Fujifilm Recipes vs Standard Film Simulations

Herbie on Route 66 – Antares, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF – 1-Hour Photo

There are 20 Film Simulations on the latest Fujifilm cameras. These Film Simulations are good on their own; however, they can be made even better by adjusting the various JPEG parameters into a Fujifilm Recipe, which are the factory-default JPEG settings fine-tuned in conjunction with a Film Simulation to form a new picture aesthetic. You can do this on most any camera from any brand, but Fujifilm’s JPEG processing engine is (in my opinion) the best in the industry. What you can do with it is more than with most brands, and what people have done is far and away more than any other brand. I’ve published more than 400 Recipes, which you can find on this website and in the Fuji X Weekly App.

But are Recipes actually better than the standard unmodified Film Simulations? Are they all that much different? Are the Film Simulations doing the heavy lifting, and all the other setting adjustments just minor tweaks? Should you use the factory-default settings in conjunction with the Film Simulations? Or is it better to find a good Recipe? That’s the subject of this article.

Roaring Fork – Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN – Fujifilm X-E5 – Vivid Velvia

To clarify, Film Simulations cannot be modified. They are hard-set. You can’t increase or decrease their intensity. What can be modified are the other JPEG parameters, like Tone Curve (Highlight/Shadow), Color Chrome Effect, Grain, White Balance, etc., etc., etc.. When you change those settings—whether a little or a lot—to something other than factory-default (which is 0, Off, or Auto) and combine it with a Film Simulation, that’s a Recipe. I hope that all makes sense.

Fujifilm Recipes can produce a very subtle change to the picture aesthetic, or a very drastic one, or anything in-between. A lot of them tend to lean warm because most Fujifilm Recipes are modeled after film stocks—Kodak was by far the most prominent film manufacturer, and many of their emulsions had a warm cast. Aside from that, in the film era, it was quite common for photographers to use warming filters, further increasing the warmth. So it shouldn’t be surprising that many Recipes also tend to be warm; however, there’s a massive variety of looks possible with Recipes. There’s something for everyone if you look hard enough for it.

Above left: Factory-default Provia/STD Film Simulation (no Recipe); Above right: Provia 400 Film Simulation Recipe.

Above left: Factory-default Classic Chrome Film Simulation (no Recipe); Above right: Kodak Ektar 100 Film Simulation Recipe.

Above left: Factory-default Nostalgic Negative Film Simulation (no Recipe); Above right: Nostalgic Americana Film Simulation Recipe.

As you can see in the examples above, the difference between using a Recipe and not using a Recipe is pretty noticeable. The standard Film Simulations (no Recipe) don’t look bad at all, but the Recipes are definitely divergent, and (in my opinion) better. Of course, this is all quite subjective—there’s no right or wrong way to use Fujifilm cameras, Film Simulations, or Recipes. It’s about finding what works for you and your photography.

The best way to think about all this might be to consider a Film Simulation as the foundation, basement, and first floor of a building. Sometimes that’s all you need—for example, that’s perfect for a quick lube oil change business. Adjusting the settings to something other than factory-default (a.k.a. Recipes) is constructing the third, fourth, fifth, etc., floors into a high rise. When you look at a downtown cityscape, think of all those skyscrapers as Recipes. Some of the buildings are quite tall, some are ornate, some are unusual, others are fairly ordinary, and many are hidden in the shadows. Recipes take a Film Simulation to new heights.

Rainbow over Hoboken – Hoboken, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50 – Pushed Analog

To illustrate how one Film Simulation can produce many different looks, below are eight photos, each made with a different Classic Negative-based Recipe. Each one has its own character. Each produces its own unique picture aesthetic. I could repeat this with all of the Film Simulations. Perhaps one is perfect for you, perhaps none of them are. I simply want to show that one Film Simulation can make a variety of looks depending on the settings (Recipe). Maybe warm, neutral, or cool. Maybe high contrast, maybe low contrast. Maybe colorful or muted. Whatever look you are after, there’s a pretty good chance that a Recipe exists that will deliver that aesthetic. You just have to find it.

Above, clockwise from top-left: Classic Amber Recipe, Pacific Blues Recipe, Fujicolor Blue Recipe, AgfaChrome RS 100 Recipe, Agfa Vista 100 Recipe, Xpro ’62 Recipe, Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled Recipe, and Expired Velvia Recipe.

See also:
Fujifilm Recipe Starter Pack — 7 Recipes to Try First on Your X-Trans V Camera
7 Fujifilm Recipes for Midday Retro Americana Photography
15 Fujifilm Recipes for Travel Photography
12 Fujifilm Recipes for Rainy Days
26 Fujifilm Recipes to try in 2026

Recipe of the Month (March 2026) & Fujifilm Recipe Roundup

Aspen Gold – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – CineStill 400D v2

Let’s try something new: Recipe of the Month. The idea is to encourage you to try a Fujifilm Recipe that maybe has gone a bit under-the-radar, that isn’t necessarily popular, but is really good. You could consider this a challenge. Use this Recipe just once to see what it does, or use it exclusively throughout March to truly get acquainted with it, or anything in-between. That’s the idea, anyway.

For the very first Recipe of the Month, I selected CineStill 400D v2. This is an Astia-based Recipe that’s compatible with fourth-generation (except the X-T3/X-T30) and fifth-generation cameras, as well as newer GFX models (for those keeping score, that’s the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-TM5, X-E5, X-T30 III, GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF). It was collaboratively created by Nestor Pool and myself, and published three years ago. This Recipe is good in a lot of scenarios, but I especially love it for golden-hour photography—if you are just giving it a quick test drive, make sure that you use it during sunrise or sunset, because it’s especially good for that. CineStill 400D v2 is one of my favorite Recipes that use the Astia Film Simulation, and I think many of you will like it, too.

Above: Two pictures I made this morning using the CineStill 400D v2 Recipe on my Fujifilm X-E5.

If you do happen to use this Recipe during the next 31 days, and should you post the pictures to Instagram, feel free to tag me. I may or may not see it (I’m not on social media all the time, and I get tagged in a lot of pictures), but I would love the chance to view some of them. It would be a great way to spread the love for this Recipe, and hopefully introduce even more Fujifilm photographers to it.

If you are looking for a Fujifilm Recipe to try, let me recommend to you CineStill 400D v2. If you want to attempt the full Recipe of the Month challenge, starting today and continuing through March 31st, see what pictures you can create using this Recipe. If you simply want to kick the tires, program it into your camera and capture a few frames during golden-hour light, and see if you like it—you might find it to be your new favorite option. If you don’t like it, well, there will be a new Recipe of the Month in April.

My plan for the Recipe of the Month articles is to include some sort of Recipe roundup with it. In other words, it will be both Recipe of the Month plus Recipe Roundup altogether in one post. I’m not sure what exactly that will look like and if it will be the same formula for each month, or if I’ll change up what it is from month-to-month, but there will be a second (or maybe even third) section to the articles. For March, I thought I’d do a quick recap of the Top 25 most popular Recipes of February 2026 (based on website page view statistics), in order of most-to-least popular. There are certainly a few surprises!

Top 25 Most Popular Recipes of February

Reggie’s Portra
Kodachrome 64 (X-Trans IV)
Kodak Tri-X 400
Vibrant Arizona
Kodachrome 64 (X-Trans V)
Kodak Gold 200 (X-Trans V)
CineStill 800T (X-Trans V)
Universal Negative
Kodak Portra 400 v2 (X-Trans V)
Kodak Portra 400 v2 (X-Trans IV)
Fujifilm Negative
Kodak Portra 800 v3
Pacific Blues (X-Trans V)
Pacific Blues (X-Trans IV)
PRO Negative 160C
Kodak Portra 400
California Summer
Reala Ace
Film Dial
Kodak Gold 200 (X-T3/X-T30 + X-Trans III)
1970’s Summer
Easy Reala Ace
Kodak Vericolor III 160
McCurry Kodachrome
Vintage Kodachrome

To finish up this article, below are the 10 most recently published Fujifilm Recipes on Fuji X Weekly, ordered from newest-to-oldest.

Agfa Scala (X-Trans V)
Kodak Vericolor III 160
1-Hour Photo
BewareMyVelvia
Astia Negative
Kodak Farbwelt 200 Expired
FRGMT B&W
Classic Amber
Vivid Velvia
Kodak Plus-X 125

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

See also:
Fujifilm Recipe Starter Pack — 7 Recipes to Try First on Your X-Trans V Camera
Top 25 Most Popular Film Simulation Recipes of 2025
10 Underrated Film Simulation Recipes You Probably Skipped (but should try)

Agfa Scala — Fujifilm Recipe for X-Trans V Cameras

Faded Highway Shield – Williams, AZ – GFX100RF – Agfa Scala

Back in 2018, one year after starting Fuji X Weekly, I published my Agfa Scala Film Simulation Recipe, which was intended for X-Trans III cameras (like the X100F that I was using back then). It was the 15th Fujifilm Recipe published on this website, and the third black-and-white. It’s been a long-time personal favorite; however, I never updated it for the newer cameras. Earlier this year, I decided that this Recipe was long overdue for a refresh, so I set out to make a new iteration. I started from scratch, trying many different adjustments, but ultimately came back to those 2018 settings, with only minor changes.

Agfa introduced Scala 200 in 1992 (renamed Scala 200x shortly thereafter). It was the only commercially available black-and-white slide film ever made (although you could make slides from any B&W film, if you wanted to). It used a proprietary development process known as AP-44. I didn’t shoot much Scala personally, only a few rolls. What was great about it is that you had a finished photo straight from the lab. With black-and-white negative film, the darkroom printing process played a major role in the finished picture; Agfa Scala removed that requirement. Obviously, the intention was that you’d project the pictures onto a screen, which we don’t do anymore (most film you see today are scans). In 2005, Agfa discontinued Scala, as well as the chemicals for the AP-44 development process. The last roll of Scala that I shot couldn’t be developed, unfortunately. Adox introduced a new Scala slide film, called Scala 50, in 2019; however, it’s a different emulsion with a different development process. Interestingly, the old Agfa Scala 200x could be processed in the new chemistry, but with slightly different results.

