fine jpegs, which now you mention it, seems really obvious!
Thank you so much! I never thought of it until this recipe.