Kodak introduced T-Max black-and-white negative film back in 1986, and they dubbed it “the finest-grained black-and-white film in the world.” While it certainly has fine-grain, particularly the low-ISO version, I don’t know how accurate Kodak’s proclamation was. It’s available in ISO 100, 400 and 3200 variants. This film simulation recipe is intended to resemble the ISO 400 version.
T-Max 400 is a popular B&W film. I’ve used it, although it has been many, many years. Kodak updated the film in 2007 to be sharper and have finer grain; it’s the old version that I have personal experience with. With any film, but perhaps especially with black-and-white negative film, so much can be altered in the darkroom to customize the aesthetic, and one film can produce many different looks, so creating a recipe can be controversial because it might not look exactly like what someone thinks it should. Still, I hope that you will recognize this as T-Max-esque.
You might find that this recipe looks familiar. Actually, it began as Kodak Tri-X 400. Fuji X Weekly readers Thomas Schwab (who has helped with several recipes) and Anders Linborg (who invented the Tri-X recipe) worked together to modify that recipe into this one. I added a couple of small revisions, and now we have Kodak T-Max 400! It really was a group effort, but mostly Thomas and Anders. Thanks, guys!
This Kodak T-Max 400 film simulation recipe is intended for the Fujifilm X100V, X-Pro3 and X-T4 cameras; however, with a couple small modifications, it can be used on any X-Trans III or IV camera. First, if your camera doesn’t have Clarity, consider using +1 Highlight and +4 Shadow instead, although you can certainly keep those settings as they are in the recipe below. If your camera doesn’t have the option for Grain size (only strength), set it to Strong. I used Toning on this recipe, which is completely optional, but on the X-T3 and X-T30, which has a different Toning menu, consider using +1 (warm). Back when I shot film I would often give my prints a quick Sepia bath, both for warmth and archival reasons, and the Toning option on your X-Trans IV camera does a good job of mimicking that.
One difference that you might notice between this recipe and Tri-X is ISO. On that recipe I suggest using ISO 1600 to 12800. I think for this recipe the best results are found between ISO 1600 and 3200, but anything from ISO 320 to 6400 looks good. I feel like ISO 12800 is a bit too much, but feel free to try it and see what you think.
Monochrome (+Y, +R, +G)
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: 0
Shadow: +3
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: +2
Clarity: +3
Toning: WC +2, MG 0
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: Daylight,+9 Red & -9 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +1 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Kodak T-Max 400 film simulation recipe on my Fujifilm X100V:
See also: Film Simulation Recipes
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Fujifilm X100V Black Amazon B&H
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Hi Ritchie,
I like the overall look of this recipe across all of these images. On a personal note, your 2nd image Light Through the Dark Forest, looks exceptional on my monitor. Do you post the full size images on your site? I’d love to look into the shadows and see what details there are in the full data of the original. Thanks and keep your site going and growing! If you get burned out, take another vacation so we can see more images!! Win – Win.
Thanks so much! I’d love to take another vacation!
I don’t post full-size pictures on this website because it would become so incredibly slow, but here’s a link to the full-size version of that picture.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50283172897_f8c5a61130_o.jpg
Hi, How can i recuperate the last post prior august 31? It must have been from lasr Friday or Saturday dealing with Kodak 64? for the fuji X100V – must have seen it but accidentally deleted. Kindly advise, many thanks. Best for this week,
Guenter
Sent from my iPad
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This one? https://fujixweekly.com/2020/08/30/fujifilm-x100v-kodachrome-64-film-simulation-recipe-rover-mini-cooper-video/
I explicitly bought the X100F because I wanted Acros and now I am always looking for an opportunity to use the Monochrome mode 😉 Can’t wait to try this one wait….
Lol! That’s funny! When I first used the Acros film simulation I thought that I’d never use Monochrome again. I was never all that happy with Monochrome. But then I realized it was me and not the film simulation, now there are a few different recipes that use it.
Can you make this one for the x-T3? It awesome!
Yes! Follow the directions mentioned in the article (in the paragraph under the “Night Clouds” picture).
Hi,
Thank you for this. I followed the steps above while applying this to my x100v.
When using this filter, the camera takes 2-3 seconds to store the photo (as opposed to 0.3 seconds without this filter).
Is this normal?
Thanks again
Ofir.
It’s the Clarity setting that causes this. Ensure that Boost mode is enabled, that helps a little. But Clarity slows the camera down significantly.
https://fujixweekly.com/2020/05/24/fujifilm-x100v-new-feature-clarity/
As a long time medium film format shooter now all digital, I really miss Kodak T-Max 100 black and white. I appreciate the fact that you have made a recipe for 400. However, having shot film more or less from 1951 to 2000, I never saw anything to quite equal TMax 100.
For landscape work, it was just the best!!!
Please consider making a recipe for this truly EXCEPTIONAL (!!!) film.
Yeah! Let me see what I can do. Thank you for your suggestion!
This is such an interesting recipe, Ritchie.
When I first tried it, I accidentally used it with the Acros sim instead of Monochrome.
It gives an interesting though obviously different effect.
Upon further experimentation (Acros vs Monochrome) I’ve come to prefer your version, using Monochrome. But, regardless, it’s growing on me.
The sound you hear is me clapping… in appreciation.
I appreciate your kindness! The Monochrome film sim is easy to overlook due to Acros, but it is also excellent.
Hey Ritchie,
T-max is a favourite and this rendition is so good! Coming from Canon, Im new to the simulation paradigm and what a freeing feeling it is to only use JPEGs!
Quick question, I noticed this recipe is based of “Monochrome (+Y, +R, +G)”.
How does one “Stack” yellow, red & green filters in the settings? I only seem to be able to select one?
Thanks!
You cannot stack them, but you can choose one if you’d like. They mimic using a Yellow, Red, or Green filter in B&W film photography. So if you want to mimic using a red filter, you’d choose Monochrome+R. This article should help:
https://fujixweekly.com/2019/03/07/understanding-acros-film-simulation-options-on-fujifilm-x-cameras/