This Film Simulation Recipe began as an attempt to achieve a “memory color” aesthetic of photographic prints from the 1990’s and early 2000’s; when creating this recipe I wasn’t concerned about the specific films or processes. After shooting with this recipe and reviewing the results, I was reminded of Kodak Royal Gold 400 film… sometimes. Of course, one film can produce many different aesthetics, depending on (among other things) how it was shot, developed, scanned and/or printed. Royal Gold 400 didn’t always or even usually look like this, but sometimes it did, and I found some examples in a photo-box and online that were quite similar—I’m not sure why, but my suspicion is that the film was mishandled, either from being stored improperly (possibly exposed to too much heat), waiting too long to develop after exposing, or maybe even improper storage. Film can be finicky, but that serendipity is something that makes it special.
Royal Gold 400 was introduced by Kodak in 1994 as a replacement to the original Kodak Ektar 400 film. The Royal Gold line, which also came in ISO 100 and 200 versions, was marketed as a “step up” from Kodak Gold, with finer grain and more vibrant colors. It was more-or-less an updated Ektar emulsion that was renamed for marketing reasons (Gold sold a lot more than Ektar). In the early 2000’s Royal Gold was replaced by the High Definition/Royal Supra line. This Kodak Royal Gold 400 Film Simulation Recipe is a “happy accident” facsimile of one possible aesthetics from the film.
This Kodak Royal Gold 400 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with Fujifilm X-Trans IV cameras, specifically the X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II (but not the X-T3 and X-T30), as well as fifth-generation X-Trans camera, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, and X100VI (just follow the Color Chrome FX Blue adjustment). This was a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe, and has been available to App Patrons for awhile; however, it’s been replaced by a different Early-Access Recipe, so now everyone can use it.
Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong (X-Trans IV), Weak (X-Trans V)
White Balance: Shade, +3 Red & +5 Blue
Highlight:-1
Shadow: +1
Color: +4
Sharpness: -1
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -3
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1/3 to +2/3 (typically)
Example photographs captured using this Kodak Royal Gold 400 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V and Fujifilm X-T5:
See also: How To Add Film Simulation Recipes To Your Fujifilm Camera
Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 300 more on the Fuji X Weekly App!
Love this one. It’s going on my X100V and X-T5 right away.
Awesome! So glad to hear 😀
The magenta in some shots give it the Reala Ace look, but on the whole, the reds are more saturated in this recipe.
Very vibrant reds, no doubt about it 😀
I would say that this Recipe is a little more “vintage” feeling than the Reala Ace Recipe. But I can see the similarities between the two.
Some of those skies (Avon and park hoop) remind me of photos I have from years ago I shot lot with Kodak Gold 400 though might have splurged on Royal Gold for vacations. Definitely a memory color for me.
😀 😀 😀
I really appreciate the feedback!
Wow! This recipe is amazing, “gold weighted”! As “Indoor Angouleme”, “Kodak Vision3 250D” and “Pacific Blues”, it gets its permanent position in the 7 slots. Thank you very much!
Awesome! Now we just need more than 7 slots, right?!
Yeah, lets double it! For the “current 7” and the “alternative 7” 😛 😀
Sounds like a great idea! 😀
Actually, from my point of view, the list for X-Trans IV is quite contained, it will go with a maximum of 8 to 10 slots, but the one for X-Trans V goes nuts. 14 slots will do for now…
They could definitely do it, if they want to, and I don’t think it would take a huge deal of effort to accomplish. I hope they do.
Again, this is perfect for the X-Trans IV sensor in my eyes… a little “overpowered” on the V sensor, but beautiful, none the less.
I appreciate the kind feedback! 😀
A bummer that this is not available on my X-T3. Are there recipes with a similar look that work on the X-T3?
Unfortunately, there’s no substitute for Classic Negative. Sorry. Wish Fujifilm would have given it to the X-T3, they really should have. 😔
Hi Ritchie. I love this recipe but since shooting Ricoh with your royal supra recipe I’d love royal supra for my Fuji. Anything coming up that’s mimics the richoh recipe?
That’s one that I’ve been meaning to tackle. Thanks for your encouragement! 😀
Does the DR really matter ? It says DR400 on this recipe specifically ( Kodak Royal Gold 400 ) but the ISO starts at 400 and DR400 only starts at ISO 640 or ISO 800 I believe.
Yes, it does matter. Using a lower DR will produce a higher-contrast picture that is more prone to highlight clipping.
Where DR400 is “unlocked” depends on the camera. For X-Trans III, it’s ISO 800. For X-Trans IV, it’s ISO 640. For X-Trans V, it’s ISO 500. Those ISOs still look great. In bright daylight, it can be more challenging to use DR400 (but that’s the situation where you likely most need it), and you might have to stop down the aperture a little in response, or use an ND filter (such as using f/2 or larger while shooting into the sun).
I hope this helps!