Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone — A Film Simulation Recipe for Fujifilm X-Trans IV & X-Trans V Cameras (Part 2)

Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Ritchie Roesch

Part 1 — Kodak T-Max 100 Hard Tone

Dan Allen, who created this Film Simulation Recipe after shooting with Kodak T-Max 100 film and his Fujifilm X-T5 side-by-side, noticed that there are a lot of subtle variances in the film. Even within the same roll, there can be small differences from frame-to-frame, and one Recipe can’t mimic them all; however, instead of creating five or six different versions of a Kodak T-Max 100 Recipe, Dan made two that were “close enough” to the emulsion to be convincing: Kodak T-Max 100 Hard Tone and Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone.

The “Hard Tone” version has a little more contrast, with brighter highlights and deeper shadows, and this Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone Recipe has less contrast, with softer highlights and lifted shadows. The difference between the two isn’t huge, nor should it be. And it is perfectly alright to customize them further—”season to taste”—by making small adjustments to Highlight, Shadow, etc., especially since the variances cannot be fully mimicked by just two Recipes. You might try using the Highlight setting from one version with the Shadow setting of the other—or just use them as they are, and appreciate the excellent results.

Above photos by Dan Allen. Left: Kodak T-Max 100 Film / Right: Fujifilm X-T5 & Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone Recipe

This Film Simulation Recipe is fully compatible (as of this writing) with the Fujifilm X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, and X-T50 cameras. Presumably it will also be compatible with the camera that Fujifilm is about to announce (rumored to be the X-M5). You can also use this Recipe on the latest GFX models, although it will likely render slightly differently (try it anyway).

Film Simulation: Monochrome+G
Monochromatic Color (Toning): WC 0 & MG 0 (Off)
Grain Effect: Weak, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Daylight, -6 Red & -3 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR200
Highlight: -0.5
Shadow: +1.5
Sharpness: -1

High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -1
ISO: up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: -2/3 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone Film Simulation Recipe using a Fujifilm X-T5 and X100VI:

Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Ritchie Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Joy Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Joy Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Ritchie Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Ritchie Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Jonathan Roesch
Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Ritchie Roesch
Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone – Photo by Dan Allen

Comparison:

Left: Kodak T-Max 100 Hard Tone / Right: Kodak T-Max 100 Soft Tone

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 350 more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Part 1

See also: Shooting Fujifilm Instax with a 108-year-old Kodak camera

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
AmazonB&HMomentWexNuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
AmazonB&HMomentWexNuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in black:
AmazonB&HMomentWexNuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
AmazonB&HMomentWexNuzira

6 comments

  1. theBitterFig · October 11, 2024

    My season-to-taste was for the X-Pro3, which doesn’t have half-steps. Since Hard Tone was +0.5/+2.5, and the Soft Tone was -0.5/+1.5, I just split the difference and went with 0/+2.

    Haven’t shot much with it yet, but it seems decent so far.

    • Horus · October 12, 2024

      My exact same problem with my X-Pro3 too.

      I’ve exactly the same as you did.
      Thanks for sharing 👍

      • Ritchie Roesch · October 16, 2024

        Definitely report back what you think when you have a chance to use it.

    • Ritchie Roesch · October 16, 2024

      Awesome! Definitely let me know what you think after you’ve used it awhile.

  2. Horus · October 12, 2024

    Rhaa Lovely 😍😍😍😍😍
    (Bis repitita, placent 😉)

    I will definitely asap try out this recipe with my dedicated X-Pro3 Dura Solver “Noir” camera.

    If fact this Hard Tone one will be more of my liking has I generally prefer in my B&W to havemore contrast.

    Would wish again to have more than 7 custom banks as I already get them filled out with my most favourites of your B&W recipes Ritchie. It becomes more and more difficult to keep and choose 😉
    But always nice to get more recipes and from Fujifilm film simulations that nothing !

    Again my big thanks to Dan and his hard work for creating this recipe and you for sharing it.
    Already refresh and put another tag on this one in your Android App 🤜🤛

    Very nice shots taken with 2 new B&W recipes.
    I love Dan’s Moon one.

    👋

    • Ritchie Roesch · October 16, 2024

      I love the idea that you are using the X-Pro3 as a B&W camera. I did that with my X100V for awhile, and loved it. I will do it again soon. Yes, more than seven would be quite welcomed… 😀

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