Preet | FUJI X WEEKLY

California Summer — Fujifilm X100VI (X-Trans V) Film Simulation Recipe

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

*Orange Twist* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – California Summer

This California Summer Film Simulation Recipe was so much fun to create! I’m a big fan of Preet (Instagram), a photographer from Dubai. I really like his photographic style and picture aesthetics. If you’ve never seen his images, definitely check out his work—you’re in for a treat! This Recipe was modeled after some of his recent photographs.

Nearly four years ago I created a Recipe called Bright Summer that was inspired by Preet. That Recipe was the sixth most used last month (May 2024), so it’s quite popular. Funny enough, Preet himself called it Preetra 400, and I see that nickname used from time-to-time on social media. Preet doesn’t utilize camera-made JPEGs (as far as I’m aware, anyway), but prefers to edit RAW files; he even offers Lightroom Presets, should you wish to RAW-edit your pictures similarly to his (or just to support him as an artist).

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

The specific photographs that inspired this California Summer Recipe were from Preet’s recent trip to America—specifically, Texas. You can find these pictures on his Instagram. Obviously this Recipe doesn’t resemble all of his pictures, just certain ones; however, I think you can spot those pretty easily, because this Recipe is a pretty good match. Not 100%, but definitely very close. It would be a great honor if he ever tried this one someday.

I wasn’t sure what to name this Recipe. I called it “Preet Texas” in my camera, and initially “Texas Summer” for the article title. After carefully reviewing the pictures that I captured with this Recipe, I really felt that it produces a quintessential California summertime vibe. So at the last moment I renamed it to California Summer. I think that name matches the picture aesthetic well.

*Colorful Shell* – Anaheim, CA – Fujifilm X100VI – California Summer

For best results, use this Recipe in sunny daylight situations. It does well in harsh midday light and especially golden hour. It can be alright in shade. I would avoid it for indoor artificial light and nighttime photography, although under the right conditions I’m sure it can be ok for that, too. This California Summer Recipe is compatible with fifth-generation X-series cameras, which (as of this writing) are the Fujifilm X-H2s, X-H2, X-T5, X-S20, X100VI, and X-T50 cameras. You can probably use this with newer GFX models, but I’ve not tested it for that, and it will likely render slightly different (don’t be afraid to try, though).

Film Simulation: Nostalgic Neg.
Dynamic Range: DR400
Grain Effect: Weak, Small
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome FX Blue: Weak
White Balance: 6700K, -1 Red & -6 Blue
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -1
Color: +4
Sharpness: -2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: -4
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +2/3 to +1 1/3 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using this California Summer Film Simulation Recipe on a Fujifilm X100VI & X-T50:

*Palm Tops* – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Information* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*A Sign to Drink Coffee* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Four Carts* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Squares & Fronds* – Anaheim, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Food Mart* – Anaheim, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Yellow Apartments* – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*STK* – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Yellow Wall* – Anaheim, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Rooftop* – Anaheim, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Pacific Coast* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Fiesta Flags* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Flying Ace* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Loop* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Xcelerator* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Pines* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Wood* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Coaster Tracks* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Spinning Dog* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Wheel Through Glass* – Buena Park, CA – Fujifilm X100VI

*Rock Wall* – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Tree in a Meadow* – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Forest Sunstar* – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Colorful Rock* – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Last Light on Tall Rocks* – Sedona, AZ – Fujifilm X-T50

*Fast Car* – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

*Horse Fountain* – Scottsdale, AZ – Fujifilm X100VI

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

Fujifilm X100VI in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X100VI in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T50 in charcoal:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex

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Fujifilm X100V Film Simulation Recipe: Bright Summer

Posted on September 12, 2020 by Ritchie Roesch

*Yellow Shack* – Syracuse, UT – Fujifilm X100V – “Bright Summer”

I get asked frequently to create film simulation recipes for many different film aesthetics, but sometimes I get asked to recreate the look of a photographer and not a film. This recipe falls into the latter category, as it is intended to resemble the aesthetic of Preet (Instagram), a photographer from Dubai. Preet uses a Fujifilm X-Pro3, but he shoots RAW and edits in Lightroom. In fact, he told me that he will soon be releasing his own Lightroom presets so that you can get his aesthetic in-software. I wanted to get close tp his look in-camera without the need for RAW editing, so I created this film simulation recipe, which is modeled after Preet’s pictures. It’s not an exact match, but probably as close as you can get straight-out-of-camera.

I can recognize Preet’s images without even seeing his name. They are bright, low-contrast (but typically of high-contrast scenes), and vibrant with a warm yellow-ish cast. They are almost kodak-esque, but not exactly like any specific film, and clean without grain. This film simulation recipe is pretty close to that aesthetic. Preet photographs a lot of beach scenes, buildings, and cars. I’m reminded of a bright summer day, which is why I call this recipe “Bright Summer.”

*Roof* – Farmington, UT – Fujifilm X100V – “Bright Summer”

I found with this recipe that sometimes Color should be set to +3 instead of +4 to better match Preet’s look, but oftentimes +4 is better, and occasionally +5 would be most correct if such a setting existed. If you prefer Color set to +3 don’t be afraid to do it. White Balance Shift occasionally looks more correct with Red set to -5, but I found -4 to be better for most pictures. It’s a similar situation for Blue: -3 is sometimes a better match, but most often -2 is most correct. You’ll have to decide if you prefer the recipe as stated below, or if -5 Red & -2 Blue, or -5 Red & -3 Blue, or -4 Red and -3 Blue works better for you. It might vary from picture-to-picture. Although I have Grain set to Off, I would consider setting it to Weak and Small, but that’s just my taste. To get even closer to Preet’s look, bring down the highlights and lift the shadows very slightly with a curves adjustment in-software (which, of course, is completely optional). This film simulation recipe is only compatible with the Fujifilm X100V, X-Pro3 and X-T4.

Classic Chrome
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: -2
Shadow: -2
Color: +4
Noise Reduction: -4
Sharpening: 0
Clarity: -5
Grain Effect: Off
Color Chrome Effect: Strong
Color Chrome Effect Blue: Off
White Balance: 7100K, -4 Red & -2 Blue
ISO: Auto, up to ISO 6400
Exposure Compensation: +1 to +2 (typically)

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs using this “Bright Summer” film simulation recipe (without any modifications) on my Fujifilm X100V: