An issue that many people have found with the different film simulation recipes is knowing what to adjust the White Balance Shift to, as well as knowing what the exposure compensation should be, when changing recipes. Only the newest Fujifilm cameras (the X-Pro3 and newer) have the ability to save the WB Shift with the custom presets; unfortunately, most Fujifilm cameras cannot save WB Shift with custom presets, and that’s a problem when switching between different recipes. Since the camera can’t save certain settings, people have come up with different solutions to help remember what those settings should be. One of those solutions is to put the WB Shift into the custom preset name. Not all Fujifilm cameras have the ability to name the custom settings, but many of them do.
Fuji X Weekly reader Randy Kirk took this name solution to a new level! He designed an abbreviation format for recipe names as a solution to the problem, which he explains below.
“The format translates, from left to right, as follows:
Film Recipe Name, WB mode (auto, daylight, etc), WB Offset, exposure compensation, and finally ISO or misc notes.”
“I use these abbreviations for White Balance:
AU: Auto
TN: Tungsten
C1: Custom 1, etc
F1: Fluorescent 1
KV: Kelvin
CL: Cloud
… and so on. Most can also be abbreviated to one letter if I run out of space to type.”
Below are some examples.
Kodachrome 64 is named: K64 DY+2r-5b +2/3~
Translation: “Kodachrome 64, Daylight White Balance with a +2 Red & -5 Blue shift, exposure comp +2/3, plus or minus 1/3 of a stop. The squiggle after the fraction translates to ‘more or less’ and takes less space than typing the full range listed in the recipe.”
Portra 160 is named: P160 DY~+4r-5b +1~
Translation: “Here, the squiggle after DY lets me know I can mess around with the White Balance, and the exposure compensation translates to +2/3 to +1 1/3 stop.”
Tri-X 400 is named: TriX C1+9r-9B +2/3~ 1600+
Translation: “White balance is Custom 1, exposure compensation is +1/3 to +1 stop, and ISO 1600 and up is recommended.”
“Last, here’s one that condenses my cheat notes for two recipes into one preset name:
K2/E100 A+3r-4b +1/3+ C/V
It looks funky, but translates to:
Kodachrome II / Ektachrome 100SW, Auto WB (abbreviated to A), WB Shift, Exposure Comp +1/3 to +2/3 stop.. and the last note indicates Classic Chrome (for Kodachrome II) or Velvia (for E100SW).”
“A plus sign *after* the exposure compensation indicates another 1/3 stop ‘up’ (for a range of +1/3 to +2/3). Or if a recipe calls for an exposure range of minus 1/3 to minus 2/3 stop, then it would simply read ‘-1/3-‘.”
If you are having trouble remembering what adjustments that you need to make to your camera when you switch between recipes, this system of abbreviations with your custom recipe names might be just what you need. I know that this will be helpful to many of you. Thank you, Randy Kirk, for designing these abbreviations and sharing them!
I also put exposure compensation and WB shift in the name, didn’t find other solution.
Does anyone know if it’s possible to calculate the WB shift and apply the same setting to the RAW file in Lightroom?
I recently overexposed a frame by a good 2 or 3 stops and while I can recover 90% of the damage in LR, I can’t seem to replicate the +3R-4B shift that is in the SOOC jpg. 🤦♂️
Thanks.
I don’t have an answer, but in Capture 1 (which I recently downloaded because of all the questions I get), the software’s “best guess” at the WB isn’t correct, and it definitely takes a lot of fiddling to get it close. Have you tried reprocessing the RAW file in-camera or with X RAW Studio? You can bring down the exposure, but it might not fix the highlights as much as Lightroom might be able to.
I have, X camera Raw can’t recover as much detail, but I do love the simplicity of it.
I can get close in lightroom with the raw just by guessing. Shame the camera doesn’t give the exact kelvin temperature of DY+3R-4B
But hey, thats what I love the jpg slide-film sims with the Fuji. Get it right or go home
That’s true. That’s how it is with slide film. Goof up a little, your picture is ruined. At least with RAW+JPEG, if you do screw up, there’s still hope.
Ritchie, thanks for this tip.
Sort of bummed, the x100v released this year can’t save WB settings in custom recipes.
Anyone know if 1.) it would be possible a future update could add this? And 2.) if so, os there any momentum to get Fuji’s attention?
(i came from the X100T which iirc only got one firmware update?
The X100V can! I have an X100V, and it can save the WB shift in the custom settings. Within “Edit/Save Custom Settings” when you select the WB, you can also select the shift.
A good idea! But as always there is one but! The entered name is not displayed in full! You won’t read it! It is necessary to go to the “edit name” menu, of course it is best to display it in “my menu”. But all the same a rake. Unfortunately, the flexibility of Fujifilma’s menu settings leaves much to be desired, almost all functions are repeated with different settings, but what is really needed is not there.
I don’t personally do this. You know what would be good, though? An app where you could quickly and easily look up the WB Shift if you need it!
Hi Ritchie, Sadly I can’t seem to find any way to “rename” custom settings on my Fuji X-E2. I changed the photo settings so my “second” custom setting is now “Kodachrome 64,” but I don’t see where/how I can change the name to Kodachrome 64 on my X-E2. I am pretty sure I can do it on my X100V and on my X-T3, but just not on the older X-E2, unless you can tell me how to do that. Love your site and posts… thanks much! Bob
You cannot custom name the Custom Presets on the X-E2, unfortunately. Some X-Trans III cameras can and I believe all X-Trans IV can, but not the older models.
Well I love that little camera anyway. Looks great, small, lightweight, and takes great shots. I can “name” the custom settings on my X100V and X-T3, and will just have to remember that my X-E2 custom setting Number 2 is your “Kodachrome 64!” grouping! ; )
Someone told me that they print little cards with the information on it, and tape it to the bottom of the camera. Not sure if that’s helpful or not. Fun little camera–definitely enjoy it!