Evening Light On A Clearing Mountain – Riverdale, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Color Negative”
Silly Putty was invented by accident. There was a shortage of rubber during the second world war, and as a result several companies worked hard to create a synthetic substitute. What we now know as Silly Putty was a failed attempt at synthetic rubber. Even though it didn’t turn out exactly like its inventor had hoped, it still became a useful product that has brought joy to many people across the world. This “Color Negative” film simulation recipe has a similar story to Silly Putty (minus the war and rubber).
I’ve been working on a number of different recipes, trying to mimic several different aesthetics that I’ve been asked to create. One of the films that I’ve been trying to recreate the look of is Fujifilm C200, but I’ve yet to crack the code. This recipe is one of the failed attempts at C200. I like how it looks, so I thought I’d share it, even though it’s not exactly what I was trying for. I hope it become useful and brings joy to someone.
Cameras and Coffee – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30 – “Color Negative”
I named this recipe “Color Negative” only because it has a general color negative aesthetic, and I didn’t know what else to call it. It’s in the general neighborhood of Fujifilm C200, but it’s not exactly right for that film. Perhaps there’s some generic film that looks similar to this. It doesn’t precisely mimic any one film that I’m aware of, but this recipe does have a film-like quality to it.
PRO Neg. Hi
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +2
Shadow: +2
Color: -2
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: +1
Grain Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect: Off
White Balance: Daylight Fluorescent (1), -2 Red & +4 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)
Note: There was some confusion on the white balance required for this recipe. It’s Fluorescent 1, also called Daylight Fluorescent or Neon 1. It’s the first option underneath Cloudy.
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using my Color Negative Film Simulation recipe on a Fujifilm X-T30:
Fallen Leaves – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Hanging Apple – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Leaf Hanging On – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Boy Unsure – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Joy’s Smile – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
White Stars – Roy, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
White Cloud Ridge – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Reserved Parking – South Ogden, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
See also: My Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipes
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Is it possible to adapt a version of this for x100f or cameras with this sensor ?
Thanks !
You can use this recipe as-is on your X100F. It’s completely compatible.
the more great film simulations you create the more custom settings we will need!
C1-C7 is not enough…
having said that white balance settings for each custom setting is a crucial firmware update feature…
I know I repeat this like a mantra!
I would love if there were C1-C25….
I agree wholeheartedly with the white balance for each custom setting statement. Thanks for the input!
This is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it, it is a really valuable resource to us all!
Thank you! I’m glad that you appreciate it.
I read a lot of great things here on these pages and i would like to thank you a lot, for me the Fuji world it’s really new and I would like to understand how to apply yours film simulation recipes… do I have to configure these settings directly on camera from the menus on my X-E3 or there are others ways to do this… Thanks !!
The best way is to set them up in the Q menu.
http://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-pro2/menu_shooting/edit-save_custom_setting/index.html
Even though the recipe has -2 Red & +4 Blue, the set of the sample images appears to have a reddish tone.
Yep, that’s from the Fluorescent white balance, so the white balance shift combats that some.
Hey man I love your blog, very informative! I was trying to replicate the new film from lomography called lomochrome metropolis… any ideas?? It will be fun to make this recipe! thanks
I’ve tried, actually, and you can’t desaturate enough to achieve it. The closest I got was using double exposure, with one exposure Acros and the other CC. Of course using a tripod is a hassle, and if anything moves in the scene you’re done.
Nice! Didnt know you can change film simulation in double exposure…. I will try it, thanks!
Great Look in this Setting.
I found these Settings for the Simulation. What do you think about it?
HERE IS HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK
Go in Image Quality (I.Q.) menu.
Select 400% dynamic range.
Select Classic Chrome film simulation;
Grain Effect at strong, just for the heck of it (to keep the “pure photography experience”;
White balance: Auto, R: -2 B: +4
Highlight tone to 0;
Shadows tone to +0 (or -1 for the EXACT look, but I find it boring, so spice it up with +2)
Color to -1
Sharpness to -4
Noise Reduction to -4
Lens modulation optimizer OFF
https://www.diyphotography.net/how-to-get-the-fuji-classic-negative-look-to-your-x-pro2-x-t2/
Thank you for sharing! I’ll take a look. I don’t have an X-Pro3, and I’ve only seen a limited sampling of Classic Negative, so I can’t vouch for how close this may or may not be. Seems like this one has more contrast (but that’s where the -1 Shadow comes in). Looks pretty close overall from what I can tell, but it’s hard for me to tell.
Would you make preset for X-H1?
You can use this on your X-H1. It’s fully compatible.
thanks for posting these recipes its amazing. I just want to ask i have an xt2 would i be able to use this too? I can’t find the color chrome effect in my settings what is that?
You can use it on your X-T2, but it won’t be 100% the same. The Color Chrome Effect doesn’t make a huge difference, so it will still be very similar.
https://fujixweekly.com/2019/04/03/fujifilm-x-t30-new-feature-color-chrome-effect/
I am trying to tweak your recipe using Classic Neg on the new X100V. So far the look is there. I just need to test is various environments
Classic Neg
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +2
Shadow: +2
Color: +2
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: +1
Grain Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect: Off
White Balance: Auto, +2 Red & +4 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1/3
Sounds interesting! You’ll have to share the results.
Thanks for this one, am really enjoying it on my x100f.
What I’ve also been enjoying is the TV series Succession. And even more so now I know they shot it all on Kodak Negative film! It would be amazing if you could work out a simulation that encapsulates the show.
Thanks again for all the simulations
I appreciate your kindness! I haven’t seen that show, I’ll have to look into it. Thanks for the tip!