> 3 minute read

Using Black & White Film Simulation Modes

X Series cameras make black & white photography easy, particularly with our Film Simulation modes, which mimic the look and feel of FUJIFILM analog monochrome films. Let’s explore what’s on offer.

When it comes to creating black & white photos, our Film Simulation modes make it easy to get started and deliver fantastic results, too. You’ll find two choices in your camera’s Film Simulation mode menu – MONOCHROME and ACROS – which you can access using a shortcut button/swipe, the camera’s Q Menu, or via its main menu system.

MONOCHROME was the first black & white Film Simulation mode in the X Series, and was joined later by ACROS, which was named after our legendary analog film. While MONOCHROME offers slightly smoother results, ACROS is punchier and more dynamic, with slightly higher contrast. Which you use largely comes down to personal taste, so feel free to experiment with both.

You’ll notice that both the MONOCHROME and ACROS modes are available as Yellow, Red and Green variants. This is to simulate the effect of putting a coloured filter in front of the lens, which is a trick film photographers use to change how black & white film responds to different colours.

Play around and see which you like the best with different subjects. Traditionally, the Green setting is good when creating portraits, and Red and Yellow are great with landscapes, as they darken blue skies – but this doesn’t mean you can’t mix it up a bit and experiment.

You can also fine-tune the ACROS and MONOCHROME Film Simulation modes by adjusting the H Tone and S Tone settings in the Q Menu. Set both to positive values to increase contrast; or to negative values for lower contrast.

When you find a combination of Film Simulation mode and Tone adjustments that works for you, most X Series cameras allow you to save it as a group of custom settings for instant recall:

• Scroll down to the EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING option and press MENU OK.
• Choose the custom setting to populate with the new settings and press MENU OK.
• Select SAVE CURRENT SETTINGS, then half-press the shutter release button to return to shooting mode.
• You can recall this newly saved custom setting from the Q Menu at any time.

Your Next Steps

• CHALLENGE Create your own black & white preset and spend the day photographing the town where you live in magnificent mono! Post your favourite image to social media with the hashtags #learnwithfujifilm and #blackandwhite. You can also submit your work here for a chance to be featured on our social media channels.
• LEARN Download our booklet See the World in Black and White with FUJIFILM X Series