There’s a brand-new color negative film stock called SantaColor 100, which is actually repurposed Kodak AeroColor 125, an emulsion intended for areal photography. I don’t believe that AeroColor is still produced (although it can still be found if you look hard enough); SantaColor 100 could be an old batch that’s been stored for awhile and is now surplus. This film has a reddish-orange color cast, which (depending on how it was shot, developed, and scanned) can be somewhat subtle or quite pronounced. This Film Simulation Recipe is an attempt to mimic that film; however, I’m not 100% satisfied with how closely it does (or doesn’t) replicate it—I think it can be really close sometimes, and other times not so much. Still, I like how this recipe looks, so I thought I’d share it with you in case some of you like it, too.
Why are special films used for aerial mapping? I tried to find an answer to this, but couldn’t. My suspicion is that atmosphere/haze can obscure “regular” film, and aerial films are made to be less susceptible to that. Another thought is that the temperature at high altitude is cold, so maybe the film has to work well in cold temperatures. Still, another idea is that the angle of the sun is different, so the film needs to be adjusted for that. It could be one, all, or none of those things—if you know the answer, please enlighten me by commenting below!
This “SantaColor” Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II cameras. For those with an X-T3 and X-T30, you will need to ignore Grain size (since your camera doesn’t have that), and use a diffusion filter (such as 10% CineBloom) in lieu of Clarity. For those with an X-H1, you will need to additionally ignore Color Chrome Effect (the results will be just a little different).
Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -2
Shadow: +4
Color: +4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpness: -2
Clarity: -3
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: 5100K, +5 Red & -3 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 to +1 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “SantaColor” Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E4:
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Looks like you were in my neck I’d the woods. I was raised on the Central Coast, just about 45 Miles north of Avila. Used to spend a lot of time a Avila back before it was rebuilt after the oil spill. No I’m Just a little south in A.G.
There’s no place like the central coast of California!
It’s such a beautiful place, one of my favorite spots for sure. I don’t get out there nearly often enough. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Ritchie,
This is a really interesting recipe and background–I’ll have to try it out (if I can tear myself away from one of the other recipes I already have in my camera).
As for an explanation of the film, you might take a look at a book by Kimberly With called ‘Essentials of Landscape Ecology.’ Chapter 4, on Landscape Pattern Analysis, includes a section on aerial photography (pp. 132-143, although the pages just before that might be worth a look, too). You should be able to read those pages on Google Books at https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PCeeDwAAQBAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&printsec=frontcover&hl=en&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
I have a feeling you’ll understand the explanation much more than I, but if I’m understanding it correctly, what you say about the effects of atmosphere and the angle of sunlight sounds right.
Hope this helps!
Thanks so much! I’ll try to read this book during the coming days. I appreciate the tip!
Hi Ritchie, is this an attempt to replicate the new Santa Color 100 35mm film?
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/santacolor-100
Yes! Although the examples were quite limited, so I mostly looked at AeroColor 125 pictures. The trouble with that (among other things) is apparently there are four different emulsions called AeroColor 125 by Kodak, and I’m not sure what the differences are because the information I could find was quite limited.
Cool. I want to back the project but the film is expensive (US$63 for five rolls) and
I already have too much film. In my experience project that are overfunded (116% so far) always have issues delivering as expected. I’ll wait for retail.
In the meantime, I can play with the film sim.
🙂
Bravo. as always – knockout
Thanks!
I tried this recipe on photos from Venezuela – it looks amazing realy.
Very impressed.
Great job. Thank you.
Thanks! So glad that you liked it and found it useful to your photography!
I’m new to the Fuji world and have been trying out a few recipes over the past few weeks. This one is my absolute favorite! Thank you so much!
Awesome! You are very welcome!
Hi Ritchie,
I’ve been looking at all the XTrans4 recipes of yours trying to find one that has this WOLFEN NC500 look/style. Is this close? Can you suggest another that’s similar?
Some sample photos on ORWO site here: https://www.orwo.shop/products/wolfen-nc500
Cheers
Interesting. Reminds me a bit of Nostalgia Color, and maybe Fujicolor Superia 800. Definitely a Classic Negative vibe of some sort.
Yes, I’ve also considered Fujicolor Superia 800.
Also, Kodacolor II 126, Super HG/v2.
All nice recipes.
Thanks!
Newbie here! I’m a bit lost with the Eterna simulation, is it the bleach bypass or the cinema one?
For White Balance: 5100K, +5 Red & -3 Blue I can see 3 options: White priotiry, auto, and ambience priority. Which one should I use and how can I set the 5100K?
Appreciate your work and help!
It uses Eterna, not Eterna Bleach Bypass. With the film sims, people don’t usually refer to the “second” descriptive name. For example, people will say Provia instead of Provia/Standard, Velvia instead of Velvia/Vivid, Astia instead of Astia/Soft, etc.. So Eterna/Cinema is called Eterna.
As for the White Balance, this Recipe doesn’t use an Auto White Balance. Some Recipes do, but the majority use a fixed White Balance. In this case, you are looking for the “K” for Kelvin (it’s one above Daylight), and that’s where you can select 5100K.
I hope this helps!
This is one of the sweetest Eterna based recipes. Actually, Eterna succeeds in scoring some of the most appreciated recipes from all other bases. Delighted.
I’m talking about recipes seasoned for X-Trans IV sensor… because on the latest sensor, Eterna falls a little behind Nostalgic Negative. But not by much. It keeps it’s strong attributes. .
Eterna is definitely an under-appreciated film simulation. The tonality is stunning, and a large variety of aesthetics can be made from it.