Route 66 in Rural Arizona – Seligman, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5 – Agfa Scala

Scala was known for deep blacks and glowing highlights. It had a much smaller dynamic range than black-and-white negative film. Like color slides, you really had to nail the exposure, as there was very little leeway for underexposure or overexposure. If you got it right, the results were great; if not, there wasn’t much forgiveness. The film was extremely fine-grained for being ISO 200—it was sharp and looked beautiful when projected. This Agfa Scala Recipe mimics the film pretty well. The camera’s histogram can be very helpful to prevent overexposure. This Recipe is compatible with most fourth-generation and all fifth-generation cameras (as well as newer GFX models), which includes the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, X-T30 III, GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Film Simulation: Acros (including +Ye, +R, or +G)
Monochromatic Color (Toning): WC 0 & MG 0 (Off)
Dynamic Range: DR100
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: Auto, 0 Red & 0 Blue
Highlight: +4
Shadow: 0
Sharpness: +1

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

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this Agfa Scala Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E5, X-T5 and GFX100RF:

Buick in B&W – Seligman, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Truxton Gas Station – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Rural Mailboxes – Antares, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF
End of the Road – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF
Herbie on Route 66 – Antares, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Tom’s Orlando Motel – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF
God Bless America – Kingman, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Ranchero – Antares, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Frontier Motel Restaurant – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF
Welcome RT 66 – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Arizona American – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF
Happy for Lunch – Kingman, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Bougainvillea Growing Over Backyard Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF
Monochrome Bougainvillea – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Coyote Pass – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Apartment Row – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Church Steeple – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Flagstaff Station at Night – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

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

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-E5 in black:
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Fujifilm X-E5 in silver:
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Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
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Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
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Fujifilm GFX100RF in black:
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Fujifilm GFX100RF in silver:
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Fujifilm Recipe Starter Pack — 7 Recipes to Try First on Your X-Trans V Camera

So you just got a Fujifilm camera. Which Film Simulation Recipes should you program first? With over 400 to choose from on Fuji X Weekly and in the Fuji X Weekly App, it can be difficult to know which ones to begin with. This article is a quick-start guide for those wanting to dive into the Fujifilm Recipe world.

Most Fujifilm cameras have seven Custom Settings presets, also known as C1-C7. You can program a Recipe into each of those positions, which means you’ll find seven Recipes below as your suggested starting point. Some cameras (like the X-H2) only have six presets, and some (like the X-S20) only have four. This article assumes that you’ve purchased a fifth-generation model, which (as of this writing) are the X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III. This list also applies to the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF. In other words, these are fifth-generation Recipes, and not for older models (although I might turn this into a series if there’s enough interest in the topic).

If you are unsure how to program a Recipe into your Fujifilm camera, simply press MENU/OK, navigate to EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING in the IQ Menu set, choose the C1-C7 slot that you want to save a Recipe in, select EDIT/CHECK, enter the Recipe parameters, and hit DISP/BACK to save. If you’re stuck, check out this article (click here) or this video (click here). I also have a short set of slides below that quickly demonstrate the steps. Hopefully, between all of that, you won’t have any issues. It can be a little intimidating and confusing the first time through, but after you’ve programmed a couple of Recipes it becomes quite easy.

What makes a good set of seven Recipes? If each one in the group serves a purpose, that’s a solid group. Just throwing some random ones in might produce a good set, but most likely not. It’s better to be intentional; however, since most newcomers don’t know where to begin, that’s a near impossible task. This article is intended to help with that. If you are unsure which Recipes to try, the set of seven below is what you should use first. Once you’ve tested these out, if there were any that you didn’t love, simply replace those with something else—repeat that enough times, and you’ll end up with a set of seven that are a perfect match for you. Let’s dive right in!

C1 — Kodachrome 64

Red Barn – Ronks, PA – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome was the most iconic film, and it stands to reason that you should start with the Kodachrome 64 Recipe. It’s intended for sunny daylight photography, but can sometimes be good in other scenarios, too, just depending on the subject and lighting. It’s a good allrounder for a variety of genres. Kodachrome 64 is essential to try, in my opinion, so you might as well place it in C1.

C2 — Pacific Blues

Misty Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Pacific Blues

The Pacific Blues Recipe is intended for a sunny summer day at the beach; however, I have found it works wonderfully well on foggy or dreary days, too. It’s more dramatic and significantly different than Kodachrome 64, so it offers a good alternative aesthetic that’s still film-like. This is one of my personal favorite Recipes.

C3 – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm

With a softer tonality than the previous two, Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm is a highly versatile Recipe that can be used anytime of the day or night. Most of the Recipes in this list will do quite well in certain situations but not for everything, but this one is good almost no matter what you encounter with your camera. It’s a part of the Film Dial set, so if you have an X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, or X-T30 III, it is especially great for those cameras; however, even if your specific model doesn’t have a Film Dial, you can still use it similarly. A quick tip for those with a Film Dial model is to use a Film Simulation that’s not on the Dial (such as Eterna) instead of Reala Ace, since Reala Ace is easily accessible to you. Having a Film Dial Recipe available in your C1-C7 adds a ton of aesthetic versatility.

C4 – 1970’s Summer

Corndog – San Francisco, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – 1970’s Summer

The 1970’s Summer Recipe is warm with a retro aesthetic. It’s not going to work well for every subject or situation, but when it works, which is typically sunny midday light and Americana type scenes, it does especially great—some of my favorite photos have been made using this Recipe. It’s the warmest option in this list. If you want a nostalgic look, this is a must-try Recipe.

C5 — Vivid Velvia

Roaring Fork – Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN – Fujifilm X-E5 – Vivid Velvia

Boldly colorful, Vivid Velvia is intended for landscape photography where you want the scene to pop. It’s fairly versatile, but probably not the best option for portraits. If you are primarily a landscape photographer, you might find yourself using this one the most.

C6 — CineStill 800T

Quiet Corner – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – CineStill 800T

While C3 will do quite well for nighttime photography due to its versatility, CineStill 800T is specifically intended for photographing after dark. You can use it during the day if you should desire a cool cast, but for the most part you’ll want to save it for after sunset.

C7 — Kodak Tri-X 400

Pool Remnant – Rodanthe, NC – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodak Tri-X 400

No C1-C7 would be complete without at least one B&W Recipe, and Kodak Tri-X 400 is my go-to option. I love monochromatic photography, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better Recipe than this one for it. This might be my all-time personal favorite.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

See also:
7 Fujifilm Recipes for Dramatic Street Photos
7 Fujifilm Recipes for Midday Retro Americana Photography
15 Fujifilm Recipes for Travel Photography
12 Fujifilm Recipes for Rainy Days
26 Fujifilm Recipes to try in 2026

Freedom & Fujifilm Recipes

Red Barn – Ronks, PA – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodachrome 64

In an interesting conversation I had recently, someone mentioned that Fujifilm Recipes are great because they provide freedom—freedom from the computer and Lightroom (or other RAW editing software), freedom from indecisive aesthetic choices, freedom from unfinished work (such as RAW files just sitting around waiting to be edited)—but it can be too much freedom sometimes. For example, I’ve published over 400 Film Simulation Recipes for Fujifilm cameras; while having so many options allows you to find a great match for your subject, situation, and style, narrowing it down can feel overwhelming. Perhaps there are too many choices. “Limitations are necessary constraints for creativity,” he told me, “and freedom is most productive when it’s narrowed on purpose.” In other words, intentional constraints. Sometimes, less is more. Finding the “right” Recipe out of hundreds might seem daunting, but even choosing from among the seven programmed into your camera’s C1-C7 Custom Settings presets might be too much.

Something to try, he suggested, is to program fewer Recipes into your camera—perhaps three, or even just one. Instead of scrolling through your C1-C7 options before every shot, try pre-selecting one, two, or three Recipes before you head out, and commit to just those. Use just those for the duration of your walk, day, or trip. When the look is already decided, your attention naturally shifts to light and framing. Instead of asking, “Which Recipe should I use?” Ask, “How can I make this scene work with what I’ve chosen?” When selecting your Recipes (if it’s more than one), consider having one specifically for color daylight, one specifically for color nighttime, and one for black-and-white. If the Recipes are too similar in aesthetic or serve a similar purpose, it makes it less obvious which one to shoot with.

Ghost Train – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF – Fluorescent Night

Analog photographers understood all of this instinctively. Loading a roll of film was a commitment for 12, 24, or 36 frames. You accepted the look, learned its strengths and weaknesses, and worked within them. That constraint didn’t stifle expression, it shaped it. On X and GFX cameras, you can benefit from that same discipline by using one Recipe long enough to understand where it shines and where it fails. You adapt rather than escape. Using a single Recipe for an extended period—days, weeks, or a full project—can be especially revealing and rewarding.

Fujifilm Recipes work best when they’re treated like film stocks: chosen with purpose, used with commitment, and understood through experience. When you narrow your options on purpose, the freedom they offer becomes more focused, more useful, and ultimately more gratifying. Freedom in photography isn’t about having endless options at every moment, but about choosing a direction and going far enough down that path to discover something meaningful. When freedom is narrowed on purpose, it stops being a distraction and starts being productive.

Low Clouds Over Manhattan – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak Tri-X 400

This is all theoretical, of course, and I don’t want to leave you hanging with that. Let me give a practical example of how this could be implemented. As you might have guessed from the photos in this article, you could choose the Kodachrome 64 Recipe for daylight photography, Fluorescent Night for nighttime, and Kodak Tri-X 400 for B&W. Alternatively, you could choose Pacific Blues for daytime, CineStill 800T for night, and Classic B&W for monochrome. There are a ton of possible three-Recipe combinations, but the larger point is to pick three (or fewer), and use those for an outing, a day, a month, or a project to better familiarize yourself with the strengths and limitations of those specific Recipes. If you do this enough times, you’ll be intimately aware of which Recipe to use for each subject and circumstance you encounter, and you’ll be more in tuned with your personal style.

I have often told people that when I started creating and using Fujifilm Recipes, I experienced a ton of freedom. Photography became more enjoyable to me when I detached editing software from it. Because I was spending much less time at a computer, I had more time to photograph (increasing productivity) and also more time to spend with my family. But as more and more Recipes are created (which is a good thing), it can be difficult to know which to use and when to use them. Narrowing it down through experience—simply by picking one, two, or three and using those for a period—is a great way to help with this. Another option is to use the Categories feature in the Fuji X Weekly App (available for Android and Apple), which can help to really zero in on specific genres, styles, and situations. For example, if you want a retro Americana aesthetic that’s good for midday light, you can find that. By selecting multiple Categories, you can significantly narrow down the selection to assist in finding the perfect Recipe for your needs.

The Evolution of Fujifilm Recipes

Cold Rim, Warm Light – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Vision3 250D v2

In photography, nothing stays the same forever. Film stocks come and go, and are revised over time. Processes change. Technology advances. New cameras with fresh features are introduced. New techniques are invented, while old ones are occasionally rediscovered. Styles are constantly evolving. What’s “in” one year might be “out” the next, and maybe back “in” sometime later. Everything evolves as it passes from one person to another. As Austin Kleon famously stated in his book Steal Like An Artist, “Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas.” Film Simulation Recipes are not exempt from this.

Most of the 400+ Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipes are at least loosely inspired by photographic film stocks. Some are more strict replications than others, but none are exactly perfect. They’re constrained by the camera’s hardware and programming—it’s simply not possible to replicate specific films with scientific accuracy straight-out-of-camera, although it’s surprising just how close you can get sometimes. I’ve seen photos online that I thought were my Recipes, but they turned out to be actual film; I’ve seen photos online that I thought were film, but turned out to be one of my Recipes. For the most part, though, you can only get so close because you are working within some strict parameters and limitations (limitations should be viewed positively). Basically, consider Fujifilm Recipes as creative interpretations of analog aesthetics—remixing old ideas with new technologies and processes, sentiments straight from Austin’s book.

Pool Remnant – Rodanthe, NC – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodak Tri-X 400

According to AI (because I’m not a mathematician), there are 1,418,895,421,643,700 possible unique Fujifilm Recipes on the latest X-series cameras. That’s one quadrillion, four hundred eighteen trillion, eight hundred ninety-five billion, four hundred twenty-one million, six hundred forty-three thousand, seven hundred. When accounting for commonly-used settings, the odds of two people independently creating the same exact Recipe are about one in four billion (apparently, if you ignore all of the least common options—for example, most Monochromatic Color for B&W, etc.—the odds are about 1 in 100 million). My best guesstimate is that roughly 8,000-to-10,000 Recipes have been published on various platforms and websites by Fujifilm photographers, which is amazing—I remember when the Fujifilm Recipe community numbered in the hundreds; now it’s hundreds-of-thousands worldwide! We’re nowhere near scratching the surface of exhausting the possible Recipes for Fujifilm cameras—not even close to a fraction of one percent. There’s lots of room for a lot more.

It’s not uncommon to “season to taste” a Recipe for the specific subject or situation, or for the photographer’s personal taste. I’ve encouraged that for nearly a decade, saying that it’s better to make a small adjustment or two to the Recipe parameters and get it to work well for you than to stubbornly stick with some settings that aren’t quite right. Sometimes those adjustments result in only a subtle change, and sometimes they’re transformative. That’s not a problem whatsoever—it’s progress. The evolution of Recipes occurs in three natural ways.

Dodge – Boulder, CO – Fujifilm X100VI – Reggie’s Portra

The first is what I’d call a tweak. This is when someone makes a small adjustment to one or two Recipe parameters. Maybe it’s changing Highlight from -1 to -2, or White Balance from Daylight to Auto, or Grain strength from Strong to Weak. These tweaks don’t replace the original Recipe; they personalize it. It’s just seasoned-to-taste a little for your preferences. A good example of this is Reggie’s Portra, which I will occasionally use with DR400 instead of DR-Auto if there is a bright light source in the scene. That change simply tweaks it, and does not make it a brand-new Recipe. When you say, “I’m using this Recipe with a tweak,” that context helps other photographers understand what they’re seeing and how you arrived there, and why they might possibly prefer that small change, too.

The second is a variant. Variants happen when the core idea remains, but the color or tonality shifts enough that it becomes its own expression. Oftentimes it’s when three or four parameters have been adjusted, or perhaps just one if that one setting has a profound effect (such as Film Simulation). Variants are wonderful because they show how flexible an idea can be, and they deserve to be named as such—connected to the original, but clearly standing on their own. A good example of this is Kodak Vericolor III 160, which is a variant of Kodak Vericolor Warm. Stating, “I started with this Recipe, but made some notable changes to get this outcome,” helps photographers understand why they might choose to use the new variation or stick with the original.

Canyon Club – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Vericolor III 160

The third is inspiration. Sometimes the idea of one Recipe can spark something entirely new. The result might share a feeling or direction, but the settings themselves are fundamentally different. An example of this might be Kodak Pro 400, which was inspired in-part by Kodak Portra 400 v2; while the two Recipes have some commonality, they’re notably divergent. In that case, it’s most accurate to say that a Recipe was inspired by another rather than directly formed by it.

I’m not suggesting this as any sort of formality or rigid rule; instead, it’s simply clarity and kindness. Give credit where credit is due (however, if you don’t, nobody is policing it). When we’re open about how ideas evolved, we make it easier for others to learn and experiment. Credit isn’t about ownership, it’s about storytelling. It helps to trace how an aesthetic came to be, and it honors the shared journey that got us there. Recipes are tools meant to be used, adjusted if needed, and maybe occasionally outgrown. If they help you to make photographs that you care about, then they’re doing their job. If your version of a Recipe looks a little different than mine, that’s proof that photography is still a personal endeavor. If your photographic vision changes over time, and a favorite Recipe is no longer a desired aesthetic, or maybe Recipes in-general are no longer satisfying, that’s all normal, and a part of the photography continuum.

Kodak Vericolor III 160 — A Fujifilm Recipe for X-Trans V Cameras

Frontier Motel & Cafe – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Vericolor III 160

One of the first Film Simulation Recipes that I created for X-Trans V cameras was Kodak Vericolor Warm, which utilized what was at the time the brand-new Nostalgic Neg. film simulation. While I didn’t set out to replicate Vericolor film when I made it, nonetheless the Recipe had some resemblance to Kodak Vericolor III 160 Type-S film when used with a warming filter (like an 81A or 82A), so I named it Kodak Vericolor Warm. Fast forward a little over three years, and I got an email from Thomas Schwab (who has created or co-created a whole bunch of Recipes), with the idea to modify the Kodak Vericolor Warm Recipe into a normal (not extra warm) iteration of Kodak Vericolor III. The changes were simple, but it makes a notable difference. That’s where this Recipe comes from.

For those who don’t remember, Kodak introduced the Vericolor line in the early 1970’s and Vericolor III in 1983. Initially, there were two versions of the film: the daylight-balanced Vericolor III 160 Type-S and the Tungsten-balanced Vericolor III 100 Type-L. Kodak renamed the latter to Ektacolor Pro Gold 100T and later to Portra 100T, which was discontinued in 2006. In the late-1980’s, Kodak renamed the former to Vericolor III 160 (dropping Type-S from the name) when they introduced Vericolor III 400. In 1998, both of those films were replaced by Portra 160 and Portra 400 respectively. It’s my understanding that Kodak made periodic improvements or adjustments to the film during the 1980’s and 1990’s, but, overall, those changes were small.

Canyon Club – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Vericolor III 160

The Kodak Vericolor III 160 Film Simulation Recipe is compatible with all fifth-generation X-series cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III cameras. You can also use it on the latest GFX models, like the GFX100 II, GFX100S II, GFX100RF, and presumably the Eterna 55. I’m definitely a fan of this Recipe. In certain situations you might find it to be slightly too cool, and the original Kodak Vericolor Warm Recipe might be a better fit. For those who found the “warm” version just a hair too warm, you might like this one more.

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: 3200K, +7 Red & -8 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR-Auto
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -1
Color: +2
Sharpness: -2

High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Kodak Vericolor III 160 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Last Light Over Estella Mountains – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Short Final – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Route 66 – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Star Hotel – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Grand Canyon Hotel – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Boxcar Bridge – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
9 Arizona Motor Hotel – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Buick with Flat Tire – Seligman, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Daniel’s Moving & Storage – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Closed Gas Station – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
San Fransisco Peaks with Dusting of Snow – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Go 2 the Train Station – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Stay – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Fujifilm Photographer – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Rooftop Portrait – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Photo by Amanda Roesch

Comparison

Kodak Vericolor III 160 Recipe
Kodak Vericolor Warm Recipe
Kodak Vericolor III 160 Recipe
Kodak Vericolor Warm Recipe

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

7 Fujifilm Recipes for Dramatic Street Photos

Photographing in Phoenix – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – BewareMyVelvia – Triple Exposure

The Fuji X Weekly App has a Category feature for App Patrons that allows you to Filter Recipes by different genres, styles, or situations. For example, you can Filter By Travel. Or Cloudy. Or Landscapes or Street. There are 17 different Categories, and you can choose however many you’d like. For example, if you’d like a retro Americana aesthetic that’s good for midday light, you can find that. For this article, I chose Dramatic and Street, because I was interested in a Recipe for dramatic-looking images in an urban setting.

What makes a street photo dramatic is often not the Recipe, but the light and whatever is going on inside the frame. You don’t need a dramatic Recipe for a dramatic photo. I was after something that was inherently going to bring some hoopla, though, so I chose Dramatic as the first Category, and Street as the second (because I was heading into the city). I was presented with a number of options, including the seven below. I chose three—BewareMyVelvia, Xpro ’62, and FRGMT B&W—and programmed them into my camera. Unfortunately, it ended up raining pretty hard, and my photography opportunity got cut short by some other circumstances, so I didn’t come away with much. But I did want to illustrate another situation in which the Category feature was helpful.

If you are looking for some Recipes for street photography that’s going to accentuate or create drama, the seven below are good options. Not all of these Recipes are ones you’d use for every subject or situation, but in the right circumstance you can get excellent results. Five of the ones below are color, and the last two are black-and-white.

BewareMyVelvia

Never be Invisible – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – BewareMyVelvia – Triple Exposure

Created by Tom Baumgaertel, a.k.a. bewaremyfuji, the BewareMyVelvia Recipe is specifically intended for multiple-exposure photography; however, it can be used for single-exposure pictures, too. It produces a cross-process look similar to Velvia 50 film developed in C41 chemistry. This is likely the ultimate dramatic street photography Recipe. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

Xpro ’62

Lane Ends – Minneapolis, MN – Fujifilm X-E5 – Xpro ’62

Xpro ’62 is another Recipe that produces a cross-process look, although with a notably divergent aesthetic. This is compatible with fourth-generations cameras (X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II); for fifth-generations models (X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III), simply reduce Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak (instead of Strong).

Expired ECN-2 100T

Night Board – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Expired ECN-2 100T

The Expired ECN-2 100T Recipe mimics the look of a motion picture stock that’s intended for use in artificial light that has long since expired, and was spooled for still photography and developed in C41 chemistry. The results are certainly unusual. This Recipe is for newer fourth (X-E4, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II) and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

GAF 500

Orange Lighter & Abandoned Home – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4 – GAF 500

Mimicking the aesthetic of the highest ISO color slide film of the ’60’s and ’70’s, the GAF 500 Recipe requires using an ultra-high ISO: 12800! You’re either going to love or hate how grainy this one is. GAF 500 is compatible with fourth-generation X-series cameras; for fifth-generation, simply reduce Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak (instead of Strong).

Expired Slide

United Carrier – Salt Lake City, UT – Fujifilm X-E4 – Expired Slide

A facsimile of slide film that’s been mishandled in some way, the Expired Slide Recipe produces a lomography-esque aesthetic that you might appreciate in the right situations. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

FRGMT B&W

Tall Bank, Empty Lot – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – FRGMT B&W

Fujifilm’s first official Recipe, FRGMT B&W—created by fashion designer, producer, and artist Hiroshi Fujiwara—was included in a limited edition of the GFX100RF. I asked for and received permission to publish it on Fuji X Weekly. This is a contrasty black-and-white Recipe that produces dramatic results. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

Kodak T-Max P3200

Firehoses – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak T-Max P3200

Last but certainly not least, Kodak T-Max P3200 was a collaborative effort between Anders Lindborg and the late John Sevigny. This is one of the best black-and-white Recipes, producing dramatic and grainy images. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models. If you’ve never tried this one, you should do so today!

