This new Eterna Summer Film Simulation Recipe wasn’t modeled after any specific film; instead I looked at Classic Chrome for inspiration. I wanted a picture aesthetic that could hold its own placed next to various Classic Chrome Recipes, such as Kodak Portra 400 v2 and Kodachrome 64. I didn’t want to replicate a specific Recipe, but create a brand-new look that was just somewhat similar to those, and would seem consistent when placed in a photo series that also had some Classic Chrome pictures in it.
You might ask why I did this—why not just use Classic Chrome? Eterna has a unique tonality—perhaps you could describe it as cinematic—that Classic Chrome doesn’t. The PRO Neg. Std and (especially) Nostalgic Neg. film sims can be adjusted to be similar, but they’re not exactly the same. Achieving generic Kodak-like colors paired with Eterna’s tonality was the goal, and this Eterna Summer Recipe does that well, producing a lovely analog-like rendered.
This Eterna Summer Film Simulation Recipe is great for sunny daylight photography, delivering warm summertime vibes. It’s compatible with “newer” X-Trans IV models—Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4 & X-T30 II—as well as fifth-generation cameras, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20 & X100VI. Just make sure to use the correct Color Chrome FX Blue setting for your model. I’m certain that you can use it on the newer GFX cameras, although it will likely render ever so slightly different (try it anyway).
Film Simulation: Eterna
Dynamic Range: DR200
Grain Effect: Strong, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong (X-Trans IV); Weak (X-Trans V)
White Balance: Daylight, +3 Red & -7 Blue
Highlight: +2.5
Shadow: 0
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, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Eterna Summer Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4:
Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Eterna Summer Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:
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Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
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I love it!
Thanks!
Wow! This is a Wedding recipe! But not only, of course! Too bad we can’t use the photo settings in movies…
Thanks! I could definitely see it used at a wedding. For video, unfortunately Grain, Color Chrome Effects, and Clarity are unavailable, but otherwise it can be used for video, with a fairly similar aesthetic. One day I hope Fujifilm adds those options to video….
For X-Trans IV sensor, I prefer it to “Timeless Negative, Eterna based”, but grouped with “Kodak Vision3 250D, Eterna based” (for people that prefer colder images and for night artificial lights) and “Indoor Angouleme – Eterna based” for interiors interchanged with “Eterna 2” for those that prefer colder interior images. That good is Eterna.
Eterna is definitely an underrated film simulation. One of my favorites, personally.
I have an article on my blog why Eterna based recipes are the best start for an X-Trans IV owner that loves Nostalgic Negative. With examples, because only words are not enough.
https://bizitown.blogspot.com/2024/09/do-you-love-nostalgic-negative-but-you.html
That is a very interesting recipe you developed there, Ritchie! Just the other day I commented on your X100VI post about missing out on Nostalgic Neg and you directed me towards Eterna and now you’re releasing a fitting recipe!
Awesome. Makes me want to try this one and fiddle with it. Thank you for this treat!
You are very welcome! I hope that you enjoy it!
What do you think about the settings concering Clarity while using an Everday Filter for this recipe an in general? Would you recommend to set this parameter always to Zero or in this case from -3 to -2?
I think that filter is a 1/4 Pro Mist, so it’s about equivalent to -3 or -4 Clarity. In that case, I would set Clarity to 0.
On the X-S10 I have two different Eterna film simulations (Eterna/Kino and Eterna Bleach Bypass). Which is the correct one for the Eterna Summer recipe?
So Fujifilm gave some film sims a second name (a descriptive name):
Provia/Standard
Velvia/Vivid
Astia/Soft
Eterna/Cinema
Typically, people only refer to it by the first, as in:
Provia
Velvia
Astia
Eterna
So if you see Eterna, it means Eterna/Cinema (or I guess Eterna/Kino in the language set in your camera). If you see Eterna Bleach Bypass, it means Eterna Bleach Bypass.
For this particular Recipe, use Eterna/Cinema, since it says Eterna.
I hope that helps.