A couple days ago I published a new Film Simulation Recipe: Standard Provia. This recipe is the first in a new series, in which I attempt to customize each film simulation to optimize the aesthetic that Fujifilm intended—in other words, make a nice-looking recipe that is similar to yet better than the stock look of a film simulation. Provia is Fujifilm’s standard film simulation (that’s why they call it “Provia/Standard” and even abbreviate it “STD”), but it’s one of my least favorite. Sometimes, because I don’t get excited over it, I force myself to use Provia, hoping that it will improve my feelings about it.
The Provia film simulation doesn’t look like Provia film. In fact, it’s probably closer to Astia film, although it’s definitely not an exact match for that, either. There’s something that is “not right” about it to me, but I think it’s just my personal tastes. There are a lot of people who love the Provia film simulation and use it all of the time.
After I published my Standard Provia Film Simulation Recipe, I received feedback from several of you that I should have included a comparison with default Provia/Standard. So here it is! The Provia/Standard images have all of the parameters set to 0 or Off except for Noise Reduction, which is -4. Dynamic Range is DR200 and White Balance is Auto 0R & 0B. It’s basically factory Provia. These were all captured on a Fujifilm X-Pro3. Let’s take a look:
The most notable difference you might notice is that my recipe has less red, with a cooler/greener color cast that is more like typical of Fujicolor film. My recipe also has more contrast and saturation, and, in my opinion, looks better, as I find the default settings to be too flat. If you are looking for a “standard” recipe that utilizes Provia, I believe that my Standard Provia recipe is a good option.
What do you think? Do you like the default Provia/Standard settings better, or do you prefer my “Standard Provia” recipe? Let me know in the comments!
Hello, Are you saying that there are photos where you compare the two versions by sliding a bar that shows the two images superimposed over one another? I’m using an iPad Pro with the gmail app and I see two separate images of each scene. Or am I somehow confused about what I’m looking at?
Thanks John
It’s a slider, or at least it is on my computer and iPhone. Maybe the Gmail app is screwing it up?
The same happened on my side too, but opening the web page, even on an iPad, shows the slider 😉
Thanks for the feedback!
It happens the same on my android phone through the WordPress app… But it’s OK, it’s not bad to see them together, one above the other
It’s an odd behavior… surprised to see it on the WordPress app (it’s their feature!). Thanks for the feedback!
A very good job! I prefer your recipe, I really don’t like the default blueish colour. In fact, I usually set Blue -2 always on any X-T4 picture (It’s the only Fuji camera that I have)
I usually use a minus blue setting, but it’s fun to try different things just to see what happens. Sometimes the results are surprising (in a good way). Thanks for the comment!
You recipe seems definitely more balanced, the standard version has too much red..
This kind of comparison is really interesting… May I suggest (if you haven’t already) an article where you compare the same recipe (for example the Fujicolor Pro 400H, that claims to work well with all film simulations) shot with all the different film simulations?
That’s a great suggestion! I appreciate the input!
I can’t get over the fact they abbreviate it “STD”…;-)
Gonna try this recipe once we have any kind of sunlight back here in Germany
Lol!
thank you again for the good job. I don’t use Provia at all but would have tried with -2 red.
I’m waiting for classic chrome!
Bye!
I appreciate your comment! I look forward to Classic Chrome, too.
Ritchie, Your recipe is the better provia standard version, I love it! Would perhaps be a theme for SOOC recipe of the month.
Cheers Torsten
Thanks! It’s a great suggestion!
Hi Ritchie, if the “Provia/Standard” is more like Astia can’t wait to know what Fuji Astia is more like .
These examples are very differents, Great work, as usual
Astia is a bit more like actual Provia, but not really all that close. I appreciate your kindness!
This post from Ritchie reminded me that I intended to publish this: Nine Films, Nine Photographs – Color Science Straight Out Of Camera. All photographs imaged with the X100V, rendered using these digital films: Astia, Extachrome, Kodacolor, Kodachrome 64, Tri-X, Disneychrome, Kodacolor VR (expired), Ultramax, Portra.
https://specialeditionartproject.com/the-special-edition-art/making-of-the-arts/nine-films-nine-photographs.html
Cheers, Eric
p.s. The 100 page photobook of these images turned out fabulously!
Wow! Really amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Where can I find the book?
The photo book is a one-of from Printique. I’m looking into options for a couple more
Hmmm – I don’t see any bars to move on the examples. John
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If you go to the website itself (instead of through an app… seems to be an issue when viewing through an email app or WordPress app for some reason), it works as it is supposed to. So if you view this page in an actual web browser you’ll see it.
Wow, I really like your version of Provia. Could you replicate this recipe for X-trans II? This would be awesome 👍🏻
It might be possible to get in the neighborhood. Obviously the lack of Color Chrome Effect and Clarity make it more difficult to achieve. I appreciate the input and suggestion!
Nice fix default provia, sucks your slide samples work great on my
Android phone
Glad that you like the recipe!
I definitely agree that your recipe looks better. In fact much better and with more depth. I am curious to know how the actual scene looked in comparison with the two shots. I have a suspicion that they looked more closely to your recipe. I have discovered this while shooting film and using filters to further ‘enhance’ an image. For landscapes…I tend to enhance the colors mildly so ad to not have images look too far displaced from what I saw and get be more pleasing and dynamic. Can you tell us what the actual images looked like with your eyes before shooting?? Thank you and keep it up.
It definitely looked closer to my “Standard Provia” recipe than the default Provia/Standard. I think it can be pretty difficult to render photographically a perfect facsimile of exactly-as-the-eyes-see, but my recipe is certainly closer in those situations that you see here. Thanks for the comment!