It’s been awhile since I created a black-and-white film simulation recipe. Part of it is that my favorite recipe is Kodak Tri-X 400, and I often choose to shoot with that. Another factor is that the differences between monochrome recipes are often much more subtle than color. For this, I didn’t start out with the intention of making a black-and-white recipe—in fact, it began with Classic Negative—and I wasn’t satisfied with the look, so I switched to Acros, and immediately liked what I saw. A few small changes later, and this recipe was born. It’s not modeled after any specific film, so I named it Monochrome Negative, as it does have a nice film-like quality to it.
The trick to this film simulation recipe is underexposure. I found myself most often lowering the exposure by 1/3 or 2/3 stops (many of my recipes often call for the opposite). Highlight set to +3 will keep the image bright, while the underexposure will deepen the shadows and provide good contrast. Obviously each exposure should be judged individually, so don’t be afraid to deviate from this advice.
This recipe was designed on and intended for the Fujifilm X100V, which has a newer X-Trans IV sensor, but because I didn’t use any of the new tools, such as Clarity and the Color Chrome Effects, this recipe is compatible with all X-Trans III & IV cameras. On X-Pro3 and newer, choose Grain size Small; on all other cameras, which don’t have Grain size as an option, simply select Grain Strong. If your camera has the Acros film simulation, you can use this recipe!
Acros (+Y, +R, +G)
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +3
Shadow: 0
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: -2
Clarity: 0
Grain Effect: Strong, Small (Strong for those cameras without Grain Size)
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: Daylight, 0 Red & 0 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 12800
Exposure Compensation: 0 to -2/3 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Monochrome Negative” film simulation recipe on my Fujifilm X100V:
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I am always interested in BW so I will check it out. I must admit that I dont see grain effect on this photos. Somehow I never use ISO12800 it really looks bad, maybe for some photos that i would like to look somehow war/documentary. I use a lot some other recipe, i dont remember name, i call it pushed acros (highlights +2, shadows +4) – its great for the clouds. few examples
1) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Tubby-889108257
2) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Lowlands-Road-to-the-depony-888809610
3) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Lowlands-Road-to-the-depony-888809610
4) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Bus-photo-3-Entering-Jakovo-Village-888999863
5) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Inside-889204835
6) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/On-the-Road-Silo-889500880
7) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Lowlands-Silo-II-888525901
8) https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/On-the-Road-Wheat-888618616
PS After 2 months with x-t30 I am satisfied, but I have a feeling that Sony is better in some important categories. My RX100 (technically 8 years older…or so) has better autofocus, even in low light.
Also I would like that shortcuts can be assigned to work like switch.
For instance when I swipe up I get 3:2 format, when I swipe up again I get 1:1, next time again 3:2
or swipe switch between Acros and Negative HI which I use the most..
Thank you for sharing! Beautiful pictures!
Thank you very much!
few more examples of Pushed Across
1 https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Lowlands-Roads-888021912
2 https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/On-the-Road-to-Jakovo-889401349
and latest
3 https://www.deviantart.com/stevanbg/art/Downtown-889999786
I really like this one.
Thanks so much!
Although I love many of your other monochrome film simulations, especially Ilford HP5 Plus, Classic Monochrome, Kodak Tri-X 400 and Kodak T-Max 400, this one is my favourite. It produces beautiful, crisp images in all conditions. It’s now a permanent fixture on my X100v.
Awesome! This was more of a happy accident than anything else… better to be lucky than good, right? I’m so glad that you like it!