Back when I shot black-and-white film, I usually used a color filter to manipulate the shades of grey, and for landscape photography the Red filter was my most-used option. You cannot use these filters on your Fujifilm camera, but Fujifilm does provide you with three faux filters: +Y, +R, & +G. These mimic the aesthetic of using a Yellow, Red, or Green filter (sort of). In my opinion, +R doesn’t actually replicate the use of a Red filter very well; it’s more like an Orange filter. This recipe is intended to produce a look more similar to a Red filter on black-and-white film, which means that it will darken blues and lighten reds.
I actually created this “Monochrome Red” Film Simulation Recipe several months back on my Fujifilm X-T1, but that camera has a dirty sensor in need of a cleaning, so I never shared the results. Then I moved, and the X-T1 got packed away for awhile. Just recently I purchased a different X-Trans II camera—an X70—so I plugged this recipe into it and began shooting. This is an excellent option if you are looking for a black-and-white recipe, and is especially good for landscape photography.
The “Monochrome Red” recipe is compatible with all X-Trans II cameras. If you have an X-Trans I or Bayer model, the results will be ever slightly different, but very similar, and you can definitely use it—if you have an X-Pro1 or X-T200 or anything like that, feel free to give this recipe a try.
Monochrome+R
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1 (Medium-Soft)
Shadow: +2 (Hard)
Sharpness: +1 (Medium-Hard)
Noise Reduction: -2 (Low)
White Balance: Fluorescent 1, -4 Red & +7 Blue
ISO: Auto up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +1 (typically)
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured on my Fujifilm X70 using this “Monochrome Red” Film Simulation Recipe:
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Love this look!!! When can we get a similar one for the IV?
Interesting idea! I think, currently, the Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is probably the most similar (use Monochrome+R).
Simply Awesome I will lock this recipe in for my Xpro3. I will take your Ilford suggestion
The Ilford HP5 Plus 400 is fantastic. I’m sure you will love it!
😀 😀 😀
Very soothing photographs, which is fantastic considering the days there were quite heated. I will apply it for metal shining under the sun : )
Very heated indeed! Understatement of the year, lol! 🤣 Thank you for your kind words 😀
What is the reason a physical red filter won’t work with a digital camera?
It will work on a monochrome-only sensor, but the way the color array works on color sensors, you end up with a low-contrast muddy image (trust me, I tried). So, you can use the filter, but it doesn’t render anything like it does on B&W film.
Hello there, any plans to make Acros, Ilford HP5 Plus 400, or Tri-X recipes for X-Trans II?
Personally I’d like to see a Tri-X recipe on my X70 😀
I don’t currently. The older cameras have fewer options, which makes it more difficult to replicate certain film stocks. I think HP5 Plus, of those mentioned, is probably the most possible, so that might be something to work on. Thanks for the feedback!
Ah okay, for the time being I’m trying your X-Trans IV HP5 Plus recipe on my X70, I’m using Shade (-2,-7) instead cuz Daylight already being used for Portra. Can’t say for sure how the results are tho, but it’s pretty neat
Well, as long as you like it, that’s what matters most. Thanks for sharing!
How do I set the white balance fluorescent, and -4 red and +7 Blue?
This article might help:
https://fujixweekly.com/2020/08/19/fujifilm-white-balance-shift-what-it-is-how-to-use-it/
“In your camera’s Menu select White Balance. Once in the White Balance Menu, arrow up or down to whichever White Balance you’d like to use, and then arrow right to adjust the White Balance Shift for that particular White Balance. Select OK to set.”
Note: for cameras older than the X-Pro3, you cannot set and save WB Shift within the C1-C7 Custom Presets.
Also, look for White Balance in your camera’s manual. For example, for the X70, it’s here:
https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x70/shooting/white_balance/index.html
This might also help:
https://fujixweekly.com/2022/12/05/which-film-simulation-recipes-when-part-4-x-trans-ii/
> Note: for cameras older than the X-Pro3, you cannot set and save WB Shift within the C1-C7 Custom Presets.
Actually, there is a workaround:
– Set your WB from the Shooting Menu, not in Custom Settings, in the main menu – you can tweak reds and blues here
– Set all the other configurations for the recipe, again in the Shooting Menu
– Now go to Edit/Save Custom Settings, select whichever Custom 1-7, then choose the first option “Save Current Settings”
– Repeat for each recipe
– Set the main settings in Shooting Menu back to your default preference
The WB Shift is now saved. Convoluted, but it works.
Tested on an old X-T10 with the latest firmware 1.31.
I’m not going to write this comment under every other X-Trans II recipe, so I trust you will find a way to share this, if useful 🙂
Cheers Ritchie, and thanks for all your incredible work.
Well, I appreciate the comment. Thank you for sharing! I really want this to be true. I tried today on three different cameras, including an X-T1. I’ve tried in the past several times, too.
Unfortunately, the camera will only remember one WB Shift per WB Type. If, for example, you followed the steps outlined, and programmed Kodachrome II into C1, then Classic Kodak Chrome into C2, and Eterna into C3: when you went back and looked at C1, it’s not going to have Auto +1R & -2B; likewise, C2 isn’t going to have Auto +2R & -2B. Both will have Auto +6R & -7B, because that was the last WB Shift programmed for AWB (into C3). The camera only remembers one WB Shift per WB type.
Definitely, if you have multiple Recipes with the same WB type programmed into C1-C7, take a look at the WB Shift for each, and note that they are the same, and only one matches the Recipe. If I’m wrong, send me an email, and show me exactly how you’re achieving it. I followed your steps carefully three times just to check, and couldn’t replicate it (which is what I expected the outcome to be). Thanks for sharing anyway, though.
Right…
As it happens, it was a lucky coincidence but I had saved Cinestill 800T, Portra 160, Eterna and Monochrome Red, all of which use different WB so it worked in 100% of my cases. Hence, the excited comment on the workaround.
Indeed, adding Kodacolor changed the blue of Cinestill. Damn.
I guess it’s still a valid option, since you can’t actually change red and blues from inside the Custom Settings, but it’s limiting with the recipes you can have at once. Oh, well 🙂
I picked up my old X-T10 recently, because I needed a bit of a challenge to reignite my interest and wanted to go out daily with a really pocketable solution (using the TTA 25mm F2), to leave my heavy bags of gear home (both XT and GFX)… But gosh I had forgotten how limited were the options on that little old camera!
I’m having fun though, and feeling refreshed. So I think it was a good call and it will help me.
Thanks again Ritchie, sorry I had you waste time on this oldie
It wasn’t a waste of time at all. If it were possible it would be a game-changer, so I am always happy to try. I appreciate your input!