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Top 10 Fujifilm Recipes NOT Named After a Film Stock

Golden Appalachian Light – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-T5 – Classic Amber

The majority of the Film Simulation Recipes on Fuji X Weekly are modeled—whether loosely or strictly—on actual film stocks. Because of this, most Recipes are named after various emulsions—for example Kodachrome 64, Kodak Portra 400 v2, Kodak Tri-X 400, Fujicolor Superia 100, etc., etc., etc.. Some are a little less obvious, like BewareMyVelvia and Fujicolor Film, which aren’t modeled after a specific film, but have a brand name in the title nonetheless (Velvia and Fujicolor, respectively). Those with a Kodak name (like Kodachrome, Portra, Gold, etc.) tend to be the most popular.

The 10 Recipes in this article were not named after any film. Instead, you’ll see titles with words like Vibrant, Summer, and Classic. I used page-view website statistics to determine which are the Top 10; specifically, these are the 10 that have been viewed the most on Fuji X Weekly since January 1st. The first few didn’t surprise me at all because they’re often found in the most-popular lists, but some of the others were less expected—if I did a Top 100, they’d all be there, and many would make a Top 50 list, too, but only a few crack the Top 25. Since I don’t keep close tabs on those below 25, I’m often unsure just how popular many of the Recipes are or are not. The first three in this list are indeed quite popular, and I’d call the next two popular as well, falling just outside the Top 25; however, the bottom five—especially the last two—are definitely less commonly used.

If you are looking for a Fujifilm Recipe that isn’t named after a specific brand or emulsion, the list below is the Top 10 most popular (in order from most-to-least viewed). You might not like all of them, but there’s probably at least one or two that produce an aesthetic that you’ll appreciate. If you haven’t tried these, or if you haven’t used them in awhile, I invite you to load a couple that are intriguing to you into your camera’s C1-C7 Custom Settings presets, or into FS1-FS3 if you have a Fujifilm X-E5, and give them a try today!

Vibrant Arizona

Yellow Buick – Seligman, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF – Vibrant Arizona

The Vibrant Arizona Recipe is an approximation of a Wes Anderson look, or at least as close to that as you can get straight-out-of-camera. It’s bright and warm, and works especially well in harsh midday light. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

Pacific Blues

White Bridge across Pond – Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues

Pacific Blues is a Classic Negative-based Recipe that was inspired by Lucy Laucht‘s Spirit of Summer series, particularly the Positano Blues photographs. While it is intended for a sunny summer day at the beach, I have found that it works quite well on dreary or foggy days, too. While the version linked above is for fourth-generation cameras, there’s also a version for fifth-generation models.

California Summer

Original Chop Shop – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – California Summer

Inspired by some of Preet‘s photographs, the California Summer Recipe produces a warm gold-coast summertime vibe. It’s compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras and the latest GFX models.

Classic Color

Rock Reflected in the Salt River – Mesa, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Classic Color

The Classic Color Recipe is a variant of Kodak Portra 400 v2. I had a project with Fujifilm and they didn’t want the Recipe I used to have a competing brand name in the title, so I created this one. If you like Kodak Portra 400 v2, you’ll probably like this one, too. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

1970’s Summer

Corndog – San Francisco, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – 1970’s Summer

A New American Color aesthetic, 1970’s Summer is a warm summer-like Recipe with a vintage aesthetic. It’s compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras and the latest GFX models.

Fluorescent Night

Ghost Train – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm GFX100RF – Fluorescent Night

Specifically intended for nighttime photography, Fluorescent Night has a greenish cast in certain light, and a blueish cast in other light. While it’s intended for use after-dark, it’s not bad for daylight, too, if you’re after a cool look. This Recipe is compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras and the latest GFX models.

Timeless Negative

Soft Rose – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Timeless Negative

Timeless Negative is a versatile Recipe that I gravitate towards around the fall and winter holidays. It’s a lovely Recipe that I think a lot of you would like if you tried it. While the version linked above is for fifth-generation cameras, there’s also a version for fourth-generation models.

FRGMT B&W

Cheers – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5 – FRGMT B&W

Fujifilm’s first official Recipe, found in a special-edition of the GFX100RF, FRGMT B&W was created by fashion designer, producer, and artist Hiroshi Fujiwara. I asked for and (seemingly miraculously) received permission to publish it on Fuji X Weekly. It’s compatible with fourth and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as newer GFX models.

Summer of 1960

Water Fountain at Sunset – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Summer of 1960

The Summer of 1960 Recipe was modeled after many of the photos found in the December 1960 issue of Arizona Highway’s magazine that had mostly been captured over the prior summer. It’s compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras and the latest GFX models.

Classic Amber

Corn Crib – Great Smokey Mountain NP, TN – Fujifilm X-T5 – Classic Amber

Classic Amber is a newer Recipe, published on November 1st of last year. It’s very warm, and doesn’t work in every situation; however, when it works, it works exceedingly well. It’s compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras and the latest GFX models.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

7 Fujifilm Recipes for Midday Retro Americana Photography

Corndog – San Francisco, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – 1970’s Summer

Someone once told me that Film Simulation Recipes transformed their photography simply because they no longer kept their camera in the bag during midday light. With the right Recipe, they could get good results even in the harsh and often ugly light found when the sun is high in the sky. Interestingly, there are some photographers who prefer midday light for some of their work (Kyle McDougall comes to mind, especially his An American Mile series). While the rule of thumb has always been that golden hour is best for photography (and shooting more during golden hour is the quickest way to improve your photographs), that doesn’t mean you can’t create good photographs at other times. You don’t need to put your camera away just because the sun is high.

One underrated benefit of midday light is that it frees you from endlessly chasing “perfect light,” which can quietly become a creative crutch. When the sun is high and unflattering, you have to engage more deeply with the scene in front of you. It forces you to pay attention to timing, layering, and narrative, rather than waiting for golden hour to do the heavy lifting. It encourages a mindset shift from collecting pretty pictures to telling stories. Limitations improve art, and midday light is one of those limitations that, once embraced, can quietly sharpen your photographic vision. Obviously, all of this is a journey. There’s no right or wrong way to do photography, and I’m not saying that you should or must do anything; I’m only offering a little encouragement to those who put their cameras away when the sun is high—good photographs can be made anytime, even in midday light.

The Fuji X Weekly App has a new Category feature for App Patrons that allows you to Filter Recipes by different genres, styles, or situations. For example, you can Filter By Travel. Or Cloudy. Or Landscapes or Street. One Category that I personally appreciate is Americana. When you Filter By Americana you’ll see nearly 80 results. If you Filter By Midday, there are over 100 Recipes. When you Filter By both Americana and Midday, it narrows it down to 28 Recipes. Filtering by Americana, Midday, and the Fujifilm X-E5 narrows the results further to 12. Maybe from there you can easily choose which one or ones you want to program into your camera, or maybe a dozen is still too many to decide. Adding one more Filter option—in this case, Retro—brings it down further to just seven. So if you are after a retro Americana aesthetic that’s good for harsh midday light, the seven Recipes below are excellent options. If it’s still too many, you can add more Filters, such as DR400, which brings it down to four, and Grain, which narrows it to just two. You can be as specific as you’d like, which really helps to refine the results to exactly what you’re looking for.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

15 Fujifilm Recipes for Travel Photography

Fire, Truck – Lordburg, NM – Fujifilm GFX100S II – 1970’s Summer

A frequent question that I get asked is: which Film Simulation Recipes are good for travel photography? Typically, it’s something along the lines of, “I’ll be visiting [insert location here], and I’d like to know which Recipes I should add to my C1-C7 for this trip.” Since this is a common question, I thought it worthwhile to dedicate an article to the topic.

What makes a Recipe good for travel photography is very difficult to answer. I think it’s one that will produce results that are typical of historic or current travel photography aesthetics. For example, Kodachrome 64 is an iconic slide film for travel photography thanks to photographers like Steve McCurry, so the Kodachrome 64 Recipe is an obvious one. The vibrant colors of many European cities like Copenhagen, Prague, Reykjavik, Burano, etc., are ideal for a Velvia-based Recipe. A trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without a Classic Negative Recipe. A roadtrip across the American southwest in July would be great for 1970’s Summer. While some Recipes might be good for any trip, others might be more specific to the location and even the season.

Pool Remnant – Rodanthe, NC – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodak Tri-X 400

For this article, I decided to suggest a Recipe for each C1-C7 Custom Settings preset: one set for fifth-generation cameras, and one for fourth-generation cameras (the X-H2s and X-H2 has C1-C6; the X-S10 and X-S20 has C1-C4). Because you can program a “bonus” 8th Recipe into the IQ Menu on fifth-generation models, I included one for that (the X-E5 has the option for three additional Recipes on the Film Dial… I didn’t account for that in this post). For a number of these suggestions, they could be for X-Trans IV or V, so feel free to swap them out if you prefer one over another—I didn’t want to repeat any, but have 15 different Recipes. Fifth-generation Recipes are compatible with the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III, as well as the GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF. Fourth-generation Recipes are compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II (the X-T3/X-T30 is its own category), as well as the GFX100S. Clear as mud?

I found the 15 Fujifilm Recipes below in the Fuji X Weekly App. If you are a Patron subscriber, you can Filter By a number of things, including Camera and Category (among others). Because the X100-series is the most quintessential X-series model for travel, for the fifth-generation Recipes I chose to Filter By X100VI and for the the fourth-generation I chose to Filter By X100V. In both instances, I also selected Travel as the Category. While this narrowed the results some, it was still a lot of Recipes, an almost overwhelming number to choose from. To narrow it down much further, I chose some other Filter options (in addition to Camera and Travel) to help me find the best Recipes for each set. I’ll explain it below.

Fifth-Generation (X100VI):

C1 — Kodachrome 64

Red Barn – Ronks, PA – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodachrome 64

Kodachrome is the most iconic film, gracing the covers and pages of magazines like National Geographic and Arizona Highways for decades. While the film was discontinued awhile ago along with the chemistry to develop it, the soul of it lives on (quite ironically) in Fujifilm cameras. Because I wanted C1 to be an ideal Recipe for an American roadtrip, I chose Americana, Film-Like, Street, and Travel as my Filter By Category options, and that’s how I found the Kodachrome 64 Recipe. For those with fourth-generation cameras, there’s a version of Kodachrome 64 for you.

C2 — 1976 Kodak

Rainbow over Jersey – Jersey City, NJ – Fujifilm X-T50 – 1976 Kodak

For the second slot, I prioritized versatility. Specifically, I wanted a Recipe that uses Auto White Balance, for instances when the light is tricky, and a daylight-balanced Recipe might be disappointing. Of course, I also wanted the Recipe to be good anytime, not just in tricky light. To find the 1976 Kodak Recipe, I chose Classic and Travel as my Filter By Category options, and also Filter By Auto White Balance. Reala Ace is an alternative to strongly consider for this spot, but I was specifically thinking of a Kodak-like aesthetic.

