November Morning – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T20 – “Classic Negative”
The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a new film simulation: Classic Negative. This film simulation is supposed to mimic the look of Superia film. The Classic Negative film simulation is expected to make its way to the X-T3 and X-T30 via a firmware update at some point in the near future, but for now the X-Pro3, which is still a couple weeks out from shipping, is the only camera with it. I’ve already had a number of requests for a film simulation recipe that resembles Classic Negative, despite it being so new.
To be clear, I have absolutely zero experience with the Classic Negative film simulation. There’s only a small sampling of examples that I could find online. I have used Superia film before, but sometimes the film simulations aren’t exact matches to the film they’re supposed to look like. From what I can tell, in this case Fujifilm did a decent job of creating a film simulation that resembles the film.
Classic Negative is actually a little different than other film simulations. Fujifilm has increased the color contrast in it compared to other film simulations. How it renders the picture depends on the lighting and exposure. The darker the light, the lower the saturation, while the brighter the light, the stronger the saturation. In addition, warm colors seem to be a little more vibrant, and cool colors appear a little less so. Highlights seem to have a creamy quality to them, while blacks look a tad faded. This is unlike any other option Fujifilm has given us, so you can imagine creating a film simulation recipe that mimics this is very difficult.
According to Fujifilm, this new film simulation has the second-most contrast out of all of them, only behind Velvia, while the saturation is in the range of PRO Neg. Std. I found it difficult to create a high-contrast look that doesn’t blow out highlights or create blocked shadows. I also found it difficult to recreate the look of warm and slightly vibrant skin tones while also creating cool and dull shadows, as you can only get one right. I tried to find a happy middle ground that’s not very far off on anything and generally provides a similar aesthetic. I hope that I succeeded, although I’m not completely confident in that I did.
I didn’t initially intend to share this recipe until I had a chance to see Classic Negative for myself. When the Eterna film simulation came out, I created a recipe for it for my camera that didn’t have it. Some time later, once I had a chance to shoot with Eterna, I realized that my recipe wasn’t as close as I thought or hoped it would be. I’m guessing this one might turn out to be the same. However, a Fuji X Weekly reader urged me to share it, even if it might turn out to be wrong, as some people might like it anyway. I hope that you do like it, whether or not it is completely accurate to the real Classic Negative film simulation.
PRO Neg. Std
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +3
Shadow: +2
Color: -3
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: +1
Grain Effect: Weak
Color Chrome Effect: Off or N/A
White Balance: 6700K, -2 Red & +7 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -1/3 to +1/3 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs made using this “Classic Negative” film simulation recipe:
Smile of Joy – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
November Red Shed – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Dormant Neighborhood Tree – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Icy Leaf – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Brown Cottonwood Leaf – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T20
Brown Eye Boy – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T20
Mixed Use Crate – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Backyard Winter – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Brown Leaf Pile – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
Suburban House – South Weber, UT – Fujifilm X-T30
See also: My Film Simulation Recipes
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Thanks for sharing! I was going to add since it was mentioned, Jonas Rask’s review of the xpro 3 includes tons of pics he claimed were only shot with classic-neg if you haven’t seen his examples…
https://jonasraskphotography.com/2019/10/23/x-pro3-a-different-breed-first-look-extensive-preview/
I haven’t felt any need to want to upgrade my XT2 body until this new color profile became offered 🙁 hopefully someday it will trickle down beyond the X-3’s since I can’t afford any new gear till I win the lotto 😛
I did look at his pictures as a reference, it was a great help. Thank you for sharing!
Could you do a recipe for the Jonas Rask XPro3 look, especially the portraits from that review(for X Trans III)? He uses classic negative and fx blue and gets these insanely good skin tones. I think he also does some minor adjustments in post to the jpegs on that review.
I’ll take a look at it, but it might be difficult without Classic Negative or Color Chrome Blue.
XT3 does not have Classic Neg but if you are ok with recipes you can also have one on XT2.
How’s this one different from the other you posted last week? https://fujixweekly.com/2019/10/26/my-fujifilm-x-t30-color-negative-film-simulation-recipe/
It’s not much different, but there are some differences. Color Negative is slightly more vibrant than Classic Negative. They’re pretty close to each other, though.
Is the white balance set at 6700K applicable for all, or most, situations? Or do you find yourself modifying it from time to time. I guess this question is appropriate for all your film simulations that use that white balance setting.
Well, it works best for daylight or shade, but under artificial light it will have a weird color cast.
Just as genuine film did. We either used daylight or tungsten balanced film.
Can you help me out finding one of your film simulations? i searched it last night but was unable to find it.
I remember that the pictures were very moody and blue.
i believe you had taken couple of pictures inside a boat ,one of it was a portrait of a lady.
Any help would be appreciated.
thanks in advance
This? https://life-unintended.tumblr.com/post/174852183085/lake-life-lake-como-13th-of-june-2018
Those are Luis Costa’s pictures using this recipe:
https://fujixweekly.com/2018/02/03/my-fujifilm-x100f-fujicolor-superia-800-film-simulation-recipe-pro-neg-std/
Nice work Ritchie,
I’m using XT3 , and am dedicating the (K) white balance to be at 3200 for the CineStill recipe :(, is there any way use one of the custom 1-3 option WB instead of 6700K, -2 Red & +7 Blue? any tip for that?
