The majority of my Film Simulation Recipes are modeled after specific analog emulsions and/or film processes, but this one is not. I simply wanted a light, bright, and warm aesthetic with lovely blue sky, perhaps something vaguely negative-film-like. After a number of attempts, this Film Simulation Recipe, which I have named Astia Azure, is what I came up with. It’s one of my favorite Astia-based Recipes (although, admittedly, Astia isn’t one of my top-used Film Sims…).

Astia Azure has been a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe for over two years. I never intended it to be an Early-Access Recipe for so long. Unfortunately, I got really, really far behind on these, so it has taken a lot longer than I wanted to get them publicly available. Ideally, it should be under one year and not over two. Normally I unlock them once they’ve been replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe; however, in this case, the Recipe I’ve been working on to replace Astia Azure is not yet ready. Sometimes a new Recipe comes together somewhat quickly, and other times they take awhile; the upcoming Recipe is an example of the latter. I just didn’t want to wait any longer before publishing this one, it’s already been much too long.

The Astia Azure Film Simulation Recipe is especially great for golden hour and blue hour photography. It’s good for many other situations, but from roughly 30 minutes before sunrise to an hour after, and an hour before sunset to 30 minutes after, is when this Recipe really shines. I’ve had good luck with it midday, too, and even at night. Astia Azure is compatible with all fifth-generation Fujifilm cameras, which are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, X-T30 III, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF, plus newer fourth-generation models, specifically the X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, and GFX100S.

Film Simulation: Astia
Grain Effect: Weak/Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: Shade, -2 Red & -2 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -1.5
Shadow: -1
Color: -2
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 to +1 1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Astia Azure Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E4, X-T5, and X100VI cameras:

Find this Film Simulation Recipe and over 400 more in the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.