C3 — 1970’s Summer

Corndog – San Francisco, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – 1970’s Summer

For the third slot, I wanted a warm and grainy Recipe, so I chose Grain, Travel, and Warm as my Filter By Category options. While 1970’s Summer won’t be for every subject and situation, in the right circumstances it can be amazing. I debated between this and Kodak Portra 800 v3, but I personally like the 1970’s Summer Recipe just a little more, so I went with it.

C4 — 1-Hour Photo

Truxton Station – Truxton, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1-Hour Photo

This is one of my new favorite Recipes. I just absolutely love it! But, 1-Hour Photo is an App Patron Early-Access Recipe, so it’s only currently available to Patron subscribers. I found it by selecting Grain and Travel as the Categories, and also Filter By Classic Negative Simulation. Classic Negative is one of my top favorite Film Simulations, so I wanted to include it in my travel set.

C5 — Classic Amber

Corn Crib – Great Smokey Mountain NP, TN – Fujifilm X-T5 – Classic Amber

I kept Filter By Classic Negative, but changed the Categories to Travel and Warm. Classic Amber is another new personal favorite Recipe, but it requires the right situations—when it works, it really works; when it doesn’t, it really doesn’t.

C6 — Vivid Velvia

Roaring Fork – Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN – Fujifilm X-E5 – Vivid Velvia

No C1-C7 for travel would be complete without a Velvia Recipe, so I selected Filter By Velvia and Filter By Travel to find Vivid Velvia. This Recipe is dramatic and vibrant, and is perfect when the situation calls for something bold.

C7 — Kodak Tri-X 400

Low Clouds Over Manhattan – New York City, NY – Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak Tri-X 400

The final slot demands a black-and-white Recipe. I chose Dramatic and Travel for the Categories, as well as Filter By B&W. Of course, Kodak Tri-X 400 is one of my all-time favorite Recipes, so it would be a shame to not include it.

IQ Menu — Film Dial Recipe

Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO – Fujifilm X100VI – Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm (Reala Ace)

On the newer cameras, whenever none of the C1-C7 Custom Settings presets are selected, the camera will use whatever is programmed into the IQ Menu set, which means you get a bonus 8th Recipe. For this, the Film Dial Recipe (which is not one, but 14 Recipes) is perfect. It adds a ton of aesthetic versatility. The best part is that it doesn’t require a camera with a Film Dial; just like the Universal Negative Recipe set, it can be used on any fifth-generation model. I found it by selecting Film-Like, Landscapes, Nighttime, Street, and Travel as the Categories, which revealed Fujicolor PRO 160C Warm, one of the 14 Film Dial Recipes. Simply change the Film Simulation to turn it into any of the other Film Dial Recipes.

Fourth-Generation (X100V):

C1 — Kodak Portra 400 v2

Sunset Photography – Laguna Beach, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Kodak Portra 400 v2

This is one of my all-time favorite Recipes, and is especially great when the sun is low to the horizon. I found it by choosing Americana, Film-Like, Golden Hour, Street, and Travel as the Categories. For those with a fifth-generation camera, there’s a version of Kodak Portra 400 v2 for you.

C2 — Reggie’s Portra

Mountain Sunset – Flagstaff, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Reggie’s Portra

This was the most popular Recipe on Fuji X Weekly in 2025. Like in the fifth-generation set, I wanted a Recipe that uses Auto White Balance for C2. I found it by selecting Filter By Americana and Travel Categories, as well as Filter By Auto White Balance. Having a versatile Recipe like Reggie’s Portra in your C1-C7 can be invaluable when traveling.

C3 — Vintage Color

Sentinel & Merced – Yosemite NP, CA – Fujifilm X100V – Vintage Color

For the third slot, the Categories I chose are Grain, Retro, and Travel. That narrowed it down to a handful of options, and of those I chose Vintage Color. This is a Recipes that really works when it works, and really doesn’t when it doesn’t. For those with a fifth-generation model, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

C4 — Nostalgia Color

Columbia River – Hammond, OR – Fujifilm X-E4 – Nostalgia Color

It’s time for a Classic Negative Recipe. I used the same Filters as C4 in the previous set (Grain and Travel for the Categories, and Classic Negative for the Film Simulation), and picked Nostalgia Color for the Recipe. For those with a fifth-generation model, set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak. Initially I had Fujicolor Natura 1600 in mind for this spot, but it’s not compatible with the X100V because it uses .5 Tone Curve adjustments.

C5 — Pacific Blues

White Bridge across Pond – Charleston, SC – Fujifilm X-E4 – Pacific Blues

I found Pacific Blues when I used the same Filter By options as C4 (Grain and Travel for the Categories, and Classic Negative for the Film Simulation); since it’s one of my top favorite Recipes, I knew that I needed to include it in this set. For those with a fifth-generation camera, there’s a version of Pacific Blues for you.

C6 — The Rockwell

Abandoned Dream – Red Rock Lakes NWR, MT – Fujifilm X100V – The Rockwell

Just like in the previous set, this list wouldn’t be complete without a Velvia-based Recipe. I found this simply by selecting Filter By Travel and Filter By Velvia. When the situation calls for bold Recipe, The Rockwell will accomplish that, delivering vibrant and sharp results.

C7 — Ilford HP5 Plus 400

Horsetail Falls From Bridge – Columbia River Gorge, OR – Fujifilm X100V – Ilford HP5 Plus 400

There’s got to be at least one black-and-white Recipe, and I chose Ilford HP5 Plus 400. There are plenty of good ones to pick from, this is just one of many that would work well for C7. I found it by selecting Travel as the Category, as well as Filter By B&W.

There are so many different C1-C7 combinations that one could create that would do well for travel photography, the 15 Recipes above merely constitute two examples. One should consider the weather, the potential light situations, the genre of photography, and one’s preferred aesthetics. In the Fuji X Weekly App, you can use the various Filter By options to get as specific as you want—the more specific, the fewer results. For example, if you want something for your X-T30 III that’s good for cloudy conditions and nighttime photography, plus is grainy, retro, and film-like, and is good for travel, you can find that Recipe. Or if you have an X-E4 and want a Velvia Recipe for nighttime street photography, there’s a Recipe for that, too. If you’re simply searching for a good set of travel Recipes for your C1-C7 Custom Settings presets, the two suggestions above will be a good starting place—if you don’t like one or two of the Recipes, exchange them out for ones that you do like. If you are traveling somewhere soon and are really unsure which Recipes to program into your fifth or fourth-generation Fujifilm camera, I think you’ll appreciate these options, as at least one of the Recipes should work well no matter where you are and what situation you are in.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

12 Fujifilm Recipes for Rainy Days

Pouring Rain – Philadelphia, PA – Fujifilm X-T50 – Pacific Blues

I get asked fairly regularly which Film Simulation Recipes are good for overcast days, perhaps when it’s rainy or foggy. I live in Arizona where the sunshine seems endless, and dreary weather only occurs every now and then. Like film, the majority of Recipes are intended for sunny daylight conditions. When the sun is hidden by clouds, which Fujifilm Recipes should you use?

There are definitely a lot of great options. Much will depend on the lighting (thin or thick clouds?), photographic subject, and desired aesthetic. I might like a certain Recipe for rainy days, but you might not, and vice versa. Everyone has their own tastes. Having a large number of options allows you to discover what works best for you, but where do you even find them?

Bryan Minear getting soaked – Windham, NY – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Tri-X 400

A recently added feature to the Fuji X Weekly App is Categories. One way to use Categories is—if you are a Patron subscriber—to Filter By Category, and one of the Categories is Cloudy. So I did just that: I selected Fujifilm X-T5 as my camera and Cloudy as a Category (you can select as many Categories as you’d like, to really narrow it down). When I did this, I was presented with 40 results. You might not like all 40, and that’s ok—different strokes for different folks—but there’s a good chance that a few will match well with your light, subject, and desired aesthetic.

I went through the 40 results—Recipes that are good for cloudy situations and are compatible with my Fujifilm X-T5—and picked my favorite 12, which you’ll find below. If you are unsure which Recipes to use on rainy days, these 12 are ones to strongly consider. Surely one or two will be a good fit for you and your specific situation and style. Or, open up the Fuji X Weekly App, and Filter By your camera and whatever Categories you’d like. For example, if you choose X-Pro3 plus Cloudy, Film-Like, and Street, you’ll get 10 results.

PRO Negative 160C

Travis – Glendale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – PRO Negative 160C

The PRO Negative 160C Recipe, which uses the Reala Ace Film Simulation, produces slightly vibrant and warm pictures that are overall pretty true-to-life, with a color negative film aesthetic. Because it uses Auto White Balance, it’s very versatile, making it an excellent choice for dreary days.

Kodak Pro 400

Wet Alley – Savannah, GA – Fujifilm X100VI – Kodak Pro 400

Another Reala Ace-based Recipe, Kodak Pro 400 has a Portra-like look that’s a little less warm than the other Portra-like Recipes. While it’s daylight balanced, it does quite well in rainy weather.

Chrome City

Raindrops on a Pond – Peoria, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Chrome City

Chrome City is found in the Universal Negative Recipe set. Really, any of the 14 Recipes within that set are good for cloudy days, but Chrome City, which uses Eterna Bleach Bypass, is my personal favorite.

Reala Ace

Sonoran Saguaro – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Reala Ace

Despite the name, the Reala Ace Recipe does not use the Reala Ace Film Simulation; instead, it’s based on Classic Negative. Because it uses Auto White Balance, it’s highly versatile, and does well in overcast light.

Emulsion ’86

No Lifeguard on Duty – Oceanside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Emulsion ’86

Emulsion ’86 is based on the Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation. While it uses Daylight White Balance, it is quite good for cloudy situations.

Kodachrome 25

No Lifeguard at 8 – Oceanside, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodachrome 25

Another Daylight White Balance Recipe, Kodachrome 25, which uses Classic Chrome and produces a sharp slide-film aesthetic, is a good option for overcast days.

Thommy’s Ektachrome

Raindrops on Rose Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Thommy’s Ektachrome

Thommy’s Ektachrome is intended for sunny daylight, but its overall cool cast combined with the warmth of the Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation make for an excellent rainy day Recipe.

Nostalgic Americana

Doggles – Philadelphia, PA – Fujifilm X-T50 – Nostalgic Americana

While the Nostalgic Americana Recipe, which uses the Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation, is warmer and intended for sunny daylight situations, it can produce good results on dreary days; however, it definitely depends on the situation, as this one can easy be a little too warm.

Kodak Vericolor VPS

Mission San Xavier del Bac – Tucson, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5 – Kodak Vericolor VPS

One of my personal favorites for overcast light is Kodak Vericolor VPS, which uses the Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation. Even though it’s intended for sunny daylight, I love how it looks when the sky is covered with clouds.