I tried some different things before settling on a Kelvin temperature. You could use Custom White Balance, but you’d have to figure out how to get it to record a white balance that’s the same as 6700K, and I don’t really know how to do that outside of trial and error. Best of luck!
Hi … I want you to see the work of one of X-Photographer from Indonesia using classic negative film simulation
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4B9oZHJtDu/?igshid=dcmrx4p0le1w
Looks lovely! Can’t wait to try it myself someday. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Mr.Roesch 🙂
I’m Korean XT2 Shooter.
Your way of creating film simulations is very interesting. Last night I saw this post, and it’s weird in fluorescent lights, so I just wait for the morning to come. I previously only used Acros and Classic Chrome. But now I love that thanks to the ProNegStd based recipes you make. Eterna, Superria, Classic Neg. I’m always grateful for the fun, and thanks to that, I bought the XT2 two months ago, which is a vivid new technology for me.
I’m so glad that you like the recipes! Thank you for letting me know, I appreciate the feedback. This recipe is indeed weird in artificial light (unless you use a color correction filter), but it looks good in natural light.
Hey Ritchie,
Thanks for all the great recipes you’ve put out. I use many of them frequently in my XT-2 and X-100T.
How would you adapt this recipe to an X100T, X-Trans II sensor?
They aren’t directly compatible to X-Trans II. You can play around with the settings until you find what you like. +2 on X-Trans III and IV might be closer to +1 on X-Trans I and II, but not exactly. You can use these:
https://fujixweekly.com/2018/09/30/my-fujifilm-xf10-film-simulation-recipes/
Thanks Ritchie.
I use the classic chrome and the monochrome recipes all the time.
Best
Hi Richie,
Could you please create this recipe for the old X-T1?
Thank you very much!
I will look into that. I’m not sure how well it will translate into X-Trans II, but I’ll give it a try.
is there any solution for x-t1 to simulate classic neg. THX
I don’t think it’s really possible. Classic Negative is it’s own thing, that’s quite unique. But maybe it’s possible to get somewhat close-ish.
Hi Ritchie, can this be applied for X100F? Or will there be an update on the future on this recipe? Thank you!
You can use this on the X100F. But it’s not really all that close to Classic Negative (I think it’s impossible to accurately simulate Classic Negative). My opinion is that my Analog Color recipe, my Fujicolor Industrial recipe (neither of which are fully compatible with the X100F, but feel free to try anyway), and my Superia 800 recipe are in the ballpark of Classic Negative, but perhaps in the nosebleeds.
Thanks for the excellent sims! Paypal-ed you as a token of gratitude
I appreciate your feedback and support! Thank you!
Hi Ritchie,
I tried this simulation last week, and initially I wasn’t very keen. It was hard to get the exposure right in camera, and the shadows looked too dark. When I imported the photos to my computer, my impression changed. When the light is right, this recipe really packs a punch.
I’ve never used the real Classic Neg but how do you think this recipe stacks up against superia 400
Classic Negative has a special look that this recipe doesn’t really mimic. In the right situations it can look similar to Classic Negative, but largely it doesn’t. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t look nice, though, as you noted. Another recipe that can sometimes look like Classic Negative is Fujicolor 100 Industrial. Comparing this recipe to actual Superia 400 film? It’s not particularly close, unfortunately.
https://fujixweekly.com/2019/06/13/my-fujifilm-x-t30-fujicolor-100-industrial-film-simulation-recipe/
This is absolutely horrific. Nothing like Classic Negative. The reds are disgusting. Funnily enough the white balance makes the raw files nice and warm in Lightoom with their Classic Negative. Seriously terrible though. Even in the photo above the red is nasty.
This was created when Classic Negative was brand new and very few samples of it were available. It doesn’t do a good job of replicated Classic Negative, something that I said in the article was likely the case. I remember someone (later) did a test of the different faux “Classic Negative” recipes on the internet and found this to be closest; however, it’s still a long ways off. And, really, it’s not possible to replicate Classic Negative using other film simulations, unfortunately. Anyway, not all recipes are for everyone or every purpose, and that might be especially true of this one.
Thanks for publishing and replying. I have tried every recipe and every Lightroom preset. Seriously dude, the reds are all wrong here. I recommend having another bash at it as it is so far from the real thing that it’s putting me off using any of your other recipes, and you have a great reputation for recipes. Other recipes get much closer overall. It’s not just the reds.
None of the others get the greens right, but you come closest. But perhaps that was at the expense of the red, which is a key color with this film simulation imho. Cheers.
Thanks, Gary! It’s just really impossible to faithfully recreate Classic Negative without using Classic Negative. This attempt was not a success. I have received feedback that at least a couple people like it nonetheless, so that’s why I keep it on here. I appreciate your comment!
I hope you release another classic neg recipe for Bayer sensors ☺️
Unfortunately, there’s no good substitution for Classic Negative. It’s quite unique, and not really possible to replicate with another film simulation. Thanks for the suggestion, though.