Fujifilm 400H for C1

[Dennis]

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Hello everyone.

I'm using C1 and a very few presets (entirely created by me) with minimal editing changes. It's all about custom curves, and basic tones applied. In my film days, I used to shoot Kodak Portra 160 (sometimes 400) and Fujfilm 400H. I like the "neutral" and slight contrasty 400H look. And I would love to try it nowadays. Any experience to share with raws?

For the C1 experts. Is there a way to get a 400H preset only? How does it work? I'm familiar with C1 practices, except styles and presets. The last time I tried to use film presets for raws was maybe eight years ago with VSCO. I didn't like them. I don't want green blacks or super mate looks. But I think I could work on a nice preset based on a simple 400H preset (or style or curve). Or emulate it myself. Indeed, I would use it with my M10, and who knows with my D5.

Any suggestions? Did you ever try to use 400H for raws?
Thank you in advance!

[Bobitybob]

I've got a few digital Fuji cameras and there is a whole world of people creating in camera film simulations to add to the default ones already in camera.  Take a look here, https://fujixweekly.com/2018/12/23/my-fujifilm-x-t20-fujicolor-pro-400h-film-simulation-recipe/, or just do a web search as I'm sure you will get loads of results.  Not sure what the JPG would look like if you applied the same settings in a Leica camera or in post but it may be a start.

[Dennis]

1 hour ago, Bobitybob said:

I've got a few digital Fuji cameras and there is a whole world of people creating in camera film simulations to add to the default ones already in camera.  Take a look here, https://fujixweekly.com/2018/12/23/my-fujifilm-x-t20-fujicolor-pro-400h-film-simulation-recipe/, or just do a web search as I'm sure you will get loads of results.  Not sure what the JPG would look like if you applied the same settings in a Leica camera or in post but it may be a start.

Thank you! I'm seeing what you are saying. To google it, to find some recipes I can apply to have an idea or a similar look to get a 400H look. Interesting.

I know for example how to move curves to emulate a "film look", but not enough to create by scratch a specific 400H 🤣

   

Edited April 27, 2021 by Dennis

[evikne]

I use the RNI film simulation for Lightroom, but there is also a version for C1. The Fuji Pro 400h is one of my favorite films, and is included in both the Lite and Pro pack. There is also a free demo pack. Unfortunately, it is not included there (which it is in the free LR pack).

https://reallyniceimages.com/index.html

These film simulations are of course much more expensive than you asked for. But in case you might also be interested in other film types as well, RNI is probably the best there is.

[Simone_DF]

In case it may be helpful, there are also tools to convert presets from Lightroom to C1.

They work reasonably well, depending on the preset. Remember that you can always fine tune the preset to your taste and save it.

[plasticman]

5 hours ago, evikne said:

I use the RNI film simulation for Lightroom, but there is also a version for C1. The Fuji Pro 400h is one of my favorite films, and is included in both the Lite and Pro pack. There is also a free demo pack. Unfortunately, it is not included there (which it is in the free LR pack).

https://reallyniceimages.com/index.html

These film simulations are of course much more expensive than you asked for. But in case you might also be interested in other film types as well, RNI is probably the best there is.

I agree there are lots of presets available, and I've tried quite a few including the v4 of the RNI presets, and even continued to tweak them (in Lightroom Classic in my case - so my experience is not necessarily relevant to a C1 user), but when they are side-by-side with a real film scan, they simply never look as good.

I've really searched high and low for the best starting-point, but in the end I think the critical factor is that the captured image itself lends itself to being manipulated like this: in other words, there's no way that all images can simply be assigned a profile and end-up looking like film (as I've always hoped is possible). 

Incidentally, I've had way more success with digital to black&white conversions. But the color palette of Portra or Fuji 400H just never transfers realistically - the curves just start out too different.

I also remembered this old post, for the 'pastel' look that's in fashion. This is probably not what you're after, but  it's helpful to think in terms of trying to achieve the look you want yourself, rather than buying a preset:

http://www.johnnypatience.com/jose-villa-colors/

Edited April 28, 2021 by plasticman
forgot to add link

[Dennis]

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8 hours ago, evikne said:

I use the RNI film simulation for Lightroom, but there is also a version for C1. The Fuji Pro 400h is one of my favorite films, and is included in both the Lite and Pro pack. There is also a free demo pack. Unfortunately, it is not included there (which it is in the free LR pack).

https://reallyniceimages.com/index.html

These film simulations are of course much more expensive than you asked for. But in case you might also be interested in other film types as well, RNI is probably the best there is.