Appalachian Negative

Breakfast Home – Anaheim, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – Appalachian Negative

Another Nostalgic Neg.-based Recipe that is daylight-balanced, I have had good luck using the Appalachian Negative Recipe on overcast days.

Superia Xtra 400

Wet Rosebud – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Superia Xtra 400

While Superia Xtra 400, which uses the Classic Negative Film Simulation, is the warmest of the Superia-like Recipes, because it uses Auto White Balance, it’s also the most versatile, and is great for use on rainy days.

Pacific Blues

Wet Leaves – Tannersville, NY – Fujifilm X-T50 – Pacific Blues

My overall favorite Recipe to use on foggy or dreary days is Pacific Blues. Even though it was made for a sunny day at the beach, I just love how it works in the rain. It’s not a Recipe that everyone will appreciate for those situations, but I do, and I know some of you will, too.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

26 Fujifilm Recipes to try in 2026

Cruiser’s Cafe 66 – Williams, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – PRO Negative 160C

Those who have been around Fujifilm for awhile likely have a good idea of which Film Simulation Recipes they like, and probably have their favorites programmed into their camera. But there are many newcomers to the system, as well as some who have been around awhile but are looking for a new Recipe to try. If you are unsure, you’ll find some solid suggestions below.

The idea for this article has been in my head since the beginning of the year—now that January is over, I figured I better get to it before it’s too late. For this post, I didn’t want to offer the usual set, and I also didn’t want to fill the list full of the most popular Recipes; instead, I wanted to include some that were overlooked, that maybe you haven’t yet tried even if you’ve been around for awhile. I also didn’t want it to be strictly Recipes for the newest models (although I focused much more on the newer cameras than the older ones because that’s what most are using).

Without further ado, and in no particular order, below are 26 Fujifilm Recipes to try in 2026!

The PRO Negative 160C Recipe uses the Reala Ace Film Simulation, which means that it is only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF. But, there is a version that uses PRO Neg. Hi, which is compatible with “newer” fourth-generation models. This Recipe is quite versatile, producing a negative film aesthetic similar to Fujicolor PRO 160C that works well in most situations. While it leans slightly warm and vibrant, overall it remains fairly neutral and true-to-life.

Agfa Ultra 100 v2 is a warm Recipe that leans towards green, and is best for sunny daylight situations, although I’ve had some good luck using it in natural-light indoor situations, as well as at night. Because it uses the Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation, it is only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Another Nostalgic Neg.-based Recipe, Kodak Vericolor VPS is good for both sunny and cloudy situations. It produces a late-1970’s to early-1980’s color negative film vibe. It is only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

The Kodak Vision3 250D Recipe uses Eterna, and there’s a version for both the X-T3/X-T30 and “newer” fourth-generation models; however, this Kodak Vision3 250D v2 Recipe has Nostalgic Neg. as the base instead of Eterna. It produces a warm look that is great for sunny daylight situations. This version of the Recipe is only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Nostalgic Americana is one of my favorite Nostalgic Neg.-based Recipes. It produces an aesthetic similar to color photos printed in magazines (such as Arizona Highways) back in the 1960’s and ’70’s, with a lot of grain and a warm cast. This Recipe is best for sunny daylight situations. It’s only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Fujifilm has displayed two of my photographs at some of their events, and both were captured with this Classic Color Recipe. It has similarities to my Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe, but isn’t identical. It’s most ideal for sunny daylight situations, but I did have some luck with it at night. This Recipe is compatible with “newer” fourth-generation models (X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II), fifth-generation cameras (X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III), and recent GFX releases (GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, GFX100RF).

This Kodak Portra 400 Recipe is for fourth-generation X-series cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—plus the GFX100S. There’s also a version for the X-T3/X-T30 (plus GFX100). To use this Recipe on fifth-generation cameras, simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak. It produces a warm look similar to the iconic film of the same name. If you’ve been around awhile you’ve likely already tried it, but if you are new to Fujifilm you might not yet have programmed it into your camera.

The Elite Chrome 200 Recipe is a facsimile of Kodak’s low-budget version of Ektachrome E200, a “high ISO” consumer-grade slide film from the 1990’s and early 2000’s. It’s best for sunny daylight situations. This Recipe is for fourth-generation X-series cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—plus the GFX100S; for use on fifth-generation models (plus newer GFX), simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.

Kodak Pro 400 is an approximation of Portra 400 using Reala Ace instead of Classic Chrome. It’s best for sunny daylight situations, although I did have some good luck with it in natural-light indoors, as well as at night. It’s warm, but less warm than other Portra-like Recipes. Because it uses Reala Ace, it is only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Classic Amber, which is the first in this list that uses Classic Negative, is a very warm Recipe that produces striking results in the right situations (mainly, sunny daylight). When it works, it really works; when it doesn’t, it really doesn’t. This Recipe is compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF. For “newer” fourth-generations cameras, blue won’t be quite as deep, but the results will be quite similar overall, so feel free to try it anyway.

This is another warm Recipe that utilizes Classic Negative, and is best for sunny daylight situations. Fujicolor 100 Gold is for fourth-generation X-series cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—as well as the GFX100S. For fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), it will render blue just a little more deeply, but the results will be quite similar overall, so feel free to try it anyway.

The Old Kodak Recipe has similarities to Vintage Kodachrome and Kodachrome 1. It’s compatible with “newer” X-series models—X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—as well as the GFX100S. For fifth-generation cameras (and the latest GFX), simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong. While this Recipe is warm, it’s quite versatile, and can be used in a lot different situations.

Eterna Summer produces a warm, cinematic aesthetic that’s best for sunny daylight situations. This Recipe is compatible with “newer” fourth-generation models (X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II), fifth-generation cameras (X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III), and recent GFX releases (GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, GFX100RF).

This SantaColor Recipe is not necessarily for Christmas, but for sunny daylight situations. While warm, it leans more red-orange than yellow. This Recipe is compatible with fourth-generation cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and the GFX100S. For fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), it will render blue just a little more deeply, but the results will be quite similar overall, so feel free to try it anyway.

The only Eterna Bleach Bypass-based Recipe in this list, Ferrania Solaris FG 400 produces striking results. This is another warm Recipe that’s intended for sunny daylight situations. It’s for “newer” fourth-generation cameras—X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—as well as the GFX100S; for fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.

A “memory color” aesthetic of photographic prints from the ’90’s, Nostalgia Color uses Classic Negative and has a warm cast that’s perfect for sunny daylight. This Recipe is compatible with fourth-generation cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and the GFX100S; for fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.

Superia Premium 400 might be the most overlooked of the various Superia-like Recipes. It leans warm, more towards red than yellow. This Recipe is for sunny daylight situations, but I’ve also had good luck with it on dreary days. It’s compatible with fourth-generation cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and the GFX100S; for fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.

Probably my favorite Recipe for indoor artificial light situations, Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled is a great allrounder if you want a subdued aesthetic. This might be the most underrated Recipe in this list. It’s for fourth-generation cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and the GFX100S; for fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Off instead of Weak.

For a slightly cool color cast, try the AgfaChrome RS 100 Recipe. In situations where other Recipes are too warm, this is a good one to use. It’s compatible with fourth-generation cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and the GFX100S; for fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

The Fujicolor C200 v2 Recipe somehow seems both warm and cool simultaneously. It’s best for sunny daylight, but I’ve had good luck with it in overcast situations, indoors, and at night. This Recipe is for fourth-generation cameras—X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II—and the GFX100S; for fifth-generation models (and the latest GFX), set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

The most vibrant Recipe in this group, Vivid Velvia produces dramatically colorful pictures. It’s quite versatile, just as long as long as you’re after a vibrant aesthetic. This Recipe is compatible with fourth (except X-T3/X-T30) and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as “newer” GFX models.

Fluorescent Night is the only Recipe in this list that’s specifically intended for nighttime photography. Because it uses the Nostalgic Neg. Film Simulation, it is only compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras—X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III—as well as the latest GFX models: GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Moody Monochrome is a contrasty black-and-white Recipe that uses Acros+Ye. Compatible with fourth (except X-T3/X-T30) and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as “newer” GFX models.

This is Fujifilm’s first official Recipe—created by fashion designer, producer, and artist Hiroshi Fujiwara—which was included in a limited edition GFX100RF. I asked for and received permission to publish FRGMT B&W on Fuji X Weekly. It’s for fourth (except X-T3/X-T30) and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as “newer” GFX models.

Agfa Scala is one of the older Recipes on Fuji X Weekly, published in 2018. It’s modeled after a B&W slide film that was discontinued, then later brought back. This Recipe is for X-Trans III cameras, plus the X-T3/X-T30; however, I’ve used it on newer models, setting Grain size to Weak, Color Chrome Effect and Color Chrome FX Blue to Off, and Clarity to 0 or +1.

Classic B&W, which uses Acros+G, is great for everyday monochromatic photographs. Compatible with fourth (except X-T3/X-T30) and fifth-generation X-series cameras, as well as “newer” GFX models.

Find these Film Simulation Recipes and many more on the Fuji X Weekly App! Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

Fuji X Weekly App Update — Two Big Improvements!!

Earlier this week I released a new Fuji X Weekly App update, which I’m excited to share with you. I didn’t announce this right away because there was a minor bug that I wanted to fix before telling everybody about this, which has since been fixed and updated, so, as of late last night, that’s no longer an issue. There are two major new features, plus several really minor things you’re unlikely to notice—we’ll just focus on those two big things in this article.

First up is something that’s been under development in one way or another for five years. I explored many different ways to implement this idea in principal, and there were a couple failed attempts, just because of the complications in making it function smoothly. Ultimately, the approached that worked best and most consistently was less intuitive than what I would have ideally preferred, but it was the best option all things considered. I actually rolled it out first in the Ricoh Recipes App, just so I could work out any unforeseen issues before adding it to the Fuji X Weekly App. What is this new feature? Backup/Restore.

Notes, Favorites, and Custom Recipes are stored locally on your phone within the App’s data, and there has not been a way to share them among devices. If, for example, you have both an iPhone and iPad, you’d need to manually input all your Custom Recipes into both devices—they don’t synch. If you switched phones or lost your phone, it was possible to lose your Notes, Favorites, and Custom Recipes. Now, with Backup/Restore, you can save a copy, and share it among devices.

To save a backup, tap the Gear icon, then choose Back Up Data. You’ll be prompted to either Cancel or Continue. If you select Continue, you’ll have the opportunity to choose where you want the .zip file to be stored—it can be on your device or in cloud storage. Once saved, you can share this .zip file with any device that has the Fuji X Weekly App. To restore, simply choose Restore Data, locate the .zip file and tap on it (if it’s a different device, you may need to download the .zip file onto that device). One note of caution: when you Restore Data, it will override and replace whatever you may have added and/or changed since the Backup file was created. For instance, if you have a Custom Recipe on your iPad that’s not on your iPhone, but you Back Up Data on your iPhone and Restore that .zip on your iPad, you’ll lose the Custom Recipe on the iPad. It doesn’t add the backed up data on top of what’s already there; instead, it replaces it.

My recommendation is to periodically Backup the Fuji X Weekly App, even if you don’t have intentions of sharing it to another device. If you add a new Custom Recipe, or you made some changes to your Favorites, that might be a good time to select Back Up Data and create a new .zip file. Cloud storage is probably the most ideal place to keep it, just so if you lose your phone or change devices, you’ll have it available. Should something unforeseen happen, which does occur now and then, it’s better to be safe than sorry. With Backup/Restore, you can now have that peace of mind, and also match up your Notes, Favorites, and Custom Recipes between multiple devices.

The other big feature of this update is a major overhaul to Custom Recipes. Not only is adding Custom Recipes easier and more intuitive now, but they look and behave more like the 400+ Fuji X Weekly Film Simulation Recipes that come in the App. For example, you can add them as Widgets. You can Filter them, and Search them. You can add them as Favorites. If you sort alphabetically A-Z/Z-A, they will be in the correct place. This is a very significant improvement.

All of the fields (except Sensor generation) are freeform text; however, many have a dropdown menu or -/+ field for easier selection. If (for example) you type Velvia instead of selecting it from the dropdown list, the App will still include this Recipe in Filter by Velvia (just as long as it’s spelled correctly). Custom Recipes created prior to this update are fully compatible and will automatically be transformed to the new system (which was probably the trickiest part of revamping it). If you leave a field blank, that field will not appear in your Custom Recipe in the App. For instance, those with X-Trans III cameras can skip Color Chrome Effect, Color Chrome FX Blue, and Clarity, since X-Trans III cameras don’t have those options, and they will simply not show in the finished Recipe. Once you save it, at the very bottom of the Recipe you’ll notice a Notes field, which wasn’t available in the old system.

Those who use the Custom Recipes feature of the Fuji X Weekly App will absolutely love this update. This has been in the works for a long time, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. And it needed to be done prior to the implementation of Backup/Restore. In a sense, as far as the coding goes, these two features go hand-in-hand, and that’s why they were done together. While this update is mostly beneficial to Patron subscribers, there are some small under-the-hood improvements that affect everyone, so even if you are using the App for free, I do recommend updating to the latest version, if your phone did not do so automatically.

The Fuji X Weekly App is free to download and use. Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

1-Hour Photo — A Film Simulation Recipe for Fujifilm X-Trans V Cameras (FXW App Patron Early-Access Recipe)

Jack’s Liquor – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – 1-Hour Photo Recipe

I have a box in my closet filled with old photos. Some are from my or my wife’s childhood in the ’80’s and ’90’s. Some are from early in our marriage. Some are of my oldest daughter when she was a baby. Many of these pictures are from point-and-shoot film cameras, like QuickSnap or Kodak FunSaver disposable cameras, which were developed at one-hour photo labs. These express photo labs used to be everywhere, but nowadays they’re pretty rare. I was looking through the photo box recently, reminiscing on old times, and I was captivated by the aesthetic of some of the pictures.

The images that caught my attention were in a few different envelopes, but the commonality is that they were captured with Fujicolor Superia 400 film on a QuickSnap camera, and printed on Fujicolor Chrystal Archive paper at Ritz photo in Tucson, Arizona. During that time, Ritz was the photo store that I most commonly visited, so it makes sense that I’d drop off film for one-hour development while I purchased some rolls for my Pentax K1000 (the “real” camera I had at that time). This Recipe, which I’ve called 1-Hour Photo, is modeled after the aesthetic of those prints—not so much the look from the lens, but the colors and tonality. I suppose a Dispo-lens (or something like that) would further the look. Also, I sometimes used flash on my X100VI.

Dramatic Desert Tree – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – 1-Hour Photo Recipe

This is a Fuji X Weekly App Early-Access Recipe, which means that it is currently only available to App Patrons; however, in time it will be available to everyone. The Early-Access Recipes have been backlogged, remaining restricted much longer than I want them to be. For example, the Recipe that this one replaces has been on the App for two years now, available only to subscribers. Last year I started a series in hopes to rectify this problem, creating a new Early-Access Recipe with each Film Simulation. I got Provia and Velvia knocked out without too much trouble, then got stuck on Astia for awhile. I’m still working on the Classic Chrome Recipe, but completed Classic Negative first; instead of waiting to release this, I decided to skip Classic Chrome for the moment, and get this one out. If you are a Fuji X Weekly App Patron subscriber, it’s available to you right now.

This 1-Hour Photo Recipe is compatible with all fifth-generation models, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III models. You can use it on fourth-generation cameras, too; however, it will render slightly different. It’s also compatible with newer GFX models like the GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this 1-Hour Photo Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100VI, X-E5, and X-T5:

Alleyway at Night – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Hotel San Carlos – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tom At Night – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
3rd St & Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Diner Lamp – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Young Guitarist – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI (Flash On)
Barbie Skates – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI (Flash On)
Done Dining – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Tom’s Famous X-Pro3 – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Waffle House Kitchen – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Lunch is Over – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Waffle House – Avondale, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Federal Express – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Backseat Dog – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Volkswagen – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Bicycle Rider – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Mando Skater – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Faux Bamboo – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Raindrops & Sun – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Roadrunner – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Dilapidated Roof – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Pool Reflection – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Yellow Tree Beneath Rock – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Row of Yellow Leaves – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Logs Across Oak Creek – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Mini Subway – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Flowing Creek – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5

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.

Fujicolor C200 v2 — Fujifilm X100V (X-Trans IV) Film Simulation Recipe

Cold Morning at the South Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor C200 v2

The original Fujicolor C200 Film Simulation Recipe is great! This isn’t intended to replace that Recipe—there’s no need to replace it, since it’s excellent—but instead provide an alternative option for those looking for something slightly different. One film can produce many different looks, depending on a host of factors, including how it was shot, developed, and printed or scanned. In this case, a Fuji X Weekly reader wanted a Recipe that more closely matched his particular Fujicolor C200 scans. Oh, and it needed to be compatible with the Fujifilm X100V and X-Pro3, which the original version is not.

Fujifilm introduced Fujicolor C200 in 1990 as a low-budget, consumer-grade color negative film. I’ve shot a few rolls of it over the years, although it was never my go-to option. Fujifilm gave it a small refresh in 2017. Sadly, in late 2021, Fujifilm began selling rebranded Kodak Gold 200 as Fujicolor C200. Even though C200 is a cheap color film, it has a cult-like following, and many people enjoy its aesthetic and choose it over more expensive emulsions.

Bougainvillea Peeking over Wall – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V – Fujicolor C200 v2

This Fujicolor C200 v2 Film Simulation Recipe was an App Patron Early-Access Recipe, but it is now available to everyone. With the exception of the X-T3 and X-T30, it is fully compatible with fourth-generation cameras: X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, and X-T30 II. You can use it with the GFX100S, too. For fifth-generation models (plus the GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF), simply set Color Chrome FX Blue to Weak instead of Strong.

Film Simulation: Classic Negative
Dynamic Range: DR100
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: Shade, -2 Red & +1 Blue
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -2
Color: +4
Sharpness: -1

High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -2
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Fujicolor C200 v2 Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X100V and Fujifilm X-E4:

Main Street – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E4
Dim Light & Neon Reflections – Tempe, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Coffee Shop Christmas Tree – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Backlit Potted Palm – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Afternoon Jo – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Sitting on a Backyard Bench – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Swinging Seat – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Potted Blossoms – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Artificial Flowers – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
AC – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
The Grinch that Stole a Golf Cart – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Autumn Path – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Autumn Canopy – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Bird on a Cross – Litchfield Park, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Icy Morning at the Rim – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Canyon Between the Pines – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V
Morning Shadows – Grand Canyon NP, AZ – Fujifilm X100V

Comparison:

Original Fujicolor C200 Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)
This new Fujicolor C200 v2 Film Simulation Recipe (Fujifilm X-E4)

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

BewareMyVelvia — A Fujifilm Film Simulation Recipe for X-Trans IV & V

Never be Invisible – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – BewareMyVelvia Recipe – Triple Exposure

I first met Tom Baumgaertel, a.k.a. bewaremyfuji, in 2024 at a Fujifilm creator’s retreat in New York. In the time since, we’ve been a part of a few other Fujifilm events, including leading a photowalk together in San Diego. We’ve kept in touch, and even met up for some street photography in L.A. once. Tom just drove out to Arizona this last weekend to lead two photowalks in Phoenix. We’ve wanted to do some sort of collaboration for awhile now, but it just wasn’t the right timing; however, we were able to get this project sorted out while Tom was out here.

Let’s get to some important notes right off the top. First, this is a two-part article—you’re reading Part 1 right now. You’ll find a Film Simulation Recipe below that Tom created and uses for his iconic multiple-exposure images, but Part 2 will explain how to use it to actually make multiple-exposure photographs. Second, this Recipe is intended as the ground floor. You are highly encouraged to experiment with it, modify it, and make it your own. Tom doesn’t strictly stick to it, but makes changes sometimes depending on the exact situation. His Recipe has evolved over time, and will likely continue to evolve. You are not only welcomed to make changes to it, but it is recommended that you do, as you practice more and more with multiple-exposure photography, so that it reflects your style and matches your specific photographic situations. All of the pictures in this article were made with the Recipe as-is, unmodified.

Lime City – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – BewareMyVelvia Recipe

You will notice that most of the example pictures are not multiple-exposures, but single-exposure images. This Recipe, which I’ve named BewareMyVelvia in honor of Tom’s social media handle, was created for and is intended for multiple-exposure photos; however, it works well for regular pictures, too. You don’t have to use it for its intended purpose. I saved most of the multiple-exposure images for Part 2, and that’s where you’ll find more example pictures.

Tom’s Recipe reminds me a lot of cross-processed Fujichrome Velvia 50, a low-ISO slide film made by Fujifilm. Cross-processing is developing film in chemistry other than what it’s supposed to be developed with. It can mean a lot of different things, but most commonly it’s E6 slide film developed in C41 negative film chemistry. Results can vary greatly, but Velvia 50 becomes more grainy and contrasty, with a strong color cast that is often yellow or green. I’ve included some examples of actual cross-processed Fujichrome Velvia 50 below, which I photographed way back in 2014.

Above: Fujichrome Velvia 50 35mm film that’s been cross-processed.

If you are after that cross-processed look, one modification that you might consider is increasing Grain to Strong/Large—or, at the very least, using higher ISOs (like 3200 or 6400), which can make the picture appear more grainy (see Abstract Reflections in the example images). Tom sets Grain to Off; personally, I like the texture of film grain, so I set it to Weak/Small. It’s completely up to you, though. Also, Tom prefers more Noise Reduction than I do, so he sets High ISO NR to 0; I set it to -4 because I want less of it. Again, feel free to choose whatever you want.

