How To Access Film Simulation Recipes

If you have a FUJIFILM X Series camera or you’re thinking about getting one, chances are you’ve heard about Film Simulation recipes. These community-created lists of settings make use of our Film Simulation modes – characterful analogue-inspired profiles that replicate the look of film. The recipes can be saved to your camera to give your images a unique, finished look with no need for editing.

In this Learning Centre article, we’ll explain how to input a recipe to your camera and run you through a few things to keep in mind when using Film Simulation recipes.

What is a Film Simulation recipe?

A Film Simulation recipe combines a base Film Simulation with a series of image quality settings to fine-tune the look of your photos.

If you press MENU/OK, navigate to IMAGE QUALITY SETTING and scroll down through the list, you’ll see that your Fujifilm camera allows you to add film grain, adjust the tone curve, set the COLOR CHROME effect and much more. 

These settings are fun to play with, but in order to store your choices as selectable recipes, you need to use your camera’s custom setting modes.

How to save a Film Simulation recipe to your camera

You can input and store a Film Simulation recipe on your X Series camera using custom settings. These allow you to save the various image quality settings that make up a recipe as an easily selectable profile.

Press MENU/OK and navigate to IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > EDIT/SAVE CUSTOM SETTING. Select one of the banks of settings. You will be asked CREATE NEW OK? Select OK, then select EDIT/CHECK.

From here, you can input all the image quality settings that make up a Film Simulation recipe. When you’re finished, press back to return to the previous menu where you can save and rename the profile.

Changing custom setting modes

It’s important to note that how you access your custom settings varies depending on your model of X Series camera. Take a look at the top of your camera and note what kind of dials it features on the top-plate.

PASM dial

If your camera features a PASM dial (models include the FUJIFILM X-S20, X-M5 and X-H2S) then your custom settings can be quickly accessed by rotating the PASM dial to C1, C2, C3, etc.

No PASM dial

If your camera does not feature a PASM dial (models include the FUJIFILM X100VI, X-E5 and X-T30 III) then your custom settings can be accessed by pressing the Q button, selecting the first option on the Q menu (SELECT CUSTOM SETTING) and cycling through your saved settings using the rear command dial.

The Film Simulation Dial

If your camera features a Film Simulation dial (on models including the X-T30 III, X-M5 and X-E5) set the dial to C. Your camera’s Film Simulation setting can then be controlled by changing custom settings using one of the above methods.

Cameras with a Film Simulation dial also allow you to save three additional Film Simulation recipes to slots FS1-FS3 on the dial. Press MENU/OK and navigate to IMAGE QUALITY SETTING > FILM SIMULATION DIAL SETTING > FS RECIPE, then select ON.

You can then input a recipe to be stored in each FS slot.

RAW files, JPEGs and Film Simulations

Image quality settings like Film Simulation and film grain are applied in-camera to the RAW image and saved to a JPEG file. If you’re using a Film Simulation recipe, make sure you are recording JPEG images, as your recipe will have no effect on the RAW file.

Check your output settings by pressing MENU/OK and selecting IMAGE QUALITY.

Select FINE or NORMAL if you only want to store JPEGs with your recipe applied.

Choose FINE+RAW or NORMAL+RAW if you want to save both the JPEG and an unaffected RAW file.

Where to find Film Simulation recipes

Now you know how to add recipes to your camera, it’s time to start gathering some profiles you’d like to use. There are many community websites and forums where users create and share recipes. Just searching the internet for the phrase “Film Simulation recipe” will turn up plenty of results.

Another great source of inspiration is our X Stories page, where we’ve been collaborating with professional creators to develop new recipes.

To find recipes using your favourite Film Simulation, head to our Film Simulation page, pick your preferred simulation, then scroll to the bottom of the page to see a series of Film Simulation recipe X Stories based around each one.

Master your camera with Fujifilm

Film Simulation recipes are just one way your Fujifilm camera can make photography more intuitive and enjoyable. If you want to understand how to make the most of other settings and functions on your camera, you’re in the right place.

Check out the FUJIFILM Learning Centre home page to explore articles covering a range of imaging genres for all levels of experience.

Discover more about FUJIFILM X Series and GFX System, and shop the range today.