Thank you! I'll definitely check it out the demo. Yes, the 400h is amazing, and of course it's difficult to emulate it from scratch. But I would love to have it and test it.

 

[Dennis]

2 hours ago, plasticman said:

I also remembered this old post, for the 'pastel' look that's in fashion. This is probably not what you're after, but  it's helpful to think in terms of trying to achieve the look you want yourself, rather than buying a preset:

http://www.johnnypatience.com/jose-villa-colors/

Thank you! Yes I'll check it out this one too. Pastel look is not what I was thinking, but as you say maybe it's a solid starting point, to make my custom 400h editing look.

[frame-it]

23 hours ago, Dennis said:

Hello everyone.

I'm using C1 and a very few presets (entirely created by me) with minimal editing changes. It's all about custom curves, and basic tones applied. In my film days, I used to shoot Kodak Portra 160 (sometimes 400) and Fujfilm 400H. I like the "neutral" and slight contrasty 400H look. And I would love to try it nowadays. Any experience to share with raws?

For the C1 experts. Is there a way to get a 400H preset only? How does it work? I'm familiar with C1 practices, except styles and presets. The last time I tried to use film presets for raws was maybe eight years ago with VSCO. I didn't like them. I don't want green blacks or super mate looks. But I think I could work on a nice preset based on a simple 400H preset (or style or curve). Or emulate it myself. Indeed, I would use it with my M10, and who knows with my D5.

Any suggestions? Did you ever try to use 400H for raws?
Thank you in advance!

this ?

Fuji_Pro_400H.costyle

[Dennis]

1 hour ago, frame-it said:

this ?

Fuji_Pro_400H.costyleUnavailable

Hey Mr. Frame-it

This? Yes Sir! Thank you so much...

I made a few tests. Initially, I found the contrast too harsh and weird magenta skin tones. I made a few changes, to match exactly the idea I had of the original Fujicolor Pro 400H but mixed with my own way to edit. I didn't expect a preset to apply for all my photos that always worked well. But the ideas was to work on some solid base, then experiment.

Of course it will not match perfectly all my photos, but it's a beginning. Here couple sample of an M10 DNG, SOOC and with new C1 style applied. What do you think? Are the colors balanced?

Thank you again for sharing it.

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[250swb]

3 hours ago, Dennis said:

 

Of course it will not match perfectly all my photos, but it's a beginning. Here couple sample of an M10 DNG, SOOC and with new C1 style applied. What do you think? Are the colors balanced?

 

The colours aren't far off but they are a bit dull, no brightness or contrast. The first place to start with emulating a film is to calibrate your monitor and then use your eyes by flicking back and forth with known examples from other people (which rules out any historical processing mistakes of your own).

[250swb]

For example 

 

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[250swb]

But you need to add grain to get the full effect, film emulation isn't just about colours, the grain affects the transition between tone and colour and unfortunately with a small file it isn't possible to show this in the scale of the image.

[Dennis]

3 hours ago, 250swb said:

But you need to add grain to get the full effect, film emulation isn't just about colours, the grain affects the transition between tone and colour and unfortunately with a small file it isn't possible to show this in the scale of the image.

I don't want to emulate a real 400H look. That's why I took off brightness and grain. It's a custom look, based on 400H, but with a few changes. It's my 401H Pro 🙂 A variant!

But yes, I perfectly get your point.

[evikne]

I just discovered this free preset for LR and C1:

https://theclassicpresets.com/products/free-fuji-400h-preset

Haven't tryed it myself yet, because I already have it among my RNI profiles.

[Dennis]

1 hour ago, evikne said:

I just discovered this free preset for LR and C1:

https://theclassicpresets.com/products/free-fuji-400h-preset

Haven't tryed it myself yet, because I already have it among my RNI profiles.

Evikne for president 🙂 Thank you! I successfully downloaded for C1. It's well made.

I appreciate it!