This Recipe is intended for night photography. Most commonly (but not exclusively), Tom begins shooting as the sun is going down, continues through “blue hour”, and goes well into the night. But you can use it in sunny daylight, too. There are many examples in this article of daytime use, such as the picture below. In my short experience with this Recipe, I find that it oftentimes works best for multiple-exposures near or after sunset, and it oftentimes works best for single-exposure images during daylight.

Ramada 6 – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – BewareMyVelvia Recipe

If you have a fourth or fifth generation X-series camera, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III, I invite you to give this Recipe a try today. You can also use it on the GFX100, GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, and GFX100RF (for the GFX50S II, I recommend increasing Shadow by +0.5). Regarding typical exposure compensation, for multiple-exposure images, you’re likely to be more in the -1 to -3 range, but we’ll talk about that in Part 2.

Film Simulation: Velvia
Dynamic Range: DR200
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Strong
White Balance: 6590K, -9 Red & 0 Blue
Highlight: +2
Shadow: +2
Color: +4
Sharpness: +1

High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: 0
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)

Example photos, all camera-made JPEGs using this BewareMyVelvia Film Simulation Recipe on my Fujifilm X-T5:

Jaywalk – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Empty Parking Lot – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Downtown Police – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tom at Night – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Triple Exposure
Bar – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Triple Exposure
Electric Train – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Triple Exposure
Squares – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Window Reflection Abstract – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Walking Reflection – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Composing on the Rear Screen – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Just Have Fun – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Stripes – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Abstract Reflections – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Urban Patios – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Unit – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Electric Towers – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Broken Saguaro – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Saguaro Behind Yellow Blossoms – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Abstract Palm Tree Reflections – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tiny Hiker, Large Rocks – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Oasis – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tom’s Silhouette – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Lime Mountains – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Southwest – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Sky Harbor Tower – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Urban Power Lines – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Uptown Sunset – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Tower Against the Yellow Light – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5
Last Light Over the Smoky Mountain – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5

Part 2

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&HMomentNuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
AmazonB&HMomentNuzira

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

Comparing Six Film Simulation Recipes

Red Barn – Ronks, PA – Fujifilm GFX100S II – Kodachrome 64

Yesterday I published Film-Like Recipes for Americana Pictures that’s good for Landscapes & Street Photography, in which I used the new Filter By Categories feature in the Fuji X Weekly App. By selecting Americana, Film-like, Landscapes, and Street, along with Filter By X-Trans V Sensor, I was presented with six Recipes: Kodachrome 64, Kodak Ultramax 400, Kodak Gold 200, Kodak Portra 800 v3, Summer of ’59, and Ektachrome E100. The intention of the article was simply to demonstrate how Filter By Categories can be a useful tool for finding Film Simulation Recipes that match your specific desired aesthetic and shooting situation. A heck-of-a-lot of work went into it, and it can be quite handy. It’s far from perfect, though, but hopefully it will only get better with time.

Someone asked for a direct comparison of the six Recipes from the article. That wasn’t really the intention of the post, but I understand why that could be helpful. I’ve had requests for years to photograph the same scene with each Recipe so that direct comparisons can be made (maybe something like the DPReview Studio Shot Comparison Tool, except with Recipes). That would be a daunting task to say the least, but I get why people might want that. Personally, I prefer to see how things work “in real life” in a variety of situations, and I don’t find test charts or static studio scenes to be particularly useful (or at least they tend to miss the most important things). I wanted to fulfill the request for a direct comparison for these six Recipes, so I reprocessed in-camera two exposures using each of the six Recipes. You’ll find those images below.

Ektachrome E100
Kodachrome 64
Kodak Ultramax 400
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Portra 800 v3
Summer of ’59
Ektachrome E100
Kodachrome 64
Kodak Ultramax 400
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Portra 800 v3
Summer of ’59

Interestingly enough, for my personal tastes, the Recipe that I liked best in the first set was one of my least favorites in the second set, and the Recipe that I liked least best in the first set was one of my favorites in the second set. The lighting and subject can make all of the difference. I don’t think a single Recipe exists that’s perfect for every subject and situation (obviously, some are more versatile than others), and that’s why most Fujifilm cameras have seven Custom Settings presets. With seven Recipes available at any given time, you are much more likely to have an excellent option for whatever you encounter. In the right light and for the right subject, each of these six could be a good choice; however, there are likely scenarios where each of these Recipes would not be good, some more than others.

The two Recipes in this article that are the most similar to each other are Kodachrome 64 and Kodak Ultramax 400. In sunny daylight, they can produce a difficult-to-distinguish (but not 100% identical) aesthetic; however, they differ more in other light situations, and are easier to tell apart. The one that’s the most divergent is Ektachrome E100. Kodak Portra 800 v3 and Summer of ’59 are the most warm, with Kodak Gold 200 not terribly far behind. Which of these six is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Film-Like Recipes for Americana Pictures that’s good for Landscapes & Street Photography

One of the cool new features of the Fuji X Weekly App is Categories. There are a couple of ways to interact with and use Categories, one of which is only available to Patron subscribers, which is what we’re discussing in this article. For App Patrons, if you select Filter you can Filter By Category, in addition to all the other Filter options. This can really help you to hone in on Film Simulation Recipes for your specific situation and desired aesthetic. Let me illustrate.

Let’s say that you have a fifth-generation X-Trans camera, like the X100VI, X-T5, X-E5, etc., and you want a film-like aesthetic for Americana pictures that’s good for both landscape and street photography, you can find that. Simply Filter By your camera or sensor generation, and choose those Categories: Americana, Film-like, Landscapes, and Street. You can select as many or as few as you’d like—the more Categories you choose, the fewer results you’ll get. While you may not see a lot of options, the Film Simulation Recipes you do see will match your request pretty well. Let’s take a look at the results.

Kodachrome 64

Across the Grand Expanse – Grand Canyon, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodachrome 64

If there’s one film-like Recipe for Americana photography that’s good for both landscape and street photography, it’s Kodachrome 64. The film that this Recipe is based on is, of course, iconic. There are also versions for other cameras: X-Trans IV, X-T3/X-T30, and X-Trans II.

Kodak Ultramax 400

Grand Golden Hour – Grand Canyon, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Ultramax 400

This is one of those Recipes that seems to always work no matter the circumstance. If you’ve never tried the Kodak Ultramax 400 Recipe, you definitely should. There are also versions for X-Trans IV and X-Trans III + X-T3/X-T30.

Kodak Gold 200

Dodge Van Steering Wheel – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200 is a legendary film, so the inclusion of the Recipe that is based on it should not surprise anyone. There is also an X-Trans III + X-T3/X-T30 version.

Kodak Portra 800 v3

Motor Hotel – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 – Kodak Portra 800 v3

I find that Kodak Portra 800 v3 produces a similar aesthetic to some of the pictures in Kyle McDougall’s An American Mile series. The Recipe includes instructions for both X-Trans V and X-Trans IV cameras.

Summer of ’59

All Way Stop – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI – Summer of ’59

Summer of ’59 is currently a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe. Those that can Filter By Category can also view and use this Recipe; for everyone else, it will eventually become available once it has been replaced by a new Early-Access Recipe.

Ektachrome E100

Terminal Passenger – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50 – Ektachrome E100

Ektachrome E100 is another App Patron Early-Access Recipe. It’s the most different of the six in this article. Like the previous one, this is currently only available to Patron subscribers, but it will eventually be available to everyone.

If you don’t have the Fuji X Weekly App on your phone, download it for free today—it’s available in both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It’s intended to be a useful free tool; however, becoming a Patron subscriber unlocks the best experience, and supports Fuji X Weekly.

Astia Negative — A Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe

Glowing Gold Leaves – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5 – Astia Negative

Nearly a year ago, at the beginning of 2025, I began a Recipe series with the intention of clearing up the backlog of Early-Access Recipes that have only been available to Fuji X Weekly App Patrons for years. I never intended for Early-Access Recipes to be unavailable to non-subscribers for so long, so I devised a plan to make one new Early-Access Recipe using each Film Simulation to expedite the process. I had hoped to get through most of the Film Simulations in 2025; while Provia and Velvia came together without too much trouble, I got stuck on Astia.

I started working on this Recipe early in the summer. My inspiration was some Provia 100F slides that I captured 20 years ago. Unfortunately, I got frustrated because, while I could get pretty close sometimes, most of the time it was off just enough that I considered my attempts as failures. It seemed like it was possible, but I always came up just short. So I shelved it for a few months, and didn’t try again until autumn. I gave myself a little more grace this time, deciding that it didn’t necessarily need to be accurate, only good. If the pictures captured using this Recipe looked nice, I should be satisfied with it. That’s how this Astia Negative Recipe evolved.

Phoenix Sunset – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5 – Astia Negative

Interestingly, just a few days ago, Dan Allen shared with me some pictures he had captured with Kodak’s new Kodacolor 100 35mm film. He told me that he got some “weird results” from the scans, which he tried to fix with post-processing. The images he shared with me had a striking resemblance to this Recipe. Not a 100% match by any means, but surprisingly similar nonetheless. Perhaps this could be thought of as a Recipe for the new Kodacolor 100 film that had unexpected results from scanning and were corrected in-post. Or it’s just a nice looking Recipe that occasionally has some resemblance to Fujichrome Provia 100F, but most often doesn’t.

What you can expect is a contrasty and colorful daylight-balanced aesthetic that leans slightly towards blue. It’s bold but not over-the-top. It tends to work best in slightly-warm low-contrast light, but it can look great in a variety of situations. While Astia tends to be a good option for portrait photography, this particular Recipe probably isn’t your best bet for that. For landscapes, it can be quite excellent.

Amber Leaves – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5 – Astia Negative

This Astia Negative Recipe is compatible with the Fujifilm X-Pro3, X100V, X-T4, X-S10, X-E4, X-T30 II, X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, X-T50, X-M5, X-E5, and X-T30 III cameras (in other words, all X-Trans IV and V cameras except for the X-T3 and X-T30). You can also use it on the GFX100, GFX100S, GFX100 II, GFX100S II, GFX100RF, and the GFX Eterna 55; for the GFX 50S II, I recommend increasing Shadow by +0.5. This is a Fuji X Weekly App Patron Early-Access Recipe, which means that it’s available today on the App to subscribers.

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this Astia Negative Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X-E5 and X100VI:

Hollow Face – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Golden Tree in Red Canyon – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Oak Leaves – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Bright Yellow Leaves – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Window to Nowhere – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Road through Dark Forest – Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Tennessee Mountains – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Old Shed – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Just Around the Bend – Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Vintage Car – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Vibrant Autumn Trees – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Bougainvillea Blossoms over Roof – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Sky Tram – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Purple Patina – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Rosy Santa – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Sunshine Smile – Gatlinburg, TN – Fujifilm X-E5
Swirly – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Medieval Mist – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Flying Horse – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Orchestra – Phoenix, AZ – Fujifilm X-E5
Look at this Meme – Surprise, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI
Happy Holidays